Page 52 of Night Watch
“I’ll be staying out here, ma’am,” Aiden said, taking Kennedy’s attention. “Go ahead and leave the door cracked open.”
Nora eyed him for a very long time then left the door ajar. “Go ahead and have a seat. Would you like some coffee? I just brewed some. I have fresh raspberry Danishes.”
“Nothing for me, but thank you,” Kennedy said.
Erik leaned against the wall. “I’m good.”
“Your hand. What happened?” Nora asked, sounding concerned.
“A turtle bit me while I was diving.” Kennedy smiled to play it down and spotted a family photo on the sofa table. She lifted it and studied it. “Are these your children?”
Nora perched on the edge of a stiff, mauve high-backed chair. “It’s nearly five years old now, but yes. It was taken the year before my husband passed.”
“Do they live in the area?” Erik asked.
Nora swung her head to look at him. “All but my youngest daughter. She’s in Denver. And all are married now with children of their own. I have six grandchildren.” She smiled and smoothed her gray hair that she’d pulled back in a severe bun.
“What do they do for a living?”
Nora’s eyebrow went up. “Are you here to talk about my family or your mother?”
“Both, I guess,” Kennedy said, but Erik made a brief slashing motion across his neck.Okay.He didn’t want her to talk about Nora’s sons. “Mostly my mom, I guess.”
Kennedy returned the frame to the table and sat on the beige-and-blue camelback sofa across from Nora.
Erik dropped down next to Kennedy and focused on Nora. “Did you believe the ME’s findings that Wanda either took her own life or accidentally took too many blood pressure pills?”
Nora laced her fingers together in her lap. “Not really, but it was the only logical explanation.” She looked at Kennedy. “Sorry, sweetheart, but I also don’t think Wanda was murdered. I just don’t see any reason for that.”
“What about the counterfeit pharmaceutical dealers?” Kennedy asked. “They would have wanted her to end her project without completion.”
“Sure, yes, I suppose, and they probably have access to drugs that could be used. Still, she didn’t get any threats or odd contacts. At least not that I knew about, and we were friends. She shared se—she would’ve told me.”
“What were you going to say?” Erik asked.
“Nothing. It’s nothing.” Nora clamped her hands on her bony knees. “It’s just…how would they give the pills to her? They would’ve had to force them down her throat, but there was no sign of struggle.”
“Perhaps they had help from someone close to Wanda?” Erik pinned Nora with such an intense gaze that she flinched.
“Me?” She lifted her hand to her chest again. “Are you thinking I did it? Why would I want to hurt Wanda?”
“Money,” Erik said.
“I don’t need money.”
“Then why work at your age?” Erik asked.
Anger flashed in Nora’s eyes. “I enjoy the challenge and stimulation. Not that it’s easy to find a job. Age discrimination is prevalent. I can’t prove it. Everyone’s too careful for that. Still, God willing, I plan to work until I drop dead.” She ran her gaze over them. “Something you young things wouldn’t understand, but feeling useful is what makes me tick.”
“How long have you lived here?” Kennedy asked.
“Moved in after my husband passed. I liked it because it was all updated.” Nora jutted out her pointy chin and crossed her arms. “Why is that relevant?”
“Just curious.”
“Do you or any of your sons own a gun?” Erik asked.
“My sons?” She tightened her arms. “Why is that any of your business?”
