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Loyal turned and saw Asher jogging across the lot. Honor moved back outside meet his brother on the sidewalk, so he continued inside in time to hear the lady ahead of them ask the front desk officer for Detective Kushner.
“He asked me to come down and identify the woman who stole from me.”
Loyal’s pulse skipped before racing at warp-speed. That was too much of a coincidence.
He moved closer as the officer requested her name, then instructed her to wait right there. Martha Rowen looked to be about in her mid-sixties, her clothes likely designer to go with her Coach handbag, her rich auburn hair stylish and obviously—though expertly—colored.
Hearing Honor and Asher behind them, he discreetly motioned them to stay back. Asher frowned and took another step. Loyal gave a fierce head shake, then smiled with sympathy when the woman at the counter glanced his way.
“Hi. Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear. Hope you get your money back.”
“It’s not the money.” She sniffed with disdain. “She preyed on my grief, promising me she’d be able to talk to my Jack one last time.”
The séance woman.
“I’m sorry,” he said again. “Was Jack your husband?”
“My son. Not only did I not get to talk to him, but she charged me twice.”
He shook his head. “That’s terrible. Why would she charge you twice?”
“I sent her a check, but when she showed up at my house for the…ah, ceremony…” She paused, shooting him a quick glance as if afraid he’d judge. He offered an encouraging smile and she continued. “She said she didn’t receive the check and insisted I pay her cash right there before Jack’s spirit crossed over. Weeks later, she cashed the check she said had been lost. I had forgotten to cancel it.”
“How much was it?”
The woman looked away with a grimace. “Twelve hundred dollars.”
Roxanna’s mysterious check. Had her mother instructed the woman to send it to the shop, or had it been a mix-up?
Detective Kushner approached the counter, giving Loyal a hard look before turning to the lady. “Mrs. Rowen, thank you for coming in. If you will please come with me?”
“I’d like to come with as well,” Loyal said.
The bald detective gave him a stern look while holding open the half-door for the woman to pass through. “There’s no need.”
“Please.” He lifted the papers. “I have information you’ll find enlightening, and after Mrs. Rowen says her piece, I think we can clear some things up.”
He drew in a deep breath, then blew it out in a huff. “Fine. But you will keep your mouth shut until I say you can speak, understand? Do not interfere or you’ll be out so fast your head will spin.”
Loyal nodded solemnly, before turning to his brother and Honor as he followed Mrs. Rowen. “Both of you fill Gavin in when he gets here, please.”
“Will do,” Asher promised as Honor nodded.
When they reached the room where Roxanna was being held, one look at her through the shaded glass and Loyal’s chest constricted in pain. Her loneliness was palpable. He wanted to rip the door off the hinges and pull her into his arms and tell her she’d never be alone again. Seeing the cuffs still on her slender wrists made his fists clench with anger.
All of a sudden, she stiffened and swiveled her face toward the glass. Beside him, Mrs. Rowen sucked in a soft breath.
“Is that her?” Detective Kushner asked.
Loyal held his breath as he waited for her answer.
Chapter 29
Roxanna’s breath shallowed out when a prickle along the nape of her neck told her she was no longer alone. No one had entered the room, so she stiffened her spine and turned her head toward the mirror.
A long minute later, the door opened and her heart lurched hard when she saw Loyal with Detective Kushner and an older lady.
He’s here! her heart sang.
