White Night

Chapter 23

        As Ross moved toward the door it rattled again, the handle twisting back and forth furiously.

"Manda, I heard about your guy. We gotta talk."

Ross barely made it to the door before it exploded open, sending him backward. A short Latin man with closely shaved hair and a thin, wrinkled shirt bolted in.

"Who the hell are you?" the man spat at Ross, pushing past him as he barged toward Amanda, who was already scurrying backward to Connors.

Connors stood quickly, her hand resting on her gun.

"Manda, you got someone else already? What the f—"

He didn't get the chance to finish his sentence. Ross' fingers clamped on his shoulders and he spun him quickly into the wall, leaning heavily on him.

"NYPD," Ross said firmly. "You need to calm down."

"Get off me. I didn't do nothin'," he shouted, spraying the wall with more spit as he writhed under Ross' weight.

"You've already assaulted an officer. Do you want to add to that?"

"I didn't know you was a cop. Manda, tell 'em!"

"I'm not talking to her. I'm talking to you," Ross continued, drawing Mateo's hands behind his back. "You going to calm down?"

Mateo snarled and nodded. Ross' towering frame stood back, but his hands didn't loosen from Mateo's arms. Mateo was explosive, angry, and possessive, the perfect combination for a crime of passion.

Ross marshalled Mateo to the chair, staying close to him and blocking any path to the door.

"Sit down," he commanded.

Mateo glared angrily at Amanda, who was glued to her side.

"Sit down!" Connors repeated.

He slumped in the chair, his legs spread wide, his face twisted like a sulking child.

"Where were you between 8 pm and 11 pm last night?" she asked.

"What? Why?"

"Just answer the question," Ross said.

"I was out with my brothers and the guys from work."

"How did you know Weston was dead?" she asked.

"I saw it on the news," he said with a broad smile.

"You didn't like John Weston, did you?"

"Would you like the bastard who stole your fiancée?" He glared again at Amanda.

"Mateo, it was weeks after we spl—" Amanda started but was silenced by a look from her ex.

Almost two years after she split with him and the asshole was still pulling her strings. But then Connors hadn't exactly managed to get her own ex to take a hike, either...

"Did you and John Weston ever get into a confrontation?"

"Nah, he wouldn't come near me," Mateo replied, tilting his head back and smirking.

Connors glanced at Ross, who returned her look. Mateo was full of it, but there was no need to terrify Amanda any more. They had all they needed from him for now.

"Detective Ross, would you escort Mr. Castillo downstairs and take his statement?"

Ross nodded, taking Mateo's arm and guiding him toward the apartment door.