Page 77 of Family Affair

Willis took a sip of his coffee, grimaced and set it aside. He grew more animated as he continued with the story. Animated for Detective Willis, which meant his body temperature probably reached that of his lukewarm coffee.

“When we looked into the old case involving Stevie Stark, we got a red flag with the Pollock drawing. It isn’t just one of Frank Sheffield’s alleged forgeries. It had been the chief evidence Steve Stark had obtained on Sheffield. After Stark was killed, the drawing vanished and remained unaccounted for. Until now.”

Coco willed her body not to fidget.

“It may have been, I don’t know, given to someone, or sold as what it is, a reproduction,” she offered a logical explanation. But she remembered the price tag at the gallery. Did Rosa even know what kind of history this drawing had?

What have I stumbled into?Coco thought.

“That’s what we are looking to confirm. As it stands, the drawing points to the fact that Ward Williamson's ties with the Sheffield family had not been, in fact, severed.”

“Detective, I can see why you wanted to talk to me. But I can’t help you. I’ve never met Frank Sheffield. I claim a limited association with Dan and to a lesser degree, with Cade. Neither shared much about their family. Besides, Dan was, what, sixteen when Frank died?”

“But Cade was twenty-five,” Willis countered. “Cade knows a lot more than he says he does.”

“Oh, my God!” Understanding dawned. “He’s under suspicion, isn’t he?”

Willis hesitated. “What’s the nature of your relationship with Cade, Ms. Milroy?”

“We don’t have much of a relationship. We only met recently, through Dan. Cade’s been very helpful to me on several occasions, treated me like family.” All true, all true.

“Where were you last Monday night?”

“Ah… at work.”

“All day?”

“Well, no. Cade and I went out together after work.”

“Was Dan with you?”

She flushed. “No, he wasn’t.”

“Did anyone see you? Could identify you?”

“I’m sure a number of people saw us. We went to a restaurant, had dinner, and then I went home.”

“What time did you part ways?”

“I’m not sure. Nine? Yes, around nine.”

“Would you sign an affidavit to prove Cade’s whereabouts last Monday night?”

“An affidavit? Yes, of course. Yes, I’d do it. Right now?”

The look Willis gave her was openly speculative. “Not right now. You will need to come to the headquarters to formally corroborate his words.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow morning.” He gave her the time of the appointment and explained how to get there. “I appreciate your time, Ms. Milroy. See you tomorrow.”

He left, and the door chimes jingled once in his wake.

Coco watched him get in the car and drive away, and when he was gone, she simply crumpled in her chair, resting her buzzing head on her folded arms.

What had she done?