Lost Souls by J. Bishop (the giving tree read aloud txt) 📗

and she made Bradley the executor? She seems young to be thinking about that.”

“Lydia? Hell, no. She was always thinking ahead. And I think she just likes Bradley more than me. And she certainly wouldn’t consider our mother.” She paused. “Personally, I think she made Bradley the executor because she knew it would piss mom off, although I doubt she’d expected he’d actually have to do anything, and certainly not this soon.”

“Do you mind if I ask about her will? How did she leave things?”

Shay hesitated. “You’re asking a lot of questions about Lydia, but I thought you were investigating this Chad fella?” There was a pause. “Why is that?”

Mikey debated how to answer. “Chad was murdered two weeks after Lydia drowned. Chad’s wife is a suspect in his death…”

Shay’s stuffy voice raised. “You think she killed Lydia, too?”

Mikey rubbed her head. “We’re not sure. We just thought it was coincidental, and we’re wondering if…” She stopped before she mentioned other suspects, not knowing how to word it.

“You’re trying to see if one of us killed Lydia?” She laughed loudly. “What, so you can take the suspicion off that wife of his?”

Mikey gripped her pencil. “We just want to get to the truth.”

“The truth, huh?” She sniffed. “How about this for some truth?” Mikey could hear the irritation in Shay’s voice. “Lydia confided in me about an argument she had.”

“Argument?” asked Mikey.

“With the wife of the man she was seeing. I didn’t know it was Chad, but now that I do, it must have been Chad’s wife that showed up at Lydia’s door.”

Mikey sunk in her seat. “Lydia mentioned that to you? What did she say?”

“Said that bitch was crazy. Told Lydia to leave her husband alone, and if she didn’t, she’d be damn sorry. She’d make Lydia wish she’d never laid eyes on her husband, and she knew how to take care of problems that didn’t go away.”

Mikey wrote furiously.

“If Lydia’s death wasn’t an accident, and you’re looking to find a murderer, I’d start at your own back door. Our family may have our issues, but that doesn’t make us killers. You should think twice before accusing any of us, you got that, honey?”

Mikey nodded. “I got that.”

“Good.” And with a cough, Shay hung up.

Chapter Fifteen

Mason and Trick sat at the four-top table in the cafeteria, waiting for Bevins and Winkler, who were getting a late lunch.

“They’re a couple of cool customers,” said Trick, hooking an arm over the back of his chair. “Did you see the way that Winkler was looking at me? I think she’s immune to my charms.”

“She’s a detective with a wedding ring. Not someone you’d call one-eight-hundred-BABE to talk to,” said Mason.

“Still,” said Trick. “Her partner isn’t much better.”

Mason watched the two detectives at the register, each holding a tray. Winkler was of average height with curly brown, short hair, but had the muscled body of a woman who spent a lot of time at the free weight section of the gym. Bevins was taller, but rounder, with thinning reddish hair, a loosened tie, and a perpetually tired look. It was the face of a man who’d been at the job too long and had seen everything. Mason was familiar with that look, and it didn’t bode well for Cissy. The detectives paid for their food and headed over.

“Just take it easy, will you?” said Mason. “We need to grease the wheels with these two, not throw down spikes.”

“Fine. Whatever.” Trick sat up as the detectives approached.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” said Winkler. “We got caught up with a case and never had lunch.” She put down her tray.

“You sure you two don’t want anything?” asked Bevins. He put down his tray and sat.

“We ate, but thanks,” said Mason. He picked up his water and sipped it.

Winkler pulled out a napkin and put it in her lap. “You two know Daniels and Remalla?”

Mason nodded. “Yes. I worked with them on a case not long ago. Good detectives. You know them well?”

“Getting to,” said Bevins. “We just transferred over from another division. Chad’s case is our first over here.”

“You two been partners long?” asked Trick.

“Ten years,” said Bevins. “I heard you two were Rangers back in Texas.” He popped open his can of soda. “I bet you saw a few things.” He gestured toward their hats that hung on the back of their chairs. “Everybody wear those where you’re from?” He smiled.

Mason figured they’d done enough of the required small talk, and sensing Trick’s edginess, he got to the point. “Sure.” He rested a hand on the table. “We were hoping to talk to you about Chad’s case.”

“What about it?” asked Winkler. She opened a small carton of milk and drank from it.

“You two seem damned sure Cissy killed him,” said Trick. Mason tensed and shot a side glance at Trick.

“And you aren’t?” asked Bevins, eating a chip from a bag he’d opened. “Have you seen the evidence?”

Trick sat up. “You two should─”

Mason put a hand on Trick’s arm. “What evidence? Would you mind telling us why you’re so sure?”

Winkler made eye contact with Bevins. “Where should we start?” She took a fork and poked at her side salad. “Chad had an affair. Cissy knew about it and confronted him, and his mistress.” She dunked some lettuce in a side of dressing. “Yes. We know about Lydia, and we know Cissy went to see her.” She let the extra dressing drip off the bite of salad. “And we know there was an altercation at Chad’s office with a woman we believe was Cissy. Lydia died shortly after that altercation.” She paused. “By accident, supposedly.” She ate the dunked lettuce.

“Wait a minute,” said Trick. “How can you know it was Cissy that Chad was talking to in his office?”

Mason had a sinking thought. “Were there cameras? Did you see her on video?”

“There were cameras,” said Winkler. “but we couldn’t see who entered or left his office. Chad’s door was just out of view, but