Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 75699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Harris narrows his eyes. “Did you invite him here last night?”
“Yes.” I frown. “Except no. I broke the date. But even if he didn’t get my message in time, he wouldn’t have been able to get in the house. My mom and dad were out.” I turn to Mom. “Where was—”
“I already told the detective that all the staff had last night off,” Mom finishes for me. “They usually get Friday nights off anyway, and we didn’t think it necessary for them to stay if we were going to be out late.”
“Can anyone confirm that you were at your house all night?” Harris presses, his tone making it clear he’s not convinced.
I begin to feel defensive, but I hold myself in check. This isn’t the time.
“Vinnie can, at least until he left. I was at my house the entire night. I didn’t come back here until my mom called me this morning.”
Detective Harris nods, jotting down notes. “When was the last time you saw Brick Latham?”
“A few days ago, here at my parents’ house. We met to discuss the charity paperwork. That was the last time.”
“Did he mention anything unusual? Was he acting strange or did he seem worried about anything?”
I close my eyes, trying to recall our conversation. “No, he seemed fine. We talked about the charity, his work, just normal things. He didn’t mention anything that seemed out of the ordinary.”
“Did you notice anyone watching you or following you recently?” Harris asks, his gaze unwavering.
Do I dare mention the Uber experience?
On a whim, I shake my head. “No, not that I can remember.”
Harris exchanges a glance with Officer Martinez before turning back to me. “Ms. Bellamy, do you have any idea who might want to harm Mr. Latham?”
The question sends a chill down my spine. I think of Vinnie, of the dangerous world he’s part of and the threats that seem to shadow us. But I can’t bring that into this. It has nothing to do with Brick, anyway.
“No,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “I don’t know who would want to do this. I don’t know why anyone would do such a terrible thing.”
“All right.” Harris says, closing his notepad. “We may need to take your statement formally down at the station. For now, if you remember anything, no matter how small it might seem, please let us know.”
I nod, feeling numb. “I will.”
Detective Harris turns to my mother and then to my father, who’s now standing in the entry to the living room. His lips are pursed.
“Mr. and Mrs. Bellamy, can you explain again where you were last night?” Harris asks, his tone measured but firm.
Dad clears his throat, glancing at my mom before speaking. “We were out for dinner and a movie. We got home late, probably around midnight. We didn’t check Raven’s room because we assumed she was already in bed.”
“And you didn’t notice anything unusual when you got home?”
“No,” Mom says, her voice shaky. “We went straight to bed. This morning, I went to check on Ray, and that’s when I…” She chokes back a sob.
“Why didn’t you hear anything during the night?” Martinez asks, narrowing his eyes.
“Our bedroom is on the other side of the house,” Dad explains. “We didn’t hear anything unusual.”
Harris and Martinez exchange a glance, and then Harris turns back to me. “Ms. Bellamy, we’ll be in touch. And remember, if you think of anything else, please contact us immediately.”
“Jeremy,” Dad says, “your father and I have known each other for years. Talk to him. He’ll tell you we had nothing to do with any of this.”
“I’m well aware of your standing in this community, Mr. Bellamy,” Harris says. “I’m just doing my job.”
As they leave, a hand touches my shoulder. I turn to see my mom, her face etched with worry and fear.
“We’ll get through this,” she says softly. “We’ll find out who did this.”
I lean into her, drawing strength from her presence. “I hope so, Mom. I really hope so.”
Because frankly? I’m scared out of my wits. I still don’t know where Vinnie is or why he left. And I’m not even sure I’m safe in my own home.
My father no doubt knows experts in the security field. I could probably get someone out to look at it today. But no way am I going to ask my father. Not after what he and Mom have been through. I’ll call Falcon. His friend Leif Ramsey knows security better than anyone.
“I talked to Steve Palmer,” Dad says. “He says to cooperate with the investigation. He didn’t seem too worried.”
Mom rises. “I think we could all use some coffee. And breakfast.”
God. The thought of food… But Mom is right. I have to force something down. I didn’t even look in my kitchen when I left this morning. The spaghetti marinara I made for Vinnie last night is probably congealed and disgusting by now. We didn’t eat it. We went straight to bed after the drone incident.