Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 163802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 655(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 655(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
“No, you won’t,” a voice spoke up, turning all eyes to Pixie. She was sandwiched between Button Nose and Chic Ghost like she had been all night. At the table next to her was Mr. Layton—Lily’s teacher. “This is an outrage. I certainly didn’t drive all this way to murder a woman I’ve never even met. I demand you release us,” she said, nodding to her friends. “Now.”
“Happily,” Balogun said smoothly. “As soon as we ascertain why you left the designated party area to wander around the home of a woman you’ve never even met.”
“I’m not answering any questions without my lawyer present,” she snapped.
“As is your right, Mrs. de la Fountaine.” She nodded to Davis, who nodded to an officer posted at the ballroom door, who stuck her head out the door to speak to someone. “We are returning all phones and devices at this time, so feel free to call said lawyer now, and then get comfortable. I hear the three-hour-drive becomes four hours thanks to the New York morning rush hour.”
Mrs. de la Fountaine bristled, clearly hearing the edge that snuck into Balogun’s tone.
“Are you also electing to wait until your lawyer arrives, Mrs. Kim?”
“What?” My head snapped up. “Me? But you just said—”
“You may not be on the list,” she sliced in, “but you did know the victim best. We need to interview you.” She gestured to the door. “After you.”
“Hold on a minute,” Rhodes cried, getting to his feet. “Anything you need to know about our mother-in-law, we can tell you. The last thing we’re going to let you do is interrogate our wife less than twelve hours after she lost her mother. Fuck’s sake, you can see for yourself that she’s in shock.”
What was written on my face that they all could see but I couldn’t?
“Have some compassion,” Micah barked.
Balogun didn’t twitch. “I do have compassion... for Madame Ha-eun Kim.” She pointed again. “After you, Mrs. Kim.”
“She—!”
“It’s okay,” I croaked, stopping Courtney with a hand on her knee. “I’ll talk to them. I won’t be the reason the investigation is held up.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.” Micah helped me up, and then he just held me. Pressing his forehead to mine, he dropped a light kiss on my nose. “I’m so sorry, baby, but we’re here for you. We’re not going anywhere—you’re not going anywhere—until we find the bastard who did this.”
A deal made what seemed like years ago, floated through my mind. “Just until we find him?” fell from my lips unbidden.
Micah rocked slightly back, brows rising. He tossed a glance at Rhodes and Alex, who looked back at him with the same surprise.
The surprise fell away from Rhodes’s eyes, and something else took hold. “And after.”
“And after,” Micah agreed.
“And...” Alex met my eyes. “After. If that’s what you want.”
“I—”
“Mrs. Kim?” Davis appeared at my side. “With me, if you please.”
I certainly didn’t feel like making any love confessions in front of the man who all but accused me of hiring a hitman to kill my mother, so I let him lead me away—leaving my reply unsaid.
That’s how I found myself in the front room, sitting on the couch as the detectives pulled over two armchairs and placed them directly before me.
The proximity allowed me to get a proper look at the two of them, and they were opposites in almost every way.
Balogun was tall, slim, bald, and severe from the way she dressed to her angular features and sharp cheekbones. She was also young. She didn’t appear to be much older than me, but she was already a homicide detective with the LPD.
Whereas her partner, Kaplan, was short, thick, sported a full head of silver hair, and had round red cheeks to go with the almost jolly smile he gave me when he sat down.
A click behind me turned my head.
Davis stepped into the room, shut the door, and leaned against the wood.
“Morning, Mrs. Kim,” Balogun said. “Before we begin, we’d like to warn you that we are recording this interview.” She slipped the recorder out of her pocket and tapped it on before I got a chance to object.
“Go ahead. It’s fine with me.” It really was fine with me. My own phone was on and recording since Davis knocked on my door an hour before and told me to go downstairs.
“We’re sorry for your loss, Mrs. Kim,” Kaplan spoke up. “We know this is difficult, and if you need a minute, please tell us.”
“I will,” I replied. “But I can do this. I want to help.”
“Good,” Balogun said. She whipped out a notepad and pen. “With that said, let’s cut straight to the heart of the matter. There was a lot of rage poured into the attack that killed your mother. Do you know anyone who held such a grudge against her? Did Madame Kim have any enemies?”