Page 18 of The Secrets We Hide
Emmy didn’t answer.
Neither did Taybee, because in addition to being a Clifton, as an attorney she knew the person talking was always going to be the person giving too much away.
Emmy relented, “Allison was murdered. Mandy was shot. Her chances of making it are slim.”
Taybee sucked air through her teeth. “Was it Bill?”
Emmy figured she had confirmation to her question. There had been whispers in town about Allison and Bill getting physical with each other, but not many people knew the extent of the abuse. “When did Allison hire you?”
“I’d have to look at my files for the exact date. It was a few months after they got married.”
Emmy had thought she was finished with surprises for the day. “That was six years ago.”
“I tried to refund the retainer when Allison went back to him, but she asked me to hold on to it. Wanted an escape hatch, I guess.” Taybee huffed out a frustrated breath. “She showed up at my office maybe eight months later. Had her arm in a sling. Told me she was really gonna leave him this time. But she didn’t. Then a year later, the same thing, but with a bruise on her face the size of a goose egg. The next time, he ruptured her spleen. This was probably a year ago. We got as far as hiring a forensic accountant to look at the books, but she called it off before Bill could be served.”
Allison had never told Emmy that she’d gotten so close to leaving, but it made sense. Statistically, it took an abused woman roughly seven attempts before she finally managed to leave an abusive man. “Bill said he never formally adopted Mandy.”
Taybee laughed. “Allison told me he used to dangle it over her head. Even got a lawyer to draw up the paperwork. But he never went through with it. God forbid the Garrisons let some of their precious money pass outside the family.”
Emmy didn’t think the Cliftons had much room to talk. Taybee’s farmhouse had been built by one of the original Clifton brothers in the 1800s. She was such a fan of nepotism that she’d married a third cousin once removed.
“I really thought Allison was gonna get away this time.” Taybee’s voice was filled with sadness. “She was so determined.I told her to be careful. Bill never suffered a damn consequence for anything in his life. His family’s always kept him out of trouble.”
Emmy switched the phone to her other ear. “Every time I tried to arrest him, he threatened to have Allison arrested, too. She was terrified of losing her job.”
Taybee’s laugh this time was more of an incredulous bark. “Lady, remember who you’re talking to. No cop is gonna lose their job off a domestic violence charge. She woulda gotten desk duty, then she woulda been back on the street a few months later.”
Emmy stared out the car window. They were turning into Clifton Gardens. Sunflower Trail rolled out ahead of them like an expensive carpet.
Taybee said, “I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this today, cousin. You should be here grieving your mama.”
Emmy had been grieving the loss of her mother since the Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
“Nobody would blink twice if you headed over here for half an hour. I know you like being alone, but times like this, it’s good to be with your people.”
Gregg pulled onto Iris Drive and parked behind the GBI’s crime scene van. Emmy looked at the house. Crisp white trim. New windows and doors. She remembered Jude’s observation—it was a nice place for a cop’s salary. There was no way Allison could’ve afforded it on her own. “How much money did Allison ask for in the divorce?”
Taybee let out a long sigh before she answered. “There was no pre-nup. I was ready to rip out Bill’s short hairs, but she told me all she wanted was her retirement and the clothes on her back. Poor thing was barely getting by with her PI work and consulting jobs. She told me it was worth it just to get away.”
The suitcase in the driveway. The half-packed bag on the bed.
Allison had almost made it.
“Thanks, cousin.” Emmy ended the call. She turned to Gregg. “Find Brett and tell him I need a status update.”
“Yes, chief.”
Emmy got out of the car. Cole was leaning against his cruiserreading his phone. He was wearing his uniform and duty vest instead of his funeral suit, which meant he’d gone home to change in addition to disobeying her order to stay with Jude at Taybee’s.
“Mom.” Cole pocketed his phone when she approached. “I filed search warrant requests for the CCTV from the Lazy Eight motel, all of Allison’s credit card and bank statements, and both her and Mandy’s cell phone records. Uncle Cleetus is still at Taybee’s. He says he’ll sign off on everything as soon as he finishes his cobbler.”
Her clever son was making a show of usefulness, but Emmy hadn’t wanted him to be useful. “I told you to drive your aunt to the farm and stay there with the family.”
“Jude wanted to go home.” He shrugged off the fact that Jude was not his boss. “I need to work, Mom. You know what Papa always said. Keep your head down and do your job.”
Emmy felt her teeth grit. “Did you think to bring me a clean uniform from the house?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
