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“That’s the one. Well, I called her back and found out that she was murdered.”
“What?” Slapped out, loud enough she pulled her phone away from her ear, even though the damage was done. “Wasn’t her sister murdered too?”
“A while back, yes. I can’t get into details obviously, but I am investigating what has happened to the author now.”
“Even though you’re not due back until Monday?”
She bristled. Logan knew how important the job was to her, and he should realize that her connection to Felicity would trump her vacation and only strengthen her determination to get involved.
“I probably shouldn’t have said that,” he eventually offered, apparently reading the silence that stretched across the line.
“It’s…” She couldn’t say okay as it wasn’t. She settled on, “I understand your side in this.”
“What’s going on with Zoe then? I know she was at Kristen’s for the day, but aren’t you supposed to pick her up for dinner?”
“I’ll call Kristen and take care of it.” She’d been so wrapped up in the case, but she also knew that Zoe was safe with Kristen and her family.
“If you want, or I can pick her up?”
“And what? Have her hang out with you and your friends?”
“She likes them.”
“I’m not subjecting her to all that testosterone. Not to mention, I know how Chuck likes to toss back the beers. Speaking of, make sure he doesn’t drive—none of them for that matter.” It had been a drunk driver who took out Kevin and Lindsey. She certainly didn’t want anyone else to suffer such unbearable pain when it could be prevented.
“You know I won’t. All right. Need anything, call me.” Logan blew a kiss over the line and hung up.
“Where to?” Trent asked bluntly, not looking at her.
“Let’s pop over to the Sweeneys. We can ask them the few questions we still have, then we’ll return to Felicity’s and get our hands on her phone.”
He put the car into gear without another word.
It felt like a cold front had moved in. Again, she got the feeling it had to do with unrequited feelings. But was she putting it out there or was Trent? She loved Logan, but working so closely with Trent sometimes complicated things. After all, he was always there for her. He fully understood her and the job…
She cleared her throat. “So, we might need to read…”
“Possibly. You can’t deny that the murder scene was unique enough to be fiction. Not saying it’s some serial killer, could even be Navarro. Basically, anyone familiar with her books.”
“And we could just be surmising all of this because of Navarro’s comment about someone imitating her work. It could be what he wants us to think. I say we speak with her publisher and agent and see what they can tell us. We can’t obviously disclose aspects from the scene, but we can dance around it and see where it gets us.”
“If I was to place a bet on any novel, I’d start with the one being made into a movie. I mean, if I were a killer and wanted to cast a wide net of suspicion, that’s what I’d do. Everyone would be familiar with it.”
“I hear ya.” And she did, even if she didn’t want to. Until they had more facts though, she was determined to keep an open mind.
TEN
Amanda called Kristen as Trent drove them to the Sweeneys and talked with Zoe. Hearing her sweet little voice ignited an internal battle—continue working or go be with her daughter. The disappointment in Zoe’s voice hadn’t helped when she’d said, “I didn’t think you had to work for several sleeps.” As if Amanda didn’t feel bad enough. She promised to pick her up as soon as she could, but it still didn’t feel like enough. The phone call had ended with Amanda talking to her sister, who reassured her keeping Zoe for dinner was no problem at all.
Sometimes Amanda felt like everyone else was there for Zoe except for her. An unfair judgment she realized, but it didn’t stop it from creeping in. As she’d advised a mother in a previous investigation, all anyone can do is their best. And Amanda was doing that; she just felt pulled in many directions and often away from Zoe.
Amanda looked at the clock on the dash. 4:32 PM. “I know we usually push late into the night with a fresh case, but I’ll need to call it a day soon. Once we finish here and go back for Felicity’s phone. I’ll be ready to pick up first thing in the morning again.”
Trent parked at the curb outside the address for Celeste and Barry Sweeney. A figure stood in the front window, and Amanda would bet it was Celeste.
“I understand, Amanda. Completely. Logan and Zoe are probably missing you, and it wasn’t like they expected you would be working today.”
“Well… Yes. But Logan’s entertained with his friends, beer, and barbecued meat. Need I say more?”
