Page 93 of Day Break

I shook my head and motioned to my family. I was too busy assessing them. I needed answers. I needed to watch them.

Chloe nodded before heading out.

The instant the back door shut, several of my family members turned to me.

“Why is she still here?” Phillip asked.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Really, Lane, you shouldn’t let her continue to be here,” Reba said. “After all, her employment here is over.”

“I’m sure once George’s will is read tomorrow and his estate is in order, she’ll understand she needs to move on,” my mother chimed in.

“She’s not going anywhere,” I said firmly, angry that they assumed my grandfather’s estate could be so easily obtained.

“Besides, probate can take months even years,” my father said.

The rest of my family gasped.

“But you know what his will says, right?” my uncle asked.

“No.” I shook my head and frowned. “I don’t. Why would I?”

“You… he hired you as his lawyer,” my cousin said.

“His estate lawyer, yes. I handled things like moving his legal obligations around. Opening trust accounts. Dealing with his retirement and investments. Lee Steinbeck has handled his will for the past two decades.”

My entire family went quiet. For a moment, I wondered if any of them believed me.

They continued to sit in silence until every last one of them was interviewed.

Chloe and Byron returned just as the detective and Officer Whitlock asked to speak with me privately.

“Well?” I asked once I shut the study door. “Anything?”

“Not yet. We’ll need to check a few of your family members alibies,” Whitlock said.

“For now, I’ve ruled out a simple break-in, since you confirmed last night that nothing was taken,” the detective said.

Even though there was a lot of blood last night, I hadn’t really seen how my grandfather had died.

“Can you…” I swallowed the distaste I had just thinking about asking the question. “Can you tell me how he died?” I finished.

Whitlock glanced at the detective, who nodded quickly.

“Since you and Chloe Dawn are no longer suspects after my conversation with Detective Malory earlier, I’m free to share that information.” The detective sighed. “Your grandfather was hit over the head with something.”

“He was attacked from behind,” Whitlock added.

“We think he knew his attacker and let them in. We believe that he was killed when he went to let the dog out.”

“What time?” I asked, needing more information.

“Between seven thirty and eight. You and Miss Dawn must have arrived half an hour to fifteen minutes later,” the detective said.

I sank into one of the chairs and put my head in my hands.

“If we hadn’t stopped for dinner,” I groaned. “Or if we’d eaten on the road.”