Page 53 of Night Watch
Kennedy leaned forward and cast a sympathetic look her way. “I’m sorry that we have to ask. But someone broke into my mom’s house and threatened me with a gun.”
“Oh, my dear.” Nora reached out but dropped her hand before touching Kennedy. “I’m so sorry.”
Kennedy tried to smile, but she couldn’t dredge one up. “If you’re involved in my mother’s death, you might’ve asked one of your sons to break into the house.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake.” Nora rolled her eyes. “They know nothing about this except that your mom died and my job ended.”
“What about your last job?” Erik asked. “Why did that one end?”
“Sounds like you already know. And so did Wanda.” Nora pulled her shoulders into a hard line and cast Erik a disgusted look. “Petty cash that I was in charge of went missing. They couldn’t prove who stole it, but they fired me for negligence. Let me tell you, it was obvious they thought I was guilty. But why would I risk being arrested for five hundred dollars when I don’t need money? Fools. That’s what they are, and good riddance, I say. I don’t want to work for anyone who would think I was a thief.”
Erik nodded as if he believed her, but Kennedy knew Nora was holding something back and it was making Kennedy mad. What could Nora be hiding and why was she hiding something?
“Do you know what Wanda did outside of work?” Erik asked.
“When did she have time to do anything but sleep?” Nora stood and glared down on them. “I think we’re done here.”
Interesting. What about Erik’s question set Nora off?
Erik didn’t stand, just leaned back as if getting comfortable. “One more question. Did you do anything with Wanda’s phone when you found her in the lab?”
She didn’t answer right away but stared down at Erik. “Like I said. We’re done here.”
“We’ve fingerprinted Wanda’s phone. Will we find your prints on it?”
“I helped Wanda manage her phone, but she kept it clean, so probably not.”
“Would you come in to the Veritas lab to be fingerprinted?”
“If the police request it. Such an invasion of my privacy.” Nora eyed him. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a job interview I need to get to.”
Kennedy stood. “I’m sorry we had to ask these questions.”
Nora offered a sad smile. “I was friends with your mother, and she would be so disappointed to hear I’m being treated as a suspect.”
“Please don’t take it personally.” Erik got up but he didn’t take his penetrating focus from Nora. “The person who finds a body is always suspected of involvement in a homicide until ruled out.”
Nora sniffed. “The police didn’t think I had anything to do with Wanda’s death.”
“Because they didn’t think she was murdered.” Kennedy widened her stance and didn’t bother hiding her frustration. “But I’m going to prove that she was, so if youdidhave anything to do with it and you’re not telling us everything, you should know I’m coming for you.”
Nora blanched, but guilt flooded her face.
“Weare.” Erik stepped up beside Kennedy, his stance firm and unmoving. “If you’re involved,we arecoming for you.”
Erik got Kennedy safely ensconced in the SUV, and Aiden merged into traffic. He’d pulled the older brother card to drive them home, but all he’d had to do was ask, since Erik wanted to be free to protect Kennedy if the need arose.
Erik glanced at his brother. “Do you have time to look into Nora’s sons and get those alibis?”
“Sure thing.”
They both let their gazes rove over the area close to the city made up of older buildings with retail on the ground floor and apartments above. They had a job to do, even if the vehicle had full bulletproof protection. No one could hurt Kennedy right now unless they planted a bomb or rammed a vehicle into the side where she sat. The first was unlikely. The second was possible. Once they turned the corner ahead and merged into traffic Erik would relax. A bit anyway. He wouldn’t fully relax until they walked into his condo again.
And then he had a whole new threat to deal with—his growing attraction to Kennedy. That might not be dangerous to her, but it was to him.
“Did you notice how Nora clammed up when you asked her what my mom did outside of work?” Kennedy asked.
“I did.” Erik glanced over the seat at her. “Do you think your mom could’ve been dating?”
