Page 79 of Bring Them Home

“Come on, Detective, you can do better than that,” Wilson groaned.

“When Abigail popped her head up and met with her sister-in-law, your client knew she was in contact with the Archers. He had them kidnapped and insisted they tell him where to find her.”

“Quite an entertaining story, Detective.” Hernandez smirked at his lawyer.

She continued. “When Abigail’s brother stood up to your people, you had him killed too.”

“Now you’re adding another victim. Where’s the proof any of this took place?” Wilson asked with nonchalance.

She didn’t respond to the attorney and held eye contact with Hernandez. “Did you order Nina to kill Paul Archer?”

His left eye twitched ever so subtly before both narrowed. He said nothing.

“We know she loves to use a blade. Paul Archer was stabbed seven times, five after he was already dead.” She pulled a photo from his crime scene. Hernandez looked at the carnage but gave no reaction.

The lawyer flipped the picture and turned to Hernandez. “Don’t concern yourself about any of this. We’re going to file a complaint against the PWCPD for harassment, and we’ll be leaving now.”

“Not so quick,” Amanda said. “We have twenty-four hours to hold your client without laying a charge.”

The lawyer smiled tightly. “You can’t just hold my client while you fabricate a case against him. And even if this Nina person is guilty of a murder, that doesn’t implicate my client in any way.”

“Nina reports to Mr. Hernandez. She’d never do anything without his authorization.” Amanda put faith in that statement, but she wondered how much Hernandez paid the lawyer for his soul.

“And here I thought we had an understanding, Detective,” Hernandez piped up, his voice smooth.

She became rigid. “Really? And what’s that?”

“I cooperated in a previous investigation, and this is the thanks I get?”

“You’re a killer, and I will see to it that you go down for that. Even if it’s for one person. That’s all it takes to put you in a cell for the rest of your natural life.”

“Yes, while threats don’t suit you, Detective.”

“I agree. I’m the follow-through-on-my-word type of woman.” Her heart was pounding, but she refused to back down to this parasite.

“We’ll see about that.” Hernandez stood.

“Yes, well, we found your camera, and we’ll be accessing its footage. Are we going to see you murdering Abigail?” They didn’t yet know if Abigail was shot where she was found or if her body was carried there. Though Amanda would guess the former. And if so, it would be out of sight from the camera on the house. No more had been found on the property.

Hernandez smiled. “No such footage exists.”

She leaned forward and cocked an eyebrow. “But you’re not denying that you killed her?”

“Detective,” Wilson warned. “You’re putting words in my client’s mouth.”

Amanda pulled back. She’d approach from another angle. “We’ve got Nina here too. We’re going to see what she has to say about all this.”

“Do what you want, but Nina is loyal.”

Amanda’s turn to smile. “Yes, so she’d only do as you told her.”

Wilson grimaced but wisely remained silent.

Amanda continued. “We’ll be getting a warrant to search your house, Lucas. She lives there with you from what we understand.”

“I wish you luck.” Hernandez walked past her with Wilson in tow.

“Where are they?” she asked out of desperation. “Are they even still alive?”