Page 46 of Little Bitter Truths
“I don’t know her.”
“You work for the same company.”
“That doesn’t mean I know her.”
“You knew her enough to get angry with her when she got the position you wanted.”
He huffed a long sigh.“I wasn’t angry ather.I mean, maybe I was a little angry.I was just caught off guard, and I was disappointed it happened the way it did.”
“Tell me about it.”
“There’s not much to tell.”His jaw tightened.“I was told the promotion was mine, and everyone who worked there knew it.Then, out of nowhere, they brought in someone new and handed what I’d worked years to achieve over to her.She hadn’t even done anything to earn it.”
“You were frustrated, and you got upset, and then you caused a scene.”
“I raised my voice.”
“You followed her into one of the offices.What did you say to her?”
“I told her she didn’t deserve the job, and that she took something that belonged to me.”
“Did you threaten her?”
“No.”
“Why do you think Mia got the job over you?”
He gave the question some thought.“A few months before I was supposed to be promoted, my former boss retired.On her last day, she called me into her office and assured me the promotion was still mine.She said she would talk to the man taking over her position.I believe she did, but he still didn’t give it to me.”
“Why not?”
“Let’s just say we didn’t get along from the start.He thought my management style was outdated, and he wanted me to embrace change and try new things.I tried, but my efforts still weren’t enough.”
Karl’s shoulders sagged.It was clear the promotion meant more to him than a title.It represented years of effort, and watching it go to someone else had left a mark.
Not wanting to press him further on such a sensitive subject, I switched topics.
“Have you heard about what happened to Mia’s sister, Wren?”I asked.
“I imagine everyone has by now.I may have been frustrated that she got the promotion instead of me, but I’d never wish something like that on anyone.”
I leaned back, crossing my arms.“I have reason to believe the person who killed Wren meant to kill Mia instead.”
For a moment, he seemed to struggle for words.“What do you mean?”
“They were twins, almost identical in looks.”
He stared at me in confusion, and then I watched the realization wash over him.“Are you thinking I had something to do with Wren’s murder?If you are, that’s insane.I’ve never … I could never … no.You have it all wrong.”
Before I had a chance to respond, the door swung open, and my mother swept into the room like she’d been given an invitation.
“It was just as I thought,” she said to Karl.“You’re a suspect in the murder investigation my daughter is working on, aren’t you?”
Karl recoiled.
“Mom, that’s enough,” I said.
“What’s wrong?”she said, dragging out a chair and plopping down next to us.“It’s true, isn’t it?”
