Alonzo could have smirked over the complete honesty in her voice. No way could either of the undercover detectives believe she was anything but innocent. “What can we do for you?” he asked.

His marks were all over Evangeline. She made no attempt to hide them. The neckline of her blouse was low, revealing the creamy swell of her breasts. Right at the top of the curve on her left was another strawberry with his bite in the center. He fucking loved that.

“Please sit down,” Evangeline said, indicating the comfortable armchairs and couch. “Can I get you anythin’? Coffee? I haven’t done any bakin’, I’m still recuperatin’, but I make a mean cup of coffee.”

“No, thank you, Evangeline,” Brice said. “We’re here on business.”

She frowned and looked up at Alonzo. “Okay. Sure.” She looked and sounded puzzled.

Perfect. He loved that too. Alonzo sank into a chair and pulled her down beside him. It was a snug fit, but she didn’t seem to mind.

Evangeline leaned toward Brice, her gaze steady on his face. “What can we help you with?”

We. He loved that too. She was sitting there in the chair with him, relaxed, looking as if they belonged and talking as natural as could be. Brice winced. He couldn’t hide that from Alonzo, but Alonzo didn’t gloat. He kept his features expressionless. Pure ice.

“Evangeline, were Alonzo and his crew home last night?”

She frowned. Looked up at Alonzo and over into the corner where Timur lounged against the wall. “Yes. I mean, I wasn’t with them every single minute, but they were here when I went back to the bedroom to take a bath and they were here when I got out. So unless they raced out during my bath, then yes, they were home.” She raised one eyebrow. “Why?”

“How long was your bath?”

Her frown deepened. “Is somethin’ wrong, Brice?”

“Just answer the question.”

“When you talk to her, you can be respectful,” Alonzo said. “Or you can leave our home. I don’t much like your tone.”

“It’s all right, honey,” she said softly, looking up at him. She brushed her cheek along his shoulder. “He’s obviously upset about somethin’. I don’ know exactly, but usually about forty-five minutes. Maybe an hour.”

“I can help with that,” Sevastyan stirred from where he was in the shadows, directly across from the five policemen.

Brice scowled at him. So did Alonzo.

“You know how long she was in the bathtub?” Alonzo’s voice said he’d better not know.

“It was forty-eight minutes,” Sevastyan said helpfully, ignoring his boss’s warning. “We were waiting for her to come back and make coffee. She makes a hell of a cup of coffee.”