Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Pierce texted something on his phone. “That’s my understanding, yes.”
Nick leaned forward. “Were they stabbed to death?”
“Yes,” Pierce said.
The door opened, and a young female deputy brought in an evidence bag to hand to Pierce. He plunked it on the table. I swallowed at seeing a dirty, blood-encrusted hunting knife. One side of the blade was serrated—perfect for cutting through wood or bone. The other side was razor-sharp, even after all this time, despite the dried blood and muck stuck to it. Through the bag, I could tell that the handle was wood and possibly reinforced with rubber. What a wicked-looking knife.
“This yours?” Pierce asked.
Nick cocked his head and looked at the bag. “I don’t know.”
Pierce smoothly flipped it over to show the other side. NB was clearly etched into the wooden part of the handle. NB for Nick Basanelli.
Surprise clocked through me, and I stiffened. “This interview is over,” I said. Nick cut me a look. “I mean it, Nick. We’re going. Now.” I stood, reached for his uninjured shoulder, and yanked him toward me.
Sighing, he rose from his chair. “Upon advice of counsel—very bossy counsel—I am ending this interview right now.”
Pierce leaned back. “That’s fine, but Basanelli, I would like to take a DNA sample from you. Also, I’m going to need an alibi, and I’m going to need it soon.”
Chapter 9
Jolene O’Sullivan caught us just as we walked out of the police station and into the still-sunny day. “Hey, I need to talk to you two.”
I stepped slightly in front of Nick, trying to shield him. This would be huge news, and I couldn’t believe the local reporter had already caught wind of it. “Jolene, now isn’t a good time. We have no comment.”
Her blond hair was up in a ponytail, and she looked like a snow bunny in a light-green jacket and matching boots. Her eyes gleamed. “That’s too bad because the news never ends. I’ve been trying to get ahold of you both to hear your accounts of the Robin Hood Cupid robbery from the other day.”
My mouth gaped open, and I quickly shut it, even as relief slammed through me. She didn’t know about Nick’s father yet.
“The what?” Nick snapped. “Did you say Robin Hood?”
“Yes.” She held her phone closer to his mouth. “It’s my understanding that the Cupids gave most of the jewels to the Humane Society. And even though the Clumsy Penguin was robbed just last night, there has been an anonymous donation to the women’s shelter that included some of the phones taken off the patrons, as well as some cash.”
I glanced at Nick, and he shook his head. Neither of us had heard that news.
“Who are your sources?” Nick asked.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t give you that information.” She smiled full wattage at him. It was a flirty smile, but she had no clue what was going on in Nick’s life right now. “Come on, Albertini. For old times’ sake,” she said, nudging me.
Old times’ sake? If I went by old times’ sake, I’d be punching her in the face. She’d been a mean girl in high school, had slept with my sister’s prom date, dated Aiden, and she hadn’t been nice to me. She’d done nothing but try to put me in a bad light in the newspaper and often tried to attack my new law firm since.
“Right.” I elbowed him. “Come on, Nick, let’s go.”
Her smile slid away. “Are you sure you don’t want to be on the record? You were both present at the first robbery. If you don’t give me something, I’ll have to say you wouldn’t talk. It sounds suspicious.”
Nick whirled on her faster than I would’ve thought possible.
She took a step back.
“You really don’t want to mess with me right now, Jolene,” he said, his voice rock-hard. “You print anything, and I’ll sue you so fast, you won’t be able to get those tips dyed blond any longer. Got me?”
Her mouth dropped open. I barely kept mine from doing the same because I’d never seen Nick anything but smooth in a situation with the public, and especially with a reporter. She took a step back, her eyes wary.
“Come on, Nick.” I slung my arm through his good one and pulled him with me. Once we were far enough away, I gave him a shake. “You’ve got to get it together.” He didn’t answer, his jaw looking tight enough to give him a headache. “We need to talk to your mom and your brothers before Pierce does,” I whispered.
He nodded. “Let’s go to my office. We can call them right now.”
I wasn’t sure what to do. I hadn’t been a lawyer for very long. “I think we need to find you a more experienced lawyer. What do you think about Chuck O’Malley? He’s been around a while and could handle this.”