I SEE YOU an unputdownable psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist by PATRICIA MACDONALD (bookstand for reading txt) 📗

Mr Zamani smiled sheepishly. ‘I should have checked. I admit that. But I allowed myself to be careless because I did recognize her. She is a very attractive woman.’

Hannah glanced at her plain-featured, bespectacled daughter, and, realizing how meaningless it was, still felt pleased for her. To be described as very attractive.

‘If you don’t mind my saying so, that’s not a very professional way to do business, Mr Zamani,’ said D.A. Castor.

Zamani looked down at his hands. ‘I am aware of that, sir, and I am exceedingly sorry.’

‘Detective Hammond testified that you brought this tape to the attention of the police.’

Zamani nodded enthusiastically. ‘When I saw the news reports about the explosion at Mr Petty’s house, I decided to bring the tape to them. I was concerned that it might be significant.’

‘Thank you, Mr Zamani. Your witness.’

Marjorie approached the baleful-looking shopkeeper with eyes flashing. ‘Was this tape made by a hidden camera, Mr Zamani?’

The shopkeeper shook his head. ‘No, there’s a sign in my store which states quite clearly that there is a surveillance camera at work. You can see the screens above the counter.’

‘So, if Lisa were trying to do something wrong or illegal, it wouldn’t make sense to go, undisguised, to a place where she was known, and allow the transaction to be filmed.’

‘I wouldn’t think so. No,’ said Mr Zamani. ‘That was my very thought when I cashed the check.’

‘No further questions,’ said Marjorie.

Mr Zamani got up from the witness box and walked back past the defense table. For a moment he glanced over at Lisa, almost apologetically, but Lisa looked away, as if she had no further use for such a man. Zamani sighed and lowered his head, as if he were the one accused.

Hannah felt exhausted when she returned home. She wished she could just lie down in a dark room and sleep, but there was still Sydney to care for.

As she and Adam got out of the car and freed Sydney from the car seat, Rayanne came over and greeted them.

Hannah set Sydney down in the grass and turned to her friend. ‘How is Chet doing?’

‘Scheduled for surgery the day after tomorrow,’ said Rayanne. ‘Jamie’s flying in tonight.’

‘It will help Chet to have him here,’ said Adam.

‘I know,’ said Rayanne. ‘And his new girlfriend is coming with him.’

‘Oh, nice,’ said Hannah. ‘This must be serious.’

Rayanne nodded. ‘I think maybe it is.’

‘Good. You’ll have lots of support. I wish I could do more . . .’

‘Don’t be silly,’ said Rayanne. ‘You have your hands full. How’s it going? I saw a little bit on the news but they don’t really tell you anything.’

‘I don’t know,’ said Hannah. ‘I’m afraid to be too hopeful. But the more it goes on, the more the case against Lisa seems flimsy.’

‘Soon we’ll all be celebrating,’ said Rayanne encouragingly.

The two women nodded and clasped hands, each one wondering if the other would, indeed, have something to celebrate.

TWELVE

The first witness the next day was one who, Hannah thought, was bound to make problems for Lisa. Hannah knew without even hearing the testimony what was about to occur. This witness was going to present a painfully personal and admirable version of Troy Petty. Hannah dreaded to hear whatever else she might have to say.

‘Call Nadine Melton to the stand, please.’

A pretty, fresh-scrubbed young woman with a soft blonde haircut came up and took the oath.

‘What is your relationship to the deceased, Ms Melton?’

The young woman choked back a sob and apologized. ‘Troy was my older brother.’

‘Did you have a close relationship with your brother?’

‘We were very close. He raised me and my younger brother, Ronnie, after our mother died. I spoke to him every week. He often came and stayed with us.

‘Troy was like a parent to me. He was very responsible when it came to me and Ronnie. We were his family and he treated us like his own children.’

‘Would you say that your brother was a careless person? A person who, for example, might not notice a house filling up with gas?’

Hannah was a little surprised by the vagueness of the question, and the fact that Marjorie did not object to it. She whispered this to Adam. ‘The sister is very sympathetic. Probably doesn’t want to harass her.’

Nadine was already shaking her head. ‘Not at all. My brother was very conscientious. He was a nurse. He kept everything in order. He paid attention to details.’

‘So, did it surprise you to learn that he had left candles burning in a house that was filling up with gas?’

‘He wouldn’t do that,’ said Nadine bluntly.

‘Do you know the defendant, Ms Melton?’

Nadine shook her head.

The judge leaned over and counseled her. ‘You need to speak your answers aloud.’

‘Sorry,’ she whispered.

‘Do you?’ the D.A. repeated. ‘Know the defendant?’

‘I never met her. Troy told me about her. He could hardly believe that a smart girl like that, who was going to be a doctor, would be interested in him at all. Never mind pursue him, which she did do. That was typical of him. He never gave himself enough credit.’

‘So, he was happy in the relationship.’

Nadine squirmed. ‘At first. He couldn’t stop bragging about her. And he loved her little girl. He always had a way with children. All people, really. I mean, he was a nurse. He was kind.’

‘At first. And then what changed?’ asked the D.A.

‘He didn’t say too much but I could tell he was unhappy. I asked him why but he wouldn’t say. In fact, he said that he couldn’t tell me. His exact words were, “I can’t tell you.”’

‘Were you surprised when you learned that the defendant had cashed your brother’s paycheck the night of the explosion?’

Nadine’s eyes turned steely. ‘That’s