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Little Ray of Pitch Black

Page 109

by Lani Lynn Vale

She slipped out of my hold and retook her seat, crossing her legs over one another and then waiting patiently for Dempsey to retake hers.

I went back to the room opposite the interrogation room where Gentry still waited. “What did you do there at the end? Leo went from impassive to pissed way the hell off.”

“Kissed her.” I shrugged.

“Well, you made him angry.”

“Was it anger?” I wondered. “Or was it him trying to appear angry?”

Gentry shrugged. “I don’t know. Looked like real rage, man.”

I filed that away for later when Dempsey started to ask her questions.

“The night your parents died,” Dempsey said. “Did you happen to give them any medication that would make them fall asleep?”

Leo didn’t answer.

“Leo,” Jessamy said after a bit. “Did you give our parents sleeping medication that night?”

“I didn’t give them anything,” Leo answered.

“Did they take anything?” Dempsey asked.

Silence.

“Did Mom and Dad take any medication to help them sleep?” Jessamy asked.

Leo smiled slightly. “They took valerian root every night.”

Was that what it took to get this kid to answer questions? Get his sister to ask them?

Jessamy leaned forward. “Mom and Dad didn’t take that when I was there.”

Leo shrugged. “It seems they had trouble sleeping after you left.”

“Did they?” Jessamy asked.

“They did.” Leo looked pleased. “Not sure why. I was a perfect angel.”

“Fuckin’ creep,” Gentry murmured beside me.

“Agreed.”

“Why did they have trouble sleeping?” Jessamy asked.

Leo leaned forward, his knobby elbows resting on the table between them. “Because they let you leave.”

Jessamy crossed her arms. “They didn’t let me do anything. I was an adult. I left because that’s what is supposed to happen when you’re that age. Why would they have trouble sleeping if they let me go?”

“You were supposed to stay with me forever.”

“Oh, boy,” Gentry murmured.

My sentiments exactly.

Leo leaned back in his seat.

Jessamy showed no reaction. “And this valerian root. Did they sleep really hard when they took it?”