“Damn,” I said.

“I didn’t know someone could have an allergic reaction like that. I mean, I thought you had to actually ingest whatever you were allergic to.”

“That’s a hard way to find out.”

“They told us later his throat swelled shut so fast, he couldn’t even call out for help.” He turned to look out the window. “I killed him, but because Lyle was the president and the media was all over the DA’s ass, he was convicted of negligent homicide.”

And here I thought the guy had no conscience.

“Okay, you feel guilty. I can certainly see why, but what does that have to do with this case?”

He gave me a fierce look, one of utter determination with jaw clenched and lids narrowed, and said, “He will not go down for something else he didn’t do, Davidson. That ain’t happening.”

“The evidence is pretty compelling.” Then again, the evidence is always compelling. That’s why people came to me. I was their last hope. Their last-ditch effort. Not that I was going to tell Parker that.

He leaned forward. “Trust me, you do not want this to go to trial. Either you un-compel the fuck out of the evidence, or I’ll cop to the murder myself.”

I sat back in my chair, almost wishing he would cop to it. It would ease the guilt he felt for the guy. Allow him to move forward with his own life.

“What if I can’t?”

He slammed a hand on his desk. “He didn’t do it, Davidson, and you damned well know it. You have a sixth sense about these things.”

“I know he didn’t do it, but how did you know? The evidence says otherwise.”

“I know. I’m the one sifting through it to make sure we have enough to prosecute, remember?”

“Ah yes. The smoke and mirrors.”

“Pretty much. So, the case?”

I shook my head. “No. Let’s get back to me. What exactly do you have on me? I’m not fond of being blackmailed.”

“Extorted, actually. What I’m doing is extortion.”

“Either way, what is it?”

He narrowed his eyes, as though trying to decide if he should trust me or not, then he reached over and grabbed an evidence bag with a bloody knife in it. “This was found in a wall at a cold case crime scene a few weeks ago. It was used to murder a woman in the South Valley.”

“Okay,” I said, growing a tad wary.

“It has your fingerprints on it.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. “I have never seen that knife before.”

“Yeah?” He stood and leaned forward. “Not even when you killed Selena Ramos?”

“What?” I asked, my mouth falling open. “I have no idea who you’re talking about. I’ve never—”

“Just kidding,” he said, laughing harshly as he fell back in his chair.

I gaped at him, speechless. If I hadn’t been so shocked, I would’ve been able to tell he was lying.

“This old guy in Corrales slaughtered his neighbor’s pig. Said he was hungry. He’s being charged with theft and cruelty to animals.”

After I could fill my lungs with air again, I scowled at him. “You’re an ass.”

“Exactly. How do you think I got this far? So, don’t even try to fuck with me.”

I was beginning to seriously wonder about ADA Nick Parker. “Did you even try to intervene on Lyle’s behalf?”

“Of course I did. But according to campus bylaws, the president takes the fall for whatever happens in his house. I’m paraphrasing. And—”

When he dropped his gaze again, I prodded him with a “Yes?”

“I think my dad intervened.”

“Ah. The state’s attorney.”

“At the time, yes. Anyway—” He stood and went back to the window. “How is the case coming?”

“Well, I’m actually a little surprised you guys moved forward with an arrest. Everything, just about all the damning evidence, can be explained and backed up.”

“That’s not good enough,” he said to the window. “I need you to find who killed Emery Adams to be sure El is cleared of all charges.”

“I’m working on it.”

“Work harder,” he barked.

I lifted an unconcerned shoulder. “I need access to the ME’s records.” I needed access to investigate the deaths from the children’s home, but he didn’t need to know that.

“For what? There’s no body.”