Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“Okay, fine. Let’s go and get this thing over with.”
Rooks let out a defeated sigh, then nodded.
I did the same, then went to get Ford.
The ride to the police station was quiet. We were all tense and lost in our own thoughts. I stared out the window, trying to brace myself for yet another meeting with Detective Joyner. I wasn’t looking forward to it. I knew we’d just end up leaving with more questions than answers, but Mom clung to the hope that he would have something new for us.
When we arrived, it was even more crowded than the day before, and the entire place reeked of BO and feet, which made me even less thrilled to be there. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait long. Detective Joyner was expecting us and called us right back. His tie was slightly askew, and he looked more tired than the last time we saw him. I hoped that meant he’d been hitting it hard and would have something for us, but he was quick to say, “As of now, we don’t have any new developments.”
He gestured for us to sit, but Rooks stood near the door with his arms crossed. A scowl marked his face as he asked, “Do you have any developments at all?”
“I’m afraid not,” Joyner answered, flipping through the folder on his desk. “We’re still following up on leads and reviewing the surveillance footage.”
I glanced over at Mom and found her pulling Ford protectively to her side. She was trying to stay composed, but she was struggling. I couldn’t exactly blame her. She’d just lost her husband, and her home had been violated. If that wasn’t bad enough, her daughter was furious with her, and her two children were at odds.
That thought had me turning my attention to Rooks. I could tell he wasn’t pleased about Joyner’s lack of information, but I didn’t know how unpleased he was until he spat, “And what about the files from my dad’s office? Have you figured out what was taken yet?”
“As I told your mother, we’re still cataloging everything.” Joyner sighed, leaning back in his chair. “It takes time.”
I watched the vein in Rooks’ neck start to bulge as he snapped, “There are important documents in that office.”
“I’m aware, and I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
“Are you? Are you really?” Rooks gave him a smug look. “Cause from where I’m standing, it doesn’t look like you give a shit about anything except where your next meal is coming from.”
“Now, son, I know you’re upset about your father and all, but throwing jabs isn’t going to get you anywhere.”
“I want access to my father’s office. Both of them.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible, at least not yet. We’re still in the middle of an investigation, and…”
“How long is this investigation going to last?”
“I can’t answer that. As I said earlier, these things take time.”
“We have a right to know if they’ve been taken!”
“Rooks,” Mom scolded.
It was barely a whisper, but it was enough to make him take a breath and back down. I had no idea why Rooks was so worried about the documents in Dad’s office. It wasn’t like he was a big-time politician with dark secrets he was hiding in his closet. He was a real estate lawyer.
It made no sense—unless he knew something I didn’t.
Joyner clicked his pen as he said, “I understand this is difficult, but we’re doing everything we can. I’ve got a lot of men on this, and we will find the people responsible for killing your father.”
Rooks muttered something under his breath and looked away.
I wanted to say something to ease the tension, but I just didn’t have it in me. I was too tired. We all were.
Detective Joyner asked Ford a few random questions, and that was it.
He’d left us with more questions than answers.
As we left the station, Ford reached up and took my hand. I squeezed his little fingers, feeling their warmth, and tried to convince myself that this nightmare would be over soon. But with each passing hour, the hope of answers seemed further and further away.
9
SEVEN
“Isaw where Tom Warren was murdered.”
“Yeah, I heard about that.”
“You think he was the reason I had my bad feeling?”
“There’s no telling.” It had been a couple of days since we’d last talked, and when Mom called tonight, I was hoping things had settled with her. Clearly, that wasn’t the case. “You still having it?”
“Yes, but it’s not like it was before.” She paused for a minute to think, then sighed, “More like a gnawing feeling.”
“Like the worst is yet to come?”
“Oh, I don’t know about that, but I do wonder what Tom’s death will mean for you.”
“About that…” I didn’t see any point in keeping it from her, so I told her, “I saw Tallie.”
“You did? When?”
“A couple of nights ago.”