Page 111 of Capture My Heart

“Now what?” Paulie pulled back. Her gaze bounced from the bandage on Amy’s head to her face to her bandaged shoulder and then back to her face. “What happened to you?”

“Like you didn’t know.” Amy pushed by her. “I’m sure I wasn’t your target, but hurrah for you. You got Adam in the blast.”

Paulie stumbled back. “Adam? He’s dead?”

“Nice performance.” Amy half-heartedly clapped. “You deserve an Oscar. Better yet, jail time.”

“I don’t have time for your crap today.” She stepped into the back office and dropped into a chair. Violet eyes that matched her hair stared at Amy. “What happened?”

No malice, or gloating, only shock.

“Someone put a bomb in his oven. Whoever it was didn’t count on me being there.”

“Are you alright?” She rolled her eyes. “Of course, you are. You’re standing here accusing me as always.”

“I’d ask where you were on Friday night, but I’m sure you have an alibi. Wouldn’t do the dirty work yourself.”

“I was here. Working and I had no reason to harm my delivery driver.” Her voice boomed.

Amy analyzed her old friend, slash enemy. She was one of two things—the best liar in the world, or innocent. Amy’s gut voted to believe her and she didn’t believe her own mom off the bat.

“So, if you didn’t do it, who did? And don’t tell me that your brother is innocent. It’s a mighty big coincidence that after we bust Adam for drugs, he gets attacked. It was kept quiet but somehow it leaked.”

A low voice chimed in from the doorway. “That sounds like you have a problem in your police department.”

Amy whirled around. Stephen. “And what would you know about that?”

“I don’t have the faintest idea of what you're talking about.”

“Bullshit.” Just like when we were kids. She couldn’t see Paulie hiring someone to kill Adam, but Stephen… Hell yes.

“I was shocked to hear of Adam’s death. And you.” He shook his head. “You have such a dangerous job.”

She noticed he didn’t say he was glad she was alright. Bastard.

“Then you wouldn’t mind handing me your cellphone.” She held out a hand.

His nostrils flared. “Do you have a warrant?”

“If you don’t have anything to hide, then why would I need one?”

“If it will stop her from harassing us for good, just do it. Here.” Paulie dropped her phone on the desk.

Stephen stared at his sister like she was cuckoo. “I can’t believe you’d cave to this persecution.”

He turned and his heels bit a sharp clip as he stomped away.

“Stephen—” Paulie called.

“Let him go. We’ll pick him up later.” Amy leaned against the wall and rubbed her arm.

“Enough already. Go.”

Amy cocked her head. “You really don’t know what Stephen and your father have been doing all this time.”

She dropped into the chair. “Is Adam really dead?”

“Yes.”