As they led her away, Jordan rushed outside. “Liliana, I’ll call a lawyer and get to the station as soon as I can,” he called out.
Nikki held up a warrant. “My officers need to search your home. You can’t interfere with them while they’re in there,” Detective Cardoso explained.
Jordan stood, like a statue, on his front lawn. He didn’t even retreat inside for a coat. After several minutes, he sat on the front stoop and held his head in his hands. “I can’t believe she killed all those people.”
Then, he eyed Brit. “This will break Honor’s heart. She was so happy to have a sister. Anartistsister. Your betrayal will kill her,” he growled.
Ignoring him, Brit pulled Rebel out of earshot. “I’m heading to the station to question her,” she said.
“I’m gonna chill with Jordan,” Rebel replied.
As she stared into his eyes, his confidence seeped into her soul. “Good idea.”
“We got this,” he murmured.
“We sure as hell do,” she replied.
Joaquin
Rebel walked over to Jordan,still sitting on the front stoop. “Let’s go inside.”
“Can I sit in the living room?” Jordan asked from the foyer.
“Hold tight.” Rebel pulled on latex gloves and shoe coverings, then pulled his hair out of the way.
After checking the sofa cushions for weapons—and finding none—he said, “C’mon in.”
“I’ve never needed permission to sit in my own home.” Jordan sat, hung his head again. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
Despite Jordan’s actions and behavior, Rebel didn’t trust him.
“You had no idea she was murdering those women?” Rebel asked.
Jordan eyed him with a narrowed gaze. “None. I thought she was completely obsessed with her cult events.”
One of the officers walked into the living room holding an evidence bag. “Agent Jones, I thought you’d want to see this.” He held up the plastic bag.
Inside was a handgun.
“Where the hell did that come from?” Jordan bellowed.
“Take it down a few,” Rebel said before addressing the officer. “Where was it?”
“Primary bedroom closet in a women’s shoebox.”
“Nice,” Rebel said. “Are you still clearing the room?”
“Almost done, then we’ll move to the bathroom.”
Rebel asked him to check for a missing black earring in the shape of a flower, along with the luxury brand lipstick in clear plastic tubes.
The officer retreated upstairs.
Rebel eyed Jordan. He looked like a little boy who’d lost his mommy at the mall.
“Liliana’s been overcome with guilt regarding Honor,” Jordan said. “She’s been gone a lot, you know, at these conferences. I thought we were past the regret she had over forcing Honor to go back to that school every year.” His shoulders slumped, and he released a long sigh. “I wish she’d talked to me. I would have gotten her some help.”
Rebel was a good judge of character. His gut was telling him that he needed to dig deeper into Jordan Krause and find the skeletons in that man’s closet.
