Read Online Deadly Echoes by Nancy Mehl - Free Book Online

detective had placed on the table in front of him. Hannah’s life had come down to a green file folder. Sadness flowed through me, and I fought to subdue the grief that threatened to turn me into a mass of blubbering emotions. This detective had a job to do, and trying to console me wasn’t part of it.
    â€œI’d like to ask you a few questions if you don’t mind.”
    â€œCertainly,” I choked out. “Anything I can do to help.”
    Sykes turned his attention to the file. He flipped it open and quickly perused its contents. “It looks like your sister was killed by a burglar. Quite a few things were missing. Money and possibly credit cards from her purse.” He looked up and pushed a piece of paper toward me. “We checked your sister’s credit. There are two cards listed. You need to contact them as soon as possible. Let them know the cards may have been stolen. And please let us know if either of the cards have been used. It might help us catch her killer.”
    I nodded. “I plan on going to her house when I leave here. Hannah was very meticulous about everything. I’m sure I’ll find the information I need.”
    â€œGood.” He went back to his list. “According to her landlord and her next-door neighbor, several electronics, including her laptop, were missing as well. We can’t be sure there weren’t more items stolen. Maybe you’ll be able to tell us if anything else is gone?”
    I shook my head. “I’ve never been inside her house. I’m sorry, but I can’t help you with that.”
    â€œI guess the only person who would know for certain is her daughter, but we couldn’t ask her to go back into the house the morning we were there. She was just too traumatized. Whenshe’s doing better, you’ll want to have her check the house. For now, we’ve pieced things together the best we could.” He stared down at the paper in front of him. “Oh, and her jewelry box was emptied. I hope none of the pieces were family heirlooms.”
    I shook my head. “My mother wasn’t big on jewelry. I have her wedding ring. As far as I know, there wasn’t much else. Nothing very valuable.”
    The detective took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “What I’m getting ready to tell you next might be hard to hear. Stop me at any time if it’s too difficult for you.” He paused for a moment and stared at me.
    â€œGo on,” I said.
    â€œYour sister was stabbed to death. Sixteen times. She put up a fight, but the coroner didn’t find any DNA on her body. Not even under her fingernails. There wasn’t any evidence at the crime scene that was useful. The only fingerprints we found in the room where she died belonged to Hannah and her daughter. The killer must have worn gloves.” He sighed. “I want you to know that we’re looking for her things, but to be honest, finding any of them is a long shot. Everything is probably gone by now. Either sold or pawned. We have a few pawn brokers who keep an eye out for stolen property, but most of them just don’t have the time or the inclination to update us when something matching our list of items comes through their stores.”
    The gruesome details shocked me, but I was determined not to allow them to overwhelm me. Instead, I focused on something else he’d said. “Look, Detective—”
    â€œI know this isn’t what you want to hear.”
    I shook my head. “I’m not concerned about my sister’s possessions. I am concerned about calling this . . . this crime . . . a burglary.”
    The detective’s eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”
    â€œAre you aware that my parents were murdered almost twenty years ago?”
    He nodded. “Yes. We found the case while we were researching your sister . . . and you.”
    My mouth dropped