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Asher leaned forward, staring at her intently. “I need to understand your brother’s involvement with your ex-husband.”
Her face suddenly lost all of its color. “We should not be talking about this.” She rose, fidgeting her hands. “You should go. I know nothing about any of this.”
Which, of course, told Asher she knew something. He’d let the Whitby Falls PD know that she might be someone to interview in regard to Fanning’s death, but Asher’s focus was on Remy and her safety. “A very good friend of mine almost married Andrew recently,” he explained gently, not moving from his spot. “Instead of healing now, she’s dealing with your brother coming around and asking questions. We suspect he is behind a recent break-in at her home. That’s why we’re here.”
Christine watched Asher a moment, her eyes sad, and she returned to her seat. “There’s been another victim?”
Asher nodded. “And just like you, she doesn’t deserve what happened to her. Your brother wants something from her. I need to understand what that is so I can help her.”
Christine twirled her finger in her hair, looking everywhere but at him. “I’m not sure why you think I can help you. I’ve only seen my brother twice in the past four years.”
“Is there are reason for that?” Rhett asked.
She gave Rhett a quick look, then glanced away. “My choice. I…I don’t like who my brother surrounds himself with. He understands and respects that.”
Asher had seen cops and FBI agents alike interrogate criminals and interview families of criminals. He’d seen them go up against people and fail. And he’d learned from their failures. “Christine, look at me,” he said softly. She jerked her head up, blinking rapidly. “I see that you’re afraid of your brother, and I understand why. Lars will never know that we’ve come to talk to you. But I need you to understand that a woman I care a great deal about—a woman whose life has been shattered—now has your brother breathing down her neck. Think of what that would be like for her.”
Her bottom lip trembled, and her head bowed. “I won’t be able to stop him. I can’t help you.”
Asher softened his voice further to comfort her. “I know you can’t stop him. I wouldn’t ask you to, but you can tell me what you know about your ex-husband and what Lars could want from him.”
Christine hesitated for a long moment and wrung her flighty hands together. “I went to Lars when I had suspicions about Andrew.” She finally looked at Asher, tears in her eyes. “By the time Lars had confirmation that Andrew was stealing my money, he’d already run.” Her voice broke. “I didn’t know, you know…what would happen to Andrew.”
“That’s not why I’m here, Christine,” he told her. “Please, think, what could Lars want from Andrew?”
Christine’s eyes darted from Asher to Rhett and then back to Asher again. “I honestly don’t know.” She paused, her gaze flicking up to the ceiling.
“Anything will help, Christine,” Asher pressed.
She looked back at Asher straight in the eye. “There is one thing you should know about my brother. He’s honor-bound to protect h
is family. If he feels anyone has threatened or hurt them, he won’t stop until he gets revenge.”
Asher read between the lines. “So, in his mind, you think he feels that my friend has done something to hurt your family?”
She shrugged. “That’s the only thing I can think of that would keep him hanging around.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Rhett said with a snort. “There’s gotta be something more.”
Christine challenged him with a fierce stare. “I’m telling you, I know my brother. If he is pursuing her for any reason, and doesn’t seem to back off, it’s because she’s done something that Lars feels has hurt me.”
Asher glanced at Rhett, who frowned.
“This woman,” Christine said, drawing Asher’s attention back to her. “Are you sure she’s as innocent as you believe?”
“Beyond a doubt,” Asher stated clearly.
Christine hesitated enough to draw in a deep breath. “Well then, all I can think of is that maybe she’s done something that’s made Lars believe she’s not Andrew’s victim, but is his partner.”
Chapter 17
A few minutes after five o’clock, Remy stepped out into the cold, cloudy fall afternoon and locked the shop’s front door as Kinsley said behind her, “I’m not supposed to leave you.”
“You’ve got a bar to run and they need you for a minute,” Remy said, turning around. Kinsley’s employees called, reporting missing booze from the storage room. “I just want to grab some plants and take them over to Asher’s, then I’ll be right back. I’m fine. Meet me back here in fifteen minutes.”
Kinsley firmed her stance and crossed her arms. “No.”
Remy rolled her eyes, hating the fuss, but loving them all for it too. “Okay, how about I get the cop at the back to follow me to Asher’s place. Sound good?”
