Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
Cindy shook her head. “I just grabbed your arm and yanked you as hard as I could.”
“Did you go back into the room?” Abbott asked.
“No, there were officers everywhere,” Sally said. “Later, one of them returned our mail to us, but we weren’t allowed into the lounge for a couple of days.”
Janice crossed her arms over her chest. “If someone would tell us what you’re looking for or what you think we heard or saw, we’d be happy to help. No one wants to see a good man murdered like that. It happened practically right in front of us. We have no idea why someone is breaking into our apartments or Rory’s car.”
“Oh my God, what if they destroy my grooming van?” Sally said, sounding horrified. “Even with insurance, I could never replace it. Never. That’s my livelihood. I’d be out on the streets.” She looked at the detectives. “They might, right?”
Larrsen sighed. “Don’t panic, Sally—Ms. Hudson,” he corrected himself. “We’re keeping a watch on your van.”
“I wish we could help you,” Lydia said. “Do you think the person who killed the detective dropped the gun he shot him with in the lounge? Does he think one of us picked it up or something?” Her voice rose just a little, as if she were fighting hysteria.
Rory got up and switched to the love seat so she could put her arm around Lydia. “I doubt he thinks that, Lydia. We’re not exactly going to blackmail someone who shot a police detective. It’s going to be all right. We’re going to be all right.”
Rory couldn’t help thinking about the card Harvey had given her, the one that contained only a single phone number and nothing else. Harvey had said if they called that number, his men would get them to a safe house and no one would be able to follow them. Did she trust him enough to put her friends’ lives in his hands? She didn’t have that answer yet.
She wished Gideon hadn’t broken faith with her. She might understand why he had done it. She might understand him. But now she didn’t know who she could trust. If it was just her life, that would be one thing, but these women were the closest thing she had to a family. She wasn’t willing to risk them until she was certain she knew they would be safe wherever they went.
Her heart said Gideon. He was protective, and if he took them on, he would one hundred percent fight for them. She had woken up that afternoon to a text from her boss telling her that many of the owners of the businesses along the wharf had put together a fundraiser for the women who had lost their belongings in the break-ins. Gideon and his team were already hard at work doing exactly as he had promised. Lydia had shown her the same text the moment she saw her.
Still, she did believe Harvey when he said he hadn’t killed his business partners or Detective Ramsey. She also believed that not only was he being framed but that it was possible she was also being framed right along with him. Or all the women were.
“Have any of you seen Harvey Matters?” Detective Abbott asked.
Rory counted herself lucky that he was looking at Janice when he asked the question. Larrsen was staring at Lydia with concern in his eyes. Unfortunately, Detective Morgan Wilson had his gaze locked on Rory. Ellen chose that moment to wrap her arms around Rory’s neck and transfer her little body to Rory’s lap.
“Mommy’s sad,” she whispered into Rory’s ear.
Rory couldn’t help but be appreciative that the techniques she’d learned on the videos she’d watched and implemented on selective mutism had gained her Ellen’s trust enough that the child talked to her. More, she spoke in front of others now. She exchanged a triumphant smile with Lydia.
“Very good talking in front of everyone, Ellen,” she praised. “Sometimes mommies get sad just like you do, Ellie May Rider,” Rory whispered back, ignoring Wilson’s probing gaze. She concentrated on the little girl. Ellen had to be confused. She wasn’t in her own bed, surrounded by her toys at night or when she woke in the morning.
“How would any of us see Harvey?” Janice demanded. “He’s most likely dead. Everyone else is.”
Ellen’s arms tightened around Rory’s neck, nearly choking her. Rory glared at Janice. “There’s a child in the room, Janice.” She rocked Ellen gently. “Janice is being silly, Ellie May. Are you a princess or a rider today?”
“I might be a princess.” The whisper was so soft, Rory could barely hear it.
“You’re so brave to talk in front of everyone. Princesses are very brave. It’s good that you’re a princess today, because I’m not so certain I’d be a good pony. I didn’t sleep last night. I stayed up talking to a friend of mine, mostly about birds. Do you like birds?” She wanted to distract the little girl and, at the same time, hopefully not have to participate in the conversation about Harvey. “Yes or no, Princess Bo Peep.”