Page 6 of Little Bitter Truths
“I’ve been worried about her.She hadn’t acted like herself since the separation.”
“In what way?”
“She was quiet.Too quiet.She’d always been the easygoing one, the one who made a room feel less heavy just by walking into it.She was … I don’t know, distant.I thought being in my house might help—to get her away from the place she and Cooper had shared.I hoped the change of scenery would do her some good.”
“I imagine watching Coco gave her purpose.Did anyone besides Wren have access to your house?”
“My cleaning lady has a key.”
“What’s her name?”
“Vera Quinn.She’s the owner of Sweep Dreams.”
“How long ago did you hire her?”
“Right after I moved here.The house wasn’t the cleanest when I moved in, and since I jumped right into the new job, I didn’t have time to deal with it.”
“You said before that it’s hard for you to let people in.Weren’t you worried about giving a key to a woman you’d just met?”
“Oh, I did my due diligence.I even contacted a few of Vera’s clients.They had nothing but good things to say about her.And I figured, even if they were wrong, I keep all my valuables in a safe.”
“Do you know if Wren’s husband tried to contact her while she was staying with you?”
Her eyes narrowed, and she frowned.“I don’t.Why?You don’t think he’s to blame for what happened, do you?”
“I don’t know what to think, not until I speak with him.”
She shook her head.“Cooper didn’t have anything to do with Wren’s death.He’s one of the gentlest, most caring people I’ve ever met.”
Gentle and caring had their place.
They didn’t make him innocent.
“I understand how you feel about him, but I don’t start my investigations by deciding what someonewouldn’tdo,” I said.“I start by figuring out what they might be capable of if they’re pushed too far.”
She looked away, her expression telling me she disagreed.
“The police are doing their job,” she said.“They check in, give me updates, keep me in the loop about what they’re doing and who they’re talking to, but they’re just not coming up with any good leads.It’s frustrating.”
“Chief Foley and Detective Whitlock are two of the finest men I know,” I said.“And they’re thorough.They just need time.”
“You know them?”she asked.
“The chief is married to my sister, and Whitlock is a family friend.He was a detective alongside my father.”
“Have they told you much about the case?”
“Bits and pieces,” I said.“Not everything.”
“What did they say?”
“Most of what I’d already seen on the news,” I said.“There was a home invasion, followed by a murder.No arrests have been made, and so far there’s no clear motive as to why your sister was murdered.”
“Seems to me the police are struggling to solve my sister’s case.It’s the reason I’m here.I’m hoping you can give me the answers they can’t.Will you help me?”
I nodded.
A faint smile crossed her lips.“I’m glad to hear it.Whoever killed her needs to be brought to justice before something like this happens again.”
