Page 88 of Final Approach

She wasn’t staying. No way, no how. She’d better start making calls soon to get a ride home. She’d pay for an Uber if she had to. But first ... “Can we talk about Emily’s friends?”

He stilled, then raised a brow. “What about them?”

“You said they were bad news. What made you say that?”

“Nowyou want to know?”

She just kept her gaze steady on his. He finally shrugged and settled into the recliner opposite the television. “That Tia girl was kicked out of high school for cheating on one of her finals. She had to get her GED.”

“Okay, so?”

“So, that goes to character.”

“And yet she graduated college with Emily at the top of their class. People can make mistakes and still be good people. And not only that, people can change.”

“And that Dana girl. The one in the coma? She was arrested for drugs in school. For using and dealing. She got off with a slap on her wrist because her daddy is a senator. Rich, entitled brat.”

Kristine could only stare at her father. But in the back of her mind, she was sorting through reasons someone would want to kill Dana. Reasons related to drugs? “Is she still involved in that?”

He shrugged. “Beats me. That’s why I didn’t want Em hanging around her.” His eyes darkened into storm clouds. “But she didn’t listen and now look where we are.”

Kristine bit off a sigh. He always thought he was right. Even when it was clear to anyone else that he wasn’t. “Let that go for a minute, will you? Did you find anything else out that would indicate Dana had someone who wanted to see her dead?”

“What? Why