Read Online Closer Than Blood by Gregg Olsen - Free Book Online

“My husband, I mean.”
    He shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not.”
    A tear rolled from the corner of her eye, leaving a shiny trail as it traveled to the white linen of the hospital pillow.
    â€œBut you did,” he said.
    She held her words inside a moment.
    â€œYes, yes, I did.”
    Kaminski took out a notepad and started writing. He’d given up the idea that he could remember every word uttered by a witness. It wasn’t that he was struggling with early-onset Alzheimer’s. It was simply the recognition that a notation was a safeguard against forgetting when it came time to tap out the report.
    â€œDid he suffer?” she asked.
    Kaminski stopped writing and looked up. “The coroner doesn’t think so. Death was instantaneous or thereabouts.”
    She stayed quiet for a moment and then let out a long breath. “That’s a blessing.”
    â€œI’d like to talk about what happened. From the beginning, if you don’t mind. I know you’re exhausted.”
    He didn’t really care that she was tired, but he’d come off a two-day sensitivity training workshop that had him primed to all but hug a felon.
    â€œWe’d been out to dinner,” she said. “It was just one of those lazy evenings. We never expected anything to happen.”
    â€œOf course not,” he said. “Where was dinner?”
    â€œOh, a little Italian place on Pacific we’d never tried before, and we’re never going back.” She caught her mistake. “I’ll never go back. No, I won’t.”
    His stare bore down on her. “Anything happen at dinner?”
    â€œWhat do you mean? Happen ?”
    â€œOut of the ordinary? I’m just trying to capture what happened before the shooting.”
    She stared at him. “Did we argue? Is that what you’re hoping for, Detective?”
    Kaminski was taken aback by her sudden shift to an undeniably defensive tone. “No, that’s not what I was inferring, Ms. Connelly.”
    â€œImplying,” she said.
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œImplying, not inferring .”
    â€œFine. Okay.”
    â€œI want to know if Alex suffered long, or at all. If he was able to say anything.”
    The detective hated this part of his job. More than anything. “I’m sorry, Ms. Connelly, but your husband was dead at the scene. I thought you knew.”
    She looked away, toward the window.
    â€œI knew. I just wanted someone to say it to me.” She looked at Kaminski, her hollow eyes now flooded. “I knew when I ran out that door that I’d never see him again. Never again.” The words tumbled out. “I loved Alex so, so much.”
    â€œI know. I need to know what happened,” he said.
    Tori looked at him, almost pleadingly.
    â€œI don’t want to relive it.”
    â€œYou are the only living witness,” he said. “You want us to catch the killer, don’t you?”
    â€œYes, of course I do.”
    â€œTell me. I’m here to help you,” he said.
    She told him that she was in “another room” when she heard a commotion and the “popping” sound of a gun.
    â€œI mean, I know it was a gun now, but honestly, I thought it was a champagne cork popping. Alex could be like that, you know. Surprising me.”
    â€œI’m sure he was a good man. I’m sorry for your loss. Then what happened?”
    â€œI went into the living room and a man was standing there by Alex. I screamed and he started to run to the door.”
    â€œHow’d you get shot?”
    She looked at him, irritated and emotional. “I’m getting to that. Do you mind?”
    â€œNot all, please. Just trying to help, Ms. Connelly.”
    â€œThen it was over. He ran out the door and I followed. I went over to Darius’s place and he called for help.”
    â€œWhat did your assailant look like?”
    â€œIt happened so fast,” she’d