Left to Vanish (An Adele Sharp Mystery—Book Eight) by Blake Pierce (books to read for 13 year olds .txt) 📗

“Myhotel…” he said, trailing off. “Well… at least, I’m sure they would have seenme. I—well, I did get back late one of the nights. But that was just from thedrive. I stopped for food. I—I have receipts for that too, I’m sure.” He seemedto be panicking, stuttering and shaking his head now, his eyes wide. “Please,you have to believe me. I didn’t kill anyone. I never have. I—I swear! I swear!”

Adeleshared a long look with Agent Paige across Mr. Lavigne’s head, their eyesmeeting. Adele quirked an eyebrow and Paige glanced toward the video cameraabove the table, giving the faintest shakes of her head.

Adelesighed but nodded once. She turned on her heel and began to move toward thedoor, closing her eyes to think.

Justanother move, another attempt to jar him, to loosen his lips. Now fear hadgiven way to panic. Panicked people spoke. Often more than they should. Adelestill wasn’t certain if Mr. Lavigne’s lawyer had been delayed, or intentionallywaylaid. Now, her only focus was on stopping another murder.

Ifthey had the right guy, then this was already over…

Whatif you don’t? a voice murmured in her mind. Adele winced, pausing now bythe door, giving Mr. Lavigne a moment to witness her retreat, to raise fear inhis chest.

Shepaused long enough to hear him blurt out, “I swear it on my faith! That’s whatyou wanted, no? I didn’t kill anyone! I swear it on the Lord himself. I neverkilled anyone! I didn’t!”

Adelefroze, glancing back at Agent Paige now, twisting and fixing her eyes on theolder agent.

Paigegave another small shake of her head and Adele sighed softly, closing her eyes.She turned completely, rotating in the doorway. “You wouldn’t lie to the Lord,would you?” Adele asked, frowning. “Would you?”

Mr.Lavigne was sputtering now, shaking his head wildly, blinking as if caught intruck headlights on a rainy highway. His beard puffed out as he wagged hischin. “No—I’m not lying. Please. Please—you have to believe me!”

Adelewaited now, standing in the doorway. What more was there to say? It was hisword against the evidence.

“Doyou have any alibi for after eleven?” Adele said, her voice softening a bitdespite herself. She found her tone was almost pleading. “Give me a reason tobelieve you,” she said. “Something besides your say-so.”

Mr.Lavigne shivered, shaking his head still and murmuring, “I—I don’t know whatyou want. I didn’t kill anyone. I swear I didn’t. I didn’t.”

“Anyalibi? Any at all?” Paige murmured, lowering her cheek next to his andwhispering in his ear.

Mr.Lavigne clenched his teeth, still shaking his head, murmuring a sudden prayerbeneath his breath.

“Mr.Lavigne,” Adele said. “You need to give us something.”

Hestared across his rosary beads, his eyes now fixed on his reflection in themirror. Something about what he saw must have startled him as his eyes suddenlywidened and he began to breath heavily. He blinked a few times, shaking hishead. He glanced at Agent Paige, as if seeing her in a new light. “You’replaying me,” he murmured. “You’re lying. You have to be.”

“Lyingabout what, Mr. Lavigne?” Paige said, sternly.

Buthe set his teeth now, his chin jutting out in defiance. Some of the redreturned to his cheeks as anger swelled once more in his chest. He glared stonilyat the mirror again and, in a low growl of a voice, nodding his head as if in asudden decision, he snapped, “Lawyer. Lawyer now.”

“Mr.Lavigne—”

“Lawyer!”he screamed. And then he dropped his head, pressing his forehead against hischained arms. His shoulders shaking.

AgentPaige tried another couple of queries, but he continued ignoring her. Adelewatched the whole scene with equal parts disturbance and pity.

Washe faking? Acting?

She’dseen killers play emotions before…

Hehad no alibi. He was at the murder locations. He had altercations with victimsbefore. He’d made offers on all their properties. And, on top of it, he had arosary in his luggage while trying to fly to Spain where at least two otherproperty owners were located. His flight had been to a city just next to apotential victim’s home town.

Noalibi…

Adelesighed slowly, watching Paige stand outlined by the fluorescent lights.

“Well?”Adele mouthed toward Paige.

Theolder woman glanced from Mr. Lavigne’s shaking shoulders over to Adele.

“Mr.Lavigne,” she tried one last time.

Butbefore she could say anything else, he simply gasped out. “Lawyer!” And thenfell completely silent, his shoulders still trembling, his head bowed againstthe cuffs.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

Paigeshook her head, breathing slowly and then turning and approaching Adele.

Therewas a sudden knock on the door and it cracked open. The same police officer fromearlier glanced in, his eyes darting for a moment to Mr. Lavigne where theylingered and then turning to Agent Paige. “Should I call that lawyer now?” theofficer asked in a whisper.

Adeleglanced sharply at Paige, who didn’t return the look. Instead, the older womannodded once. “Might as well. Tell him his client is being uncooperative. That’llmake sure he makes double time.”

Theofficer nodded quickly, hurrying away to make the call. Agent Paige held a handagainst the door, stepping into the hallway outside with a sigh before glancingback where Adele still stood in the threshold of the door, her back to Mr.Lavigne’s shaking form.

“Youdidn’t call the lawyer?” Adele asked, slowly.

AgentPaige quirked an eyebrow. “Calling him now,” she said.

“I—areyou—what if—”

Paigerolled her eyes, placing a hand on her hip where she stood in the small coastaltown’s police station hallway. “We delayed a call for five minutes, and we nowknow he has no alibi. Do you think we would have gotten that with his lawyer?”

“Yes…but…but…”

“Thisisn’t America, Adele. His lawyer is coming. There’s no problem here, is there?”Her tone took on a bit of an edge.

Adeleremembered how Agent Paige had hidden evidence ten years ago to protect herhusband. She remembered how Foucault had covered for her. Remembered the falloutfrom it all. She swallowed, glancing back over her shoulder toward Mr. Lavigne’sshaking form. Then she sighed, stepping out into the hall and allowing the doorto swing shut behind her.

“Noproblem,” she murmured.

Paigenodded once, reaching up a perfectly manicured hand to pat Adele on the cheek. “Good.”Then she turned on her heel, beginning to move up the hall toward the breakroom.

Adelefollowed quickly, her stomach twisting and turning in perpetual motion as ithad done for nearly