Chapter 17
"You're out of your mind if you think I'm gonna let you search my apartment!” Gavin said, reining in his temper and actually using his brain.
"What do you have to hide?”
"Why am I automatically hiding something just because I want to exercise my Fourth Amendment right?"
I shrugged and said, "We'll be back.”
"I’ll count the minutes," he snarked before stepping back into the apartment and closing the door. He flipped the deadbolt, then peered out the peephole again and watched us as we walked away.
We took the pathway through the complex.
"Sure is a shame,” Jack said. “That guy had the world by the tail for a minute there. You think he killed Coach Madison?”
"He seemed genuinely surprised by the news. I think he would have been a lot more nervous. But we should look into Delilah, just in case.”
"He's got a pretty strong motive for revenge."
"Yeah, well, I think there are people with stronger motives.”
We made our way back to the Porsche, hopped inside, and drove across the island to the Seven Seas. I had a few additional questions for Tiffany. Maybe this whole thing was as simple as a drug dealer trying to collect on a debt.
Jack drove us across town and pulled into the parking lot of the luxury resort. He drove to the valet, and we hopped out. As usual, he told the kid to keep it up front and slipped a few bills into his palm.
We hurried through the hotel and out to the pool, taking in the delightful sights. The water glimmered in the sunlight, and tanned legs glistened with oil. We pushed through the gate and made our way down the path toward the cabanas.
I knocked on the door to Tiffany's bungalow. I didn't know if she was still staying at the hotel. I hadn't called. But I wanted to catch her off guard.
Footsteps shuffled down the foyer. She pulled open the door a moment later and looked surprised to see us. Her curious eyes flicked between the two of us. "Deputies. What a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect to see you today. I hope you have good news. Some progress with the case?”
I smiled. "Slowly but surely. I just have a few additional questions for you.”
"Absolutely. Anything I can do to help. I'm an open book." She paused. "Please, come inside."
She stepped aside and motioned us in. Jack closed the door behind us, and we followed her into the living room, where she offered us a seat on the sofa.
"Did you get a chance to look over the will and the prenuptial agreement?”
"I did. Thanks for providing those.”
"And?”
"I'm no attorney, but as far as I can tell, you've been telling the truth. You stand to inherit nothing and have a limited amount of time in the house.”
She smiled. "See. It wasn’t about the money. I really did love the man.” Tiffany sucked her lips, and her eyes misted. "I told myself I wasn't going to cry anymore. I was done crying.” She grabbed a tissue from the coffee table and blotted her eyes.
"It's okay. You gotta let it out. Holding that kind of thing inside is not good.”
Tiffany nodded. She took a deep breath and composed herself. "So what kind of questions do you have for me?"
I paused, considering my phrasing. "I'm just going to be direct. I don't mean to offend you, but…”
"Just say it. By now, I've heard everything."
"Were you using any illicit drugs?”
She blinked, tilted her head, and looked at me with confusion. "What kind of illicit drugs?"
"Cocaine. From what I hear, legendary amounts.”
Tiffany laughed. "Where did you hear this from?”
"I can't reveal my sources.”
"Legendary amounts, huh?"
"Were you in debt? Did you owe your dealer money?”
She balked again. "Did I owe my dealer money? Are you serious?”
I nodded.
"Okay. Let's get a few things straight. I did not have a coke habit.
I certainly didn't have a legendary one.
If I was in debt to my dealer, my husband had more than enough money to settle it.
I'm not gonna sit here and act like I'm Little Miss Innocent.
I may have indulged in a few sensory delights in the past. But it is not, and never was, a regular thing.
Sure, I smoked a little weed here and there, just like anybody else.
But a coke habit? Big bad drug dealers settling a score? That's pure fiction."
"So, there was no one that you owed money to?”
"I had no gambling debts, no drug debts. Yes, a pretty hefty credit card bill, but I'm pretty sure the bank didn't send a hitman to collect. Killing Brock certainly wasn't the way to get a big payout.”
She had a point.
"What other ridiculous rumors have you heard that I can put to rest?”
I shared an awkward glance with Jack. "Well, there is the matter of your former employment.”
She lifted a salty eyebrow and placed her hands on her hips. “Oh, really? And what former employment is that?”