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“Well, it’s such a shame,” Remy said with sad eyes. “We’re going to have to fix this and get it back in tiptop shape.”
She went to walk by him, and he grabbed her again, picked her up in his arms. He loved the surprised gasp she gave, as much as he loved that she didn’t stop him from kissing her. He kept the kiss soft and sweet and backed away before she could remember her kissing rules. “Did you sleep well?” he asked, placing her back onto her feet.
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She nodded. “Like a log until Salem jumped on my head.”
Asher laughed and tugged on the sweater. “I like this on you.”
“I know.” She grinned up at him with heat and promise. “That’s why I put it on.” She turned and headed into the house.
He followed, then locked the door behind him. “Listen, I’m going to drop you off at your shop. I’ve got somewhere I need to be, but I texted Kinsley and she’s going to come and hang with you for the day. Plus, we’ve still got a cruiser at your place.” When he turned around, he found her frowning at him. “What?”
She studied him a moment with her hands on her hips. “What you are you up to?”
“Nothing.”
Her brows raised.
“Nothing that needs to concern you,” he appeased.
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re not going to get all protective and do something stupid with Lars are you?”
The old him would have, but just as Remy wasn’t that innocent girl anymore, Asher wasn’t that hot-headed kid either. He shook his head. “The chief has given me a direct order to stay away from Lars.”
“All right,” she eventually said, obviously believing him. “I’ll be ready in a jiffy.”
“Great.” He smiled, moving back into the kitchen to make them both coffee.
While he couldn’t talk with Lars today, he did have a plan, and that plan was set into motion after he dropped Remy off at her shop and waited for Kinsley to arrive. After that, with Rhett sitting in the passenger seat, Asher made the three-hour drive to Portland. He’d purposely left Boone behind, since Boone wouldn’t approve of this visit. Rhett was always up for a little trouble, and Asher couldn’t sit around and do nothing. He needed answers and he’d get them.
The GPS finally indicated to turn off the I-295, and a handful of turns later, they were driving into the suburbs and pulled into a gorgeous home with manicured lawns and a black BMW sitting in the driveway. Asher pulled in beside the car, then cut the engine. “Now we know why Fanning targeted Violi’s sister,” he said, opening the car’s door.
Rhett whistled and began getting out. “That car alone costs more than our yearly salaries combined.”
Asher followed him out and then sidled up to him. They strode toward the limestone bungalow and Asher knocked on the dark oak wooden front door with a wrought iron lion’s head doorknocker.
The door opened a moment later to a slender woman in her mid-forties. Violi’s sister looked identical to the photograph he’d seen. Dark eyes, dark hair, and full lips and pink cheeks. “Christine?” Asher asked.
She opened the door a little wider. “I take it you’re the detectives from Stoney Creek?”
When Asher called Christine to see if she’d talk face-to-face with them, he wasn’t sure how to take her willingness. Now he suspected she had nothing to hide. “We are. I’m detective Asher Sullivan.” He gestured at Rhett. “This is my partner, Detective Rhett West.” They exchanged a handshake before Asher continued. “I’m very grateful that you agreed to speak to us.”
“Of course.” She moved out of the doorway and let them enter. “Please come in, but I’m not sure what else I can tell you about Andrew.”
Andrew aka Damon aka Kyle. “We just have some questions of our own about what happened with Andrew,” Asher said, removing his shoes and following behind her into her sitting room. The furniture was pristine, everything too new, too nice. Asher almost didn’t want to sit down.
Rhett actually didn’t take a seat. He moved to the window and stood there, folding his arms across his chest.
That’s why Rhett didn’t deal with victims. His broodiness made people uncomfortable. Boone was usually the brains when it came to a case. Rhett had great attention to detail with evidence. Asher had a way with victims, and always had. People trusted him. He had an innate instinct when to push and when to pull back. Everyone talked with Asher and gave up information they might not even have known they were withholding. That was a skill that had caught the FBI recruiter’s attention in the police academy, and that’s what led to the job offer.
Asher wanted Christine to be comfortable and to start talking. He sat across from her, extending his arm along the back of the couch, projecting ease. “I am so very sorry to hear what happened to you with Andrew. We’ve had a similar case in Stoney Creek against him. What happened to you shouldn’t happen to anymore.”
She glanced away and gave a little shrug. “Yeah, well, as much as I hate him, I was sorry to hear of his passing.”
Asher stared blankly at this woman. She was the polar opposite of what he expected to find today, and also the exact opposite of her brother. He took that in and gave Rhett a quick look before he focused back on Christine. “We actually haven’t come to talk about your ex-husband per se, but to discuss your brother, Lars Violi.”
“My brother?” she asked, wide-eyed. “Why?”
