Read Online Carolyn Arnold - McKinley 03 - Money is Murder by Carolyn Arnold - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Carolyn Arnold
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the one in the elevator, tell us someone was already in Cindy’s flat?”
She pressed her lips. “Robert could have asked them for discretion, or paid them off.”
Their eyes locked. Seconds passed.
Revelation struck Sara. “Darling, you’ve done it.”
“What?”
“The case files stated that they had interviewed the night doorman. He wouldn’t comment on anyone coming in or out of Cindy’s place. He said that it was a confidential matter and he would take it to his grave.”
“Seems more likely that our good detective and the doorman got a kickback.”
“Robert’s right. Whoever is behind this was playing for keeps.”
“Here’s the thing, though, why not lock up Robert West and let him take the fall? If he was charged with Cindy’s murder, the real killer would be free.”
“Oh, good point.” Sara chewed on the inside of her cheek. “Did the real killer need Robert to remain a free man, and if so, why?”
“Questions we’re going to have to answer, but first—” Sean pulled out his cell phone.
“You’re going to try Jimmy again?” She smiled. “Let’s hope he’s really enjoying the cognac. He’s going to want a full stock all the time you know.”
“Whatever it takes. Maybe we could write it off as consultant fees.”
They both laughed.
Sean held up his index finger to Sara and spoke into the phone “Jimmy, buddy ol’ pal. Yes, I know you got us pretty much everything…there is something more you could help us with though.”
Sara listened in until she left the room. She was setting out on a hunch. She placed herself in Cindy ’s mind. If she had valuable information on a laptop—something that anyone could easily walk off with—where would she put it? The office was an obvious choice. If someone broke in, they’d have it easily.
She entered Cindy ’s bedroom and experienced the sad, tangible quality to the air, feeling as if she were an intrusion into the woman’s life. With everything that had happened since they first got here, she hadn’t the time to acknowledge these feelings until now.
She took in the room. There was a king-sized bed occupying most of the space, two nightstands, a huge dresser, sofa chair, and a side table. But Sara went to the walk-in closet first.
Cindy had it organized in immaculate fashion. Everything was set out based on season and then in color, and she had endless drawers for intimates and valuables. Touching the fabric as she walked the vast interior, Sara realized that she could squash any jealousy she felt toward this woman ’s extensive wardrobe. Hers had quadrupled since her newfound fortune, but Sean’s place was getting awfully congested. A large house might be a nice thing, at least one with a closet like this. The hint of a smile dusted her lips, blooming fully when she found a drawer with a keyhole.
“Sean!”
He came into the closet next to her, the cell still pressed to an ear. “Jimmy, I’ve got to go. Yes, I know, no one dies today. I promise we’ll be careful.” He clipped the phone in its holder.
“I think her laptop’s in here.”
He scanned her eyes and she noticed light flicker in his.
“What led you here?” he asked.
“I was just thinking like Cindy. If I wanted to keep my laptop safe where would I put it?”
“You came up with the bedroom closet?”
“Yes, darling, and as you can see,” she gestured with both hands to the locked drawer, “voila!”
He laughed. “We still don’t know if it’s inside.”
“You better get on picking the lock then.”
“And you’re sure you can’t tap into Cindy’s mind and find the key?”
“Very funny. The bedroom’s the best place to keep valuables. If a burglar’s going to come into your room, there’s evil intent. It’s likely that you’ll be murdered, and, well, if you’re dead, you’re not going to miss your stuff.”
“Smart logic.”
She beamed. “Sometimes I have it together.”
He kissed her cheek. “Not sometimes, dear, all the
She pressed her lips. “Robert could have asked them for discretion, or paid them off.”
Their eyes locked. Seconds passed.
Revelation struck Sara. “Darling, you’ve done it.”
“What?”
“The case files stated that they had interviewed the night doorman. He wouldn’t comment on anyone coming in or out of Cindy’s place. He said that it was a confidential matter and he would take it to his grave.”
“Seems more likely that our good detective and the doorman got a kickback.”
“Robert’s right. Whoever is behind this was playing for keeps.”
“Here’s the thing, though, why not lock up Robert West and let him take the fall? If he was charged with Cindy’s murder, the real killer would be free.”
“Oh, good point.” Sara chewed on the inside of her cheek. “Did the real killer need Robert to remain a free man, and if so, why?”
“Questions we’re going to have to answer, but first—” Sean pulled out his cell phone.
“You’re going to try Jimmy again?” She smiled. “Let’s hope he’s really enjoying the cognac. He’s going to want a full stock all the time you know.”
“Whatever it takes. Maybe we could write it off as consultant fees.”
They both laughed.
Sean held up his index finger to Sara and spoke into the phone “Jimmy, buddy ol’ pal. Yes, I know you got us pretty much everything…there is something more you could help us with though.”
Sara listened in until she left the room. She was setting out on a hunch. She placed herself in Cindy ’s mind. If she had valuable information on a laptop—something that anyone could easily walk off with—where would she put it? The office was an obvious choice. If someone broke in, they’d have it easily.
She entered Cindy ’s bedroom and experienced the sad, tangible quality to the air, feeling as if she were an intrusion into the woman’s life. With everything that had happened since they first got here, she hadn’t the time to acknowledge these feelings until now.
She took in the room. There was a king-sized bed occupying most of the space, two nightstands, a huge dresser, sofa chair, and a side table. But Sara went to the walk-in closet first.
Cindy had it organized in immaculate fashion. Everything was set out based on season and then in color, and she had endless drawers for intimates and valuables. Touching the fabric as she walked the vast interior, Sara realized that she could squash any jealousy she felt toward this woman ’s extensive wardrobe. Hers had quadrupled since her newfound fortune, but Sean’s place was getting awfully congested. A large house might be a nice thing, at least one with a closet like this. The hint of a smile dusted her lips, blooming fully when she found a drawer with a keyhole.
“Sean!”
He came into the closet next to her, the cell still pressed to an ear. “Jimmy, I’ve got to go. Yes, I know, no one dies today. I promise we’ll be careful.” He clipped the phone in its holder.
“I think her laptop’s in here.”
He scanned her eyes and she noticed light flicker in his.
“What led you here?” he asked.
“I was just thinking like Cindy. If I wanted to keep my laptop safe where would I put it?”
“You came up with the bedroom closet?”
“Yes, darling, and as you can see,” she gestured with both hands to the locked drawer, “voila!”
He laughed. “We still don’t know if it’s inside.”
“You better get on picking the lock then.”
“And you’re sure you can’t tap into Cindy’s mind and find the key?”
“Very funny. The bedroom’s the best place to keep valuables. If a burglar’s going to come into your room, there’s evil intent. It’s likely that you’ll be murdered, and, well, if you’re dead, you’re not going to miss your stuff.”
“Smart logic.”
She beamed. “Sometimes I have it together.”
He kissed her cheek. “Not sometimes, dear, all the
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