Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 126682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
“Mm.” He darkens the screen of his phone. “Send me the names and contact details of those friends who stayed until three.”
“The babysitter we hired for last night will be able to validate what happened,” Livy adds. “Sav, you should give Detective Jordan her number.”
Good idea, seeing that Kevin dropped Rosemary off at her apartment soon after she regained consciousness. She can attest to the fact that Mary drugged her and that when she woke up, Claire was gone. As for what happened after, she wouldn’t know. She doesn’t know my wife risked her life to go after a dangerous killer. The text message I sent her at three this morning only said we’d found Claire.
Jordan nods but observes us with unhidden doubt. Phrasing it like an accusation, he says, “You didn’t report the kidnapping.”
“As I said, Detective Jordan,” Anya says, “I didn’t want to lay charges. This wasn’t the first time my mom did something so outrageous. It was a pattern with her, which is why I admitted her to the center from which she escaped.”
“Yes,” Jordan drawls. “I already spoke to the superintendent at the rehab.”
“Shall I go down to the morgue to identify the body?” Anya asks, unable to hide the tremor in her words.
“We identified her from the photo we have on file when you reported her missing,” he says. “But yes, that will be necessary. I advise all three of you to cancel any travel plans you might have made.”
“Are you accusing us of something?” I ask.
“Not yet,” he says, his mouth lifting in the corner. “I’ll be in touch if I need you to come down to the station.”
My reply is smooth. “I’ll inform my lawyer.”
His phone rings just as he stands. He presses the phone to his ear, and then his taunting expression slips. After listening for a while, he says with a bunching jaw, “Keep me in the loop.”
“More bad news?” I ask when he hangs up.
He narrows his eyes. “An explosion claimed several casualties this morning. The bodies have just been identified.” Pausing, he looks between us. “Raphael Morelli and one of his men were also found shot dead at the site, which happens to be not far from the motel.”
Livy sucks in a breath. I have to admire her acting skills.
Anya, on the other hand, is as white as a sheet of paper. She’s not faking her distress. “Could that be related to the kidnapping?”
I rub her back in soothing circles. “It seems too much of a coincidence.”
“Did the superintendent mention that Raphael Morelli visited my mother at the rehab center the day before she escaped?” Anya asks the detective. “I just found out recently myself.”
Jordan’s eyebrows climb up to his hairline. For the first time, his façade cracks, and a sliver of doubt creeps in. “No, he didn’t mention that.” Suspicion is thick in his voice. “How did you find out?”
“I visited Bertrand to see how he was doing. As you know, my mom stabbed him. It came up in our conversation.”
Jordan’s shoulders slump. He blows air through his nostrils. “I’ll let you know what we find out.”
My, “Thanks,” sounds genuine. I push to my feet and take my cane from the side of the sofa. “I’ll see you out.”
I walk the detective to his car not out of politeness but to make sure he leaves. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to snoop around. To be on the safe side, I instruct a guard to scan the house, the gardens, and the vehicles for bugs and listening devices. Who knows what Jordan may have dropped on his way in?
When I get back inside, a message comes through from my forensics contact. I scan over the laboratory data before reading his feedback. After sending a quick reply to thank him, I forward the results to Nicole. I’m more cryptic in my message to Rosemary, only saying the drug is harmless and that I’ll cover the bill for a full medical checkup. I tell her to expect a call from Jordan and that Mary Brennan was found dead. Then I go in search of the women to tell them the news.
Anya and Livy are in the kitchen. Anya is filling the kettle with water, and Livy is scrambling eggs. Claire sits in her highchair by the island counter, playing with a baby-safe rubber giraffe.
“I just got the results from the tests we ran on that cake,” I say.
Anya and Livy stop what they’re doing to look at me.
“Mary used a tasteless and odorless sleep remedy in a concentrated dosage. Rosemary may have a headache due to the dehydrating side effect of the drug, but she shouldn’t have any lasting symptoms.”
“That’s a relief,” Livy says, turning her attention back to the stove.
Anya switches on the kettle. “I’ve been thinking about it non-stop since this morning.” She leans on the counter and chews her lip as she seemingly reflects for a while before saying, “If my mom gave Claire the same drug, she would’ve had to give it to her via a bottle or an injection. I looked, but I didn’t see any needle marks on Claire’s body, which makes me think she opted for a bottle. As we didn’t find anything in Claire’s crib or in her room or anywhere else on the property for that matter, she must’ve taken it with her when she left.”