Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
The night before had been everything he could have hoped for. More. Even if it had been interrupted by Buddy waking up at the crack of dawn and howling in his crate. Grim had rolled out of bed and opened the crate, easing the dog out and taking him outside to relieve himself.
Buddy was coming along nicely. He’d even forgiven them for the nap he hadn’t meant to take. Sleep and not being in pain had worked wonders for the pup. Normally it was weeks before a dog like Buddy would lie in his new mom’s lap, but he was curled up on Nicole’s.
“Could you explain to Nicole how you came to talk to Laura Holloway and why you think this is legitimate?” Josh began.
Kimberly Kent sat next to a handsome kid who couldn’t be past twenty-three or so. Roman Kent was a serious-looking young man with deep blue eyes behind his glasses and a swath of brown hair. “When I realized there was something wrong with the case, I decided it would be in the best interests of everyone involved if I did some digging.”
A brow rose over Roman’s eyes, and he looked up from the notes he’d been making. “You realized it?”
There was a deep snort from off camera. “Your son.”
Kimberly’s eyes rolled. “Sorry, guys. That’s my deeply sarcastic husband, and I have to admit when our daughter is super stubborn, I blame it on him, so it’s fair. When my son convinced me something was wrong, I wanted to talk to everyone in the family to get a sense of what forces might have caused the rift leading to Micah Holloway’s murder. I explained I needed everyone’s input on who you are as a person to help direct me to where you might flee. Ted and your in-laws were eager to speak to me.”
“I bet they were,” Nicole said. “I’m sure they talked about what a gold digger I was.”
Kim sighed. “Yeah. They weren’t exactly kind. They pretty much blamed everything on you, and in my first interview, Laura toed the line. However, she called me four days ago and told a different story. She claims she has evidence you didn’t commit the murder.”
“What kind of evidence?” Grim wanted it to be good. DNA. Something forensic no one could deny.
“I believe she’s been putting this together for a couple of years now,” Roman said. “Likely since the murder. She’s shown us several files containing security logs. Micah Holloway lived on the family estate grounds.”
Nicole nodded. “Yes. So did Ted. It’s kind of like the ranch except without the ranch part. They own a large swath of land outside of town, and there are several homes around the property. Micah and I lived in the one closest to the main road. I had to use a clicker thing to get in the gate.”
“Then the logs should show you got there after Micah’s death.” This could work. He wanted Nic out from under this cloud. Of course then the real danger would begin. If they couldn’t prove Nicole’s account of the incident, her brother-in-law would be walking around free and likely looking to silence the only witness to his crime.
“Ted is good with a computer,” Nicole explained. “I assumed he could fix those records or hire someone to do it for him. The whole place was wired for security. Even inside the house there were cameras. I assumed he either turned them off or came up with some kind of deep fake to show the police.”
“Can we prove he faked the logs?” Josh asked. “We know some people who are excellent with technology.”
“We have our own,” Kim promised. “But I think she’s going to offer us something better. I think she has the original footage. Those would show Ted killed his brother, and Nicole came on the scene long after. She’s hedging on telling us exactly what it is, but I think she thinks she needs leverage. She’s not what I would call a trusting soul.”
“She’s been in the Holloway family for almost twenty years. I can’t believe she’s managed to work up the will to leave,” Nicole admitted. “I wasn’t exactly close to her. When I got married, she told me I should keep my mouth shut and do as I was told. I probably should have listened to her.”
Grim brought her hand to his lips, kissing her fingers. “That’s all in the past.”
“Yes, now she knows how to punch,” a feminine voice said, reminding him they weren’t alone. Olivia was back from her trip to Bliss and in a super sour mood, though she’d hugged Nicole when she’d come in to breakfast this morning.
“And kick a guy in the balls,” Harlow said from her place on the couch beside Olivia.
“I think I should train more on that skill,” Olivia said with a nod.