Chapter 6
And today is the first day the house has been truly unoccupied—while everyone was at the funeral and memorial.
Even when we were all away for the few days it was a crime scene, the police had it secured and they’d posted someone to keep an eye on the place.
Not to mention the neighborhood had added to their normal security, so in addition to the men and women who rotated at the front gate, they also had guards alternating driving around on a golf cart most of the day.
“We can’t rule anything out at this point.” I feel like he wants to say more but he goes quiet as Riley storms into the kitchen where we’ve been talking. He’s already talked to my nieces, but they didn’t see anything. Thankfully Fiona had listened to me and taken the girls back to Ava’s.
A lot of emotions are vibrating off my niece as she stomps right up in front of me, her expression defiant. “I don’t want to go to Grandma’s house!”
I blink down at her. “Oookay. Who says you have to?”
Ethan and his mom step into the kitchen then, clearly trailing after Riley. “No one is saying that you have to leave.” Ethan’s tone is beyond exhausted.
I can see by his mother’s expression that she disagrees with him. Which makes sense. Of course she wants to keep her granddaughters safe.
I look at the detective again. “Are the girls in danger?” I already made my statement and he hasn’t given any indication that he thinks they might be. Then again, someone opened fire on me after peeking in the windows here.
He pauses. “I don’t see any immediate danger, no. I’m leaving an officer outside the house and another outside the gate. The guard let someone in because of the catering sign on the van, but they won’t be making that mistake again.”
Yeah, I hope not.
“I’ll be setting the alarm tonight, and all the cameras are on,” Ethan murmurs.
That definitely makes me feel better, but maybe Evelyn is right. Maybe the girls should go with her.
“My house is big and everyone would be comfortable there,” Evelyn says, clearly continuing a conversation from earlier, her tone more worried than anything.
“Maybe you guys should go to your grandma’s—”
I’m cut off by a glare from Riley, followed by another shout of “No!” Then she storms from the room, her footsteps pounding as she races upstairs.
I turn back to Garcia as Ethan and his mother start talking in hushed tones by the countertop. “I’ll walk you out?” I ask quietly.
Once we’re on the front stoop, I feel like I’m able to breathe again. I love being around the girls, but everywhere I look I see Cara. And it just reminds me that I’m not doing a damn thing to solve her murder.
I swear I can feel a clock ticking inside me, pushing me to get out there, to find out who did this. “Hopefully you’ll discover something with the bullet casings,” I say as I walk him to his unmarked vehicle.
Garcia watches me carefully for a long moment, and I can’t read his look. Then he takes me off guard when he says, “Please promise you won’t do anything stupid.”
“Why would you say that?” I mean, he’s not wrong, I’m definitely going to be taking some things into my own hands.
But I’m an expert at schooling my expression.
It’s part of why I’m so good at my job. Though this is more than a job; this is about my sister.
So maybe I’m not being as opaque as I usually am.
“Because you have a look in your eyes I recognize.” He scrubs a hand over his face. “You just buried your sister—and from what I’ve gathered you’re a pro. But if you impede this investigation—”
“I’m not going to impede anything.”
He gives me a look that says he doesn’t believe me, then hands me a card. “This has my personal cell on the back. Call me if you’re thinking about making questionable choices. Or call me directly instead of 911, if you need. I don’t care what time of day or night. This case is my top priority.”
It won’t be forever though, I know that. Time is ticking, and if he doesn’t solve things soon, no matter how prominent my sister’s family is, he’ll eventually have to move on. Then Cara will become a cold case.
I refuse to let that happen.
“Thanks.” I tuck the card into my front jacket pocket, then stay on the front porch for a few minutes longer.
The air is icy and I breathe it in, letting it burn my lungs.
It’s only six, way too early to call it a night.
There are a few people I can reach out to.
But first, I need to talk to Ethan in private.
Back in the kitchen, he’s alone, drinking a glass of red wine and looking more exhausted than I’ve ever seen him.
“Where’s your mom?” I haven’t bothered to take off my coat yet because I’m not planning on staying long.
“Saying goodbye to the girls. Maybe she’s right, but I can’t make them leave.” He stares down at his glass.
