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He shook his head. “The detective told me that father had a script. He had problems sleeping.”
“But isn’t that a date rape drug?”
“According to the detective, Father’s doctor revealed that Dad suffered from severe insomnia, and after trying other sedatives, he prescribed those.”
I walked around the room then stood at the window, staring absently at the forest in the distance. My eyes settled on a circling raven in the sky. I stretched my fingers out of my clenched fists. Dissecting our father’s personal life challenged me. I preferred to think of him as that affectionate father who didn’t engage in kinky practices. Family secrets were best kept hidden. Despite me possessing a curious nature, snooping around was not in my DNA.
“So what else?” I asked.
“There was another man there for sure.” He paused. “He’d partaken in some form of sexual activity because they found DNA on him.”
“One of those weird sex acts using strangulation?” I gritted my teeth.
He ran his hands over his face. “Maybe.”
“But why take a sedative?” I shook my head.
“The visitor called the ambulance. But they only found Father. The caller didn’t leave any details, and the phone was untraceable.”
“That proves he had something to hide,” I said, walking to the decanter for another shot. “Isn’t there any CCTV footage?”
He shook his head. “It wasn’t working.”
“That’s suspicious, isn’t it?” I asked.
He exhaled. “The detective seems to think so. They didn’t find anything on Father’s phone to suggest a booking.”
“By ‘booking,’ you mean with a prostitute?”
“I’m not sure what to think, to be honest.” He rubbed his neck.
When Theadora walked in, his face brightened. “How did you go?”
I rose and kissed my sister-in-law, and she smiled before turning to Declan. “I passed.”
“Theadora’s just got her teaching degree.” Pride flickered in Declan’s eyes. He draped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her.
“Well done,” I said, genuinely pleased for Theadora, if not a little sympathetic, considering my mother’s cold reception towards her.
After learning of their marriage, my mother claimed that since he’d “married down,” I would have to marry up.
In defence of my new sister-in-law, I said, “Thea’s a talented musician. Think of the good-looking babies.”
“You have to stop this new-girl-a-night lothario act,” she persisted.
“I don’t do that anymore.” I thought of Mirabel. My mother would love her. Not.
I returned my attention to Declan. “What do you make of Dad’s murder?”
My mother walked in just as Declan opened his mouth.
She paused, raised her chin almost dismissively at Thea, and I felt for the poor girl. “You’re all here.”
“Where’s Savvie?” I asked Declan.
“She’s in London. She’s hiring a PI.” He turned to our mother.
“Why?” Her forehead creased.
