Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Nick stared at the detective. “What is happening here, Pierce?”
Detective Pierce met Nick’s gaze evenly. They usually worked well together and had won many cases already, even though Nick was still fairly new to the prosecuting attorney’s office in town.
“You’re not under arrest, and you’re free to leave anytime, but I need to question you,” Pierce said. Then he read Nick his rights.
“Why are we here?” I interjected. None of this was making a bit of sense.
Pierce took a deep breath. “I regret to inform you that we found the body of your father last week.”
My jaw dropped. “The bodies that you found in Marsh Mansion, one of those was Nick’s dad?” I swiveled to look at Nick. He paled, but other than that, his expression hadn’t altered. “Nick?”
“Have you informed my mother?” Nick asked.
“No,” Pierce said quietly. “I figured that might be something you wanted to do.”
“Thank you,” Nick ground out.
I was quiet for a moment, trying to read the room. “What’s going on?”
“I’m a suspect,” Nick said quietly, crossing his arms over his muscled chest.
“Oh.” I felt like a kitten in a room full of wolves. The tension, spiraling and heating the atmosphere tried to choke me, and I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as I’d been taught. “I need to speak with my client.”
Nick cut a glance at me and then looked back at the detective. “No, I’m fine. I want to find out what happened and am happy to answer any questions. I take it the cause of death was ruled a homicide for both victims?”
“Yes. The Boise coroner has listed both causes of death as homicide,” Pierce affirmed.
I blinked. Boise? Nick’s uncle worked as our county coroner, so Pierce had sent the bodies to southern Idaho. Made sense. He really had been planning all week. “Nick? We need to talk privately.”
He didn’t move. “I didn’t kill anybody, Anna.”
I vaguely remembered the rumors. I was younger than Nick and both of his brothers, but I remembered the gossip around town when Nick’s dad disappeared. There had been an investigation, and it showed that Nick’s dad liked to hit them. One day, he’d up and disappeared with his secretary. All three boys had bloodied knuckles and bruises the next day. That was so long ago—at least fifteen years. “How did you identify the body?” I asked.
“We found the bodies over a week ago,” Pierce returned. “We used dental records, and they match.”
“You could have had DNA,” Nick said smoothly.
Pierce wore his cop face, and I couldn’t read him. Not really. “We have to do this right. Did you kill your father?”
Nick didn’t blink. “No. Was the other body found that of his secretary?”
“Affirmative,” Pierce said. “Do you remember her name?”
Nick frowned. “Of course, I remember her name. It was Imogen Wilson. I think she was also married when they ran off.”
“She was. We’re reaching out to her husband, as well,” Pierce said.
“Is he local?” I asked.
Pierce shook his head. “I’m sorry, I can’t discuss that with you. Where were you the night your father died, Nick?”
Nick looked at me and then back. “When did he die?”
Good question. I should’ve made Pierce clarify.
“About fifteen years ago,” Pierce said. “The last time he was seen, as far as we know, was the night he and Imogen left Silverville. The police questioned your mother back then, and she said he packed his bag and took off on a Friday night. I have the Silverville police file.”
So, Pierce had already spoken with Sheriff Franco from Silverville. “You started putting a case together before announcing the deaths,” I whispered. That’s why the notification hadn’t been made until right this second. “You really are considering Nick a suspect.”
“I am.” Pierce glanced up at the camera. “Sheriff Franco more than hinted that if you all killed Richard, then it was probably self-defense. Apparently, he was shocked to learn that your father had been an abuser.”
“Abused kids and beaten wives often try to keep that a secret,” Nick said evenly.
I blinked, wanting to offer him comfort but needing to think like a lawyer. “How did Sheriff Franco find out?”
“I believe my mother told him,” Nick said, his tone flat. “I think she confided in my grams, who nearly lost her mind when she found out. But a lot of this is hazy. It was a long time ago.”
Pierce took notes. “Your grams is…”
“Gerty Basanelli,” Nick answered. “She had no idea before that. Nobody did.”
My heart hurt for him.
“I see,” Pierce said. “Gerty was your father’s mother?”
“No,” Nick replied. “Gerty was his stepmom and my grandfather’s second wife. His first wife, Richard’s mother, died of cancer when he was young. Gerty didn’t enter the picture until I was already three or four, and my grandfather died when I was around twelve of cirrhosis of the liver.”