“They want to be close to their mom. And this house is filled with all things Cara.” I glance over at the cluster of family photos on the fridge and my throat tightens. Everyone is smiling in them. One big happy family, mostly over the course of the last year—Cara updated the pictures once a year.
I wonder if Ethan will keep up the habit or if these will end up frozen in time on the fridge.
Nodding, he turns away from me, staring out the window into the backyard. “I know. I love it and hate it at the same time. I keep thinking she’s going to walk through the door.”
I blink away the tears that want to spill over. If I start crying again, I’ll never stop. “I know.” Clearing my throat, I brace myself. “Who did Cara fire a few weeks ago?” I blurt.
He turns around, surprise on his face. “What? Why?” Then before I can answer either question, he continues. “You think he’s responsible for this?” He stares at me, almost blankly, and shakes his head.
“I honestly don’t know. But the detective talked to me a little bit about the…
case.” I don’t like calling it that. It feels too impersonal.
But I can’t bring myself to say the words her murder.
“He wouldn’t give me the name of who she fired.
And I know you have it.” It seems clear that Ethan doesn’t know anything about the weapon found.
Which makes sense; it wasn’t mentioned on the news.
Obviously the cops are holding stuff back.
I still can’t believe Garcia told me all he has so far—and that reminds me that I need to call Fallon.
And Alex.
It’s because of Fallon that I’ve been given any insider information at all, and I need to remember that.
“Cory Powell,” Ethan finally says. “And he deserved it.”
“Can you tell me why? Or is it like trade secrets or whatever?” Ethan doesn’t know what I do for a living.
He thinks I’m a corporate pilot just like everyone else.
I was surprised when Cara told me he didn’t know, but I shouldn’t have been.
She was always good at keeping secrets. Right now I’m glad Ethan isn’t aware of my real profession.
If he is involved—and I still don’t think he is—he would be even more on guard with me if he knew I was an investigator.
“I don’t know if it’s a secret, but I don’t care. Powell was caught stealing. Denied it, but Cara had the proof.”
“Any other people she let go in the last six months that you can think of?”
“Why?” He scrubs a hand over his face again. “Jesus, Sloane, you can’t…go after these people.”
“Of course not,” I easily lie. “I just want names.” I pause for effect.
“Look, I’m friends with a couple investigators.
Met them on the job. Maybe they can look into this.
I swear they won’t get in the cops’ way.
And what can it hurt? The cops won’t work this case forever, no matter how high-profile it is.
It makes more sense for me to ask my contacts for help now while things are fresh.
” I know the stats of cold cases being solved.
They’re grim. I doubt Ethan knows the actual statistics, but I see the moment he decides to give me what I’m asking for.
He pauses, then nods before ripping off the top page of the Christmas-themed notepad on the fridge. He scribbles for a few moments and is still writing when his mom walks in. Thankfully he doesn’t say anything about it to Evelyn, just hands me the folded-up paper.
It’s clear his mom wants privacy with him, so I give her a hug. “You’re an incredible grandmother. The girls are so lucky to have you.” Her husband isn’t here; went home hours ago, something that didn’t surprise me. He’s always struck me as useless. And yes, I know that’s mean, but I don’t care.
She hugs me back tight. “Thank you for staying over here. You have my number,” she says as she steps away, wiping away the wetness on her cheeks.
“I’m going to head down to Ava’s.” I step back slightly, tuck my hands into my jacket pockets along with Ethan’s note. “I didn’t get to talk to her much today, and I’d like to now.”
“Of course.” Ethan nods. “I’ve changed the alarm code. It might be set when you get home, but I’ll text you the new one.”
“Thanks…and maybe don’t tell anyone else the code. Other than family,” I add, half smiling at his mom.
“I won’t.” His expression is as grim as I feel inside.
He knows that this wasn’t a robbery, so he must be aware that someone close to them—or at least someone with access and knowledge of this neighborhood—killed Cara. The likelihood that someone he knows murdered his wife must be settling in now.
I wonder if he’s feeling as much rage as me, if he’ll do anything to make her murderer pay.