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)
She reached out and patted my hand. “That’s very kind of you, Anna.”
“I’ve been talking to your boys,” I said. How odd to call those three huge men boys. “They all love you and want to protect you.”
She shook her head. “It’s my job to protect them. Is it true that Nick’s knife was found with the bodies?”
I nodded. “Yes. I know that much for sure, but that’s about all I’ve heard. I don’t even know if they were killed where they were found.”
“Can you get that information?” she asked.
I shrugged. “I don’t really have cause until somebody is charged. I think the detective is sharing what he can, but I may try to go around him to get more information.” Sometimes, living in a small town came in very handy—even when dealing with stubborn police detectives across the pass.
She tapped her fingers on her light-maple desk. “I wish I could do something to help, but honestly, it was so long ago. I’m so happy it’s in the past. Truly, I thought he’d show up again someday, Anna. I’m surprised he’s dead.”
“Can you think of anybody who might’ve wanted him dead?”
She blew out air. “Ah, anybody who ever met him? He really was a loser.” She winced. “He came across as very charming until you got to know him.”
“What about Imogen Wilson?” I asked calmly, trying not to wince.
Sandrine rolled her eyes. “Oh, that chirpy? She was his secretary. I think she was just looking for a way out. I wasn’t surprised at all that she was the ‘love of his life.’ Though I have to say, I believe... In fact, I know, he was also having an affair with Lisa Robinson.”
I perked up. “Really?” This was news. “How do you know that?”
“I found some letters between them after he left. It was obvious they’d been together for quite some time.” She rolled her eyes. “I wish I had known. Not that it would’ve mattered. I was so afraid of him. Talk about a bully.”
I nodded. “Do you know where Lisa Robinson is now?” It wasn’t a name I was familiar with.
“Yeah, she owns the Rustic something antique store over between Timber City and Sandpoint. I never shop there.” Sandrine snorted. “If you know what I mean...”
“I don’t blame you. I’ll never shop there either,” I said, now that I knew Lisa Robinson or whoever she was had had an affair with Nick’s dad. “Do you know if she was upset when Richard left with Imogen?”
Sandrine twirled a pen between her fingers. “I have no idea. But according to the letters I read, she was deeply in love with the guy.” Sandrine didn’t sound concerned or even bothered by that.
“I don’t suppose you still have those letters.”
She sat back, a rueful grin tugging at her lips. “No. I burned them, along with everything else he left behind. I had my own little bonfire in the backyard when the boys were at football camp.”
I couldn’t exactly blame her, but I sure wished I could get my hands on those letters. “Was Lisa married at the time?” Perhaps we had new suspects, or at the very least, reasonable doubt in case Nick ended up going to trial.
“Unfortunately. As was Imogen.”
I took out a notepad and started taking notes. “Lisa Robinson was married to...”
“His name was Kyle Robinson,” Sandrine said thoughtfully. “Always seemed like a nice guy. I think he had something to do with the Forest Service.”
“Had?” I lifted my head from my notes.
She nodded. “He died, I don’t know…maybe ten years ago. Some sort of cancer.”
That didn’t mean he didn’t kill Richard and Imogen. I’d have to track down Lisa Robinson and get more information from her. “Can you tell me anything about Imogen Wilson’s husband?”
“I didn’t know him well, but he seemed like a nice guy. I believe he owns an architecture business over in Butte, last I heard.”
I hadn’t heard that part of the interview. “He and his brother were interviewed earlier today.”
“Yeah. Their family might have a place on Lilac Lake. At least they did way back when.” She leaned forward. “Of course, everybody from here has a cabin on Lilac Lake, so I wouldn’t get too excited about that.”
“I’m not, but I’d sure like to talk to them without the detective around.”
“Don’t you go doing that alone,” Sandrine said, perking up. “You need to be careful. I didn’t kill the bastard, but somebody did.” She reached for a Yeti and drank out of what looked like a glass straw. “I don’t suppose there’s any chance Imogen and Richard killed each other. I mean, maybe one stabbed the other and then committed suicide?”
“That would be ideal,” I admitted. “I haven’t gotten my hands on the autopsy report yet, so I can’t really tell you. But the detective told me both were ruled homicides.”