thought chilled me, but I knew in my heart that at least if Jake were involved, he’d do everything in his power to be sure he had the facts before he acted. “I’m not worried about it at all, because I know in my heart that she didn’t do it.”
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about. Whoops, sorry, I’ve got to go. Call you later.”
With that, he hung up on me. Did Jake really have to go, or was he just unwilling to finish that conversation? I was still thinking about calling him back when Momma walked out of the conference room and motioned to me. “He’s ready for you now.”
I stopped when I got to her and gave Momma a hard and long hug. “How are you holding up?” I asked.
“I’m managing fine,” she said. “Thanks for asking.”
“I just asked Jake to come,” I said as I pulled away.
“What did he say?” she asked, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. My mother was a big fan of Jake’s, and I knew how much faith she had in him.
“We’re still discussing it,” I said.
She deflated a little just then, and I wanted to say more, but Officer Grant stepped out of the room and looked pointedly at me. “Suzanne, I need to see you right now.”
There was an edge of steel in his voice as he said it, and I knew better than to do anything but comply.
“Stay strong,” I said as I squeezed Momma’s hand.
* * *
Inside, there was a video camera set up, as well as a microphone attached to a tape recorder. It was all rather intimidating, but I took a deep breath and sat down in the chair that he indicated. After I’d gone over my story three times and answered every question Officer Grant had, he reached over and shut off all of the equipment.
“Thanks,” he said, easing his stern demeanor at last. “Suzanne, don’t take offense by the way I acted.”
I patted his hand. “Don’t worry about me. I know that you’re just doing your job.”
“I appreciate that,” he answered with a smile.
As I stood, I asked, “Who would you like next?”
“Send in George,” he said. “I probably won’t even have to prompt him.”
I did as I was asked, and after George was inside, I sat down beside Emma on the bench in front of the interrogation room.
It was clear that the excitement had worn off and the ramifications of what we had seen were beginning to sink in. “I had to call Dad when I saw the mayor’s body, Suzanne. Don’t be mad at me.”
I patted her hand. “I understand. Just don’t let him stiff you on the fifty bucks.” Ray Blake offered a crime dog reward to anyone who reported a major crime to him.
“Don’t worry, he’ll pay,” she said.
“Listen,” I said gently, “I know your father is going to interview you as soon as you get home, and I understand it’s something you’re going to have to do, but take it easy on Momma, okay?”
Emma looked taken aback by my request. “Suzanne, I don’t think your mother’s involved in this. I would never say anything like that, especially not to my dad.”
I stepped carefully here. “Your father might have a way of bringing it out of you.”
“If he tries to, Mom and I will make sure he never stops regretting it. I’ve got your back on this, trust me.”
I nodded, but I knew Ray Blake, too. By tomorrow morning, all of April Springs might just be under the impression that my mother was a murderer.
I had no choice but to make sure they didn’t believe it very long. Whether Jake worked the case or not, I was going to get Grace and George together, and we were going to find out what really happened to Cam Hamilton.
It was really the only thing that I could do.
CHAPTER 5
Outside of the police station, I looked around for Momma, hoping that she’d stayed close by, but she must have gone off on her own as soon as Officer Grant finished questioning her. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself, but my growling stomach answered the question. It was nearly two and I hadn’t had lunch yet. First things first.
I
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about. Whoops, sorry, I’ve got to go. Call you later.”
With that, he hung up on me. Did Jake really have to go, or was he just unwilling to finish that conversation? I was still thinking about calling him back when Momma walked out of the conference room and motioned to me. “He’s ready for you now.”
I stopped when I got to her and gave Momma a hard and long hug. “How are you holding up?” I asked.
“I’m managing fine,” she said. “Thanks for asking.”
“I just asked Jake to come,” I said as I pulled away.
“What did he say?” she asked, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. My mother was a big fan of Jake’s, and I knew how much faith she had in him.
“We’re still discussing it,” I said.
She deflated a little just then, and I wanted to say more, but Officer Grant stepped out of the room and looked pointedly at me. “Suzanne, I need to see you right now.”
There was an edge of steel in his voice as he said it, and I knew better than to do anything but comply.
“Stay strong,” I said as I squeezed Momma’s hand.
* * *
Inside, there was a video camera set up, as well as a microphone attached to a tape recorder. It was all rather intimidating, but I took a deep breath and sat down in the chair that he indicated. After I’d gone over my story three times and answered every question Officer Grant had, he reached over and shut off all of the equipment.
“Thanks,” he said, easing his stern demeanor at last. “Suzanne, don’t take offense by the way I acted.”
I patted his hand. “Don’t worry about me. I know that you’re just doing your job.”
“I appreciate that,” he answered with a smile.
As I stood, I asked, “Who would you like next?”
“Send in George,” he said. “I probably won’t even have to prompt him.”
I did as I was asked, and after George was inside, I sat down beside Emma on the bench in front of the interrogation room.
It was clear that the excitement had worn off and the ramifications of what we had seen were beginning to sink in. “I had to call Dad when I saw the mayor’s body, Suzanne. Don’t be mad at me.”
I patted her hand. “I understand. Just don’t let him stiff you on the fifty bucks.” Ray Blake offered a crime dog reward to anyone who reported a major crime to him.
“Don’t worry, he’ll pay,” she said.
“Listen,” I said gently, “I know your father is going to interview you as soon as you get home, and I understand it’s something you’re going to have to do, but take it easy on Momma, okay?”
Emma looked taken aback by my request. “Suzanne, I don’t think your mother’s involved in this. I would never say anything like that, especially not to my dad.”
I stepped carefully here. “Your father might have a way of bringing it out of you.”
“If he tries to, Mom and I will make sure he never stops regretting it. I’ve got your back on this, trust me.”
I nodded, but I knew Ray Blake, too. By tomorrow morning, all of April Springs might just be under the impression that my mother was a murderer.
I had no choice but to make sure they didn’t believe it very long. Whether Jake worked the case or not, I was going to get Grace and George together, and we were going to find out what really happened to Cam Hamilton.
It was really the only thing that I could do.
CHAPTER 5
Outside of the police station, I looked around for Momma, hoping that she’d stayed close by, but she must have gone off on her own as soon as Officer Grant finished questioning her. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself, but my growling stomach answered the question. It was nearly two and I hadn’t had lunch yet. First things first.
I
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