Lycan Packs 1: Lycan Instinct by Brandi Broughton Page B

stay in the house?” She hadn’t meant to blurt out the question, but Rafe answered easily enough.
    “As I said, he’s part of the family. He lives here.”
    She shook her head.
    “Now, Detective. Do you want to tell me what this is all about, and why you insist that I need an attorney?”
    “The attorney is a matter of procedure. Contacting one is within your rights as a citizen before being questioned by an investigator.”
    One ebony brow rose. “So I’ve been informed. Why the interrogation, Mackenzie?”
    His use of her name made her grit her teeth. She could not let him get personal, as if this were a conversation between acquaintances, or something more. She shied away from that thought.
    His long, well-shaped fingers wrapped around his glass. Strong hands. Capable of a tender touch, but were they the hands of a cold-blooded murderer?
    She’d given him the advantage by confronting him on his own turf, and he’d maneuvered her to gain the upper hand. Now, she’d seize her turn and take it back.
    “I need confirmation on the employment of a computer programmer who, I believe, works for you.”
    He blinked but showed no other reaction. “I have thousands of people working for me in this country and others, but I’ll be glad to help if you can be a bit more specific. May I have this employee’s name?”
    “Carl Shumaker.”
    This time, his reaction was immediate and visible. Rafe’s eyes narrowed, and his already-chiseled features hardened.
    “No, Detective. He’s no longer employed with Stone Corp.”
    She knew that. Tough to maintain employment when you’re dead. But before she could ask him to elaborate, he asked a question of his own.
    “Is he somehow involved in Robertson’s murder? Is that what this is about?”
    Mackenzie peered at her prime suspect, saw the anger in his eyes, and let his words sink in. He was either very smart or innocent. Maybe both. For now, she’d give him smart, nothing more.
    “When was his last day of employment?”
    “Yesterday.”
    “He quit yesterday?”
    “No. He was terminated yesterday.”
    Her breath hitched in her chest. “Terminated?”
    “Carl Shumaker had a promising future as a very talented computer programmer.”
    “Had?”
    “He was the Team Lead on some new revolutionary security software Stone Corp. has been developing for some time now...until we discovered his attempts to circumvent the corporation’s own security system. I fired him for trying to embezzle money from the company.”
    “Embezzle?”
    “Yes, by filing falsified expense reports and more recently attempting to hack into our financial computer system.”
    “When did you report the embezzlement to the authorities?”
    “I didn’t.”
    She blinked. “You didn’t?”
    “No.”
    “You fired him.”
    Those smooth lips curved again. “Yes. And suggested debt-management counseling.”
    Did he seek his own personal vengeance on a man who’d crossed the line, broke a trust? Was Robertson’s public challenge enough to trigger a murderous rage in Stone? “An employee commits a crime, and you let him walk? Or is that what you want me to think?”
    Rafe’s eyes sparked with anger. “What exactly do you think, Detective? You never answered my question, although I’ve responded to all of yours. What does Carl have to do with Robertson’s death?”
    She met his gaze boldly. “That’s what I’m here to find out. Both men are dead and so far, the only connection between them is you.”
    “Both men...?” He sat motionless, surprise clearly written across his face, but that expression soon changed to one of determination. His voice was cold and hard as steel. “When?”
    “You didn’t know?”
    “Hell no, I didn’t know.” His eyes locked on hers. “When?”
    “We got the call—”
    “When I was in your office,” he interrupted. “I saw the change in you, as if an iron curtain fell into place. So full of purpose and spirit...you were magnificent.” He stood abruptly,