Free Curse of the Egyptian Goddess by Lisa Rayns Page A

I’m sorry and looked away.
    “You’re going to have to talk sooner or later.”
    “Get me out of here!” I screamed.
    The car started to move, but Calvin rushed to my window, yelling through the glass. “Tell him the truth, Cleo. Tell him you’re innocent!”
    “Got him snowballed I see. I guess some people never learn.”

Chapter 10
     
     
     
     
    At the police station, Cade handed me over to a uniformed cop. “Book her,” he spat before he disappeared.
    The large, balding man in his late forties, tagged Officer Daniels, sat me down across from him at his desk. He asked me dozens of questions about who I was, even though I was sure he already knew. I answered truthfully but I found myself distracted–his name made me thirsty.
    After the questions came the mug shots, and then he took the handcuffs off and handed me a manila envelope. “Put all your personal belongings in here and I’ll give you a receipt for them before we continue.”
    “Hold up, Jack,” I cried uneasily.
    He cocked his head. “How did you know my name was Jack?”
    I straightened. “Your name’s really Jack?”
    He chuckled and ruffled the envelope. “Let’s get started.”
    I pulled out my pockets nervously and showed him they were empty.
    “Okay, now your jewelry.”
    My uneasiness quickly turned into full blown panic, and I knew I couldn’t give up.  I couldn’t let more people die. Calvin had said the truth would set me free. I had no choice but to give it a shot. “Please. Let me leave it on for just a little longer. Tell detective Cade that I’m ready to talk. I’ll tell him anything he wants to know. The necklace is my only condition.”
    Jack rubbed his hand over the thin hair near his temples for minutes while he breathed deeply. “All right. Let’s get you fingerprinted and then we’ll see what he has to say.”
    ****
    Cade smiled pleasantly when he walked into the same small interview room. “I didn’t think you’d cave before the arraignment. You haven’t even been officially charged yet. Do you want me to take care of that now?”
    “No.” I pulled myself forward in the metal chair and crossed my arms on the table. “I want to start by apologizing for being a pain in the ass. I know you’re just doing your job, and I never would have left town if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.”
    He chuckled and then smiled approvingly. “Start with sucking up. That’s good. I like it. But it doesn’t change anything.”
    “I know,” I said, nodding toward the recorder.
    He turned it on and sat down across from me, his eyes squinting suspiciously. “State your name, please.”
    “Cleo. It’s Cleo Patrix.”
    Sighing, he put his fingers on his temple and rubbed circles. He looked more worn than usual, like he hadn’t slept in weeks. He sounded tolerant. “Your name was legally changed to Emma when you were eighteen, therefore, that answer is incorrect.”
    “I know, but Cleo is my birth name and I’m ready to be completely honest with you.”
    “I’m glad to hear that.”
    “I can’t let anyone take the necklace because it’s cursed. I’m cursed. Chad is dead because he touched my necklace.”
    His hand moved over to rub his eyes. “Miss Patrix, it’s been a long week and I don’t have time for games.”
    “I swear it,” I said seriously. “The necklace is cursed.”
    Leaning forward, he peered at the item in question. “It’s cursed?”
    “Yes, and anyone who touches it dies.”
    “Why aren’t you dead yet then?”
    “It doesn’t want me dead,” I explained. “It only wants to make me suffer every day of my miserable life!”
    The detective shook his head and reached forward to shut off the machine. “Let me get this straight,” he started calmly. “You’re going to sit there and tell me that an object is responsible for all these deaths?”
    “Yes.”
    Lines creased his brow as his voice rose. “For Christ’s sake, do you hear yourself? You’re telling me that if I touch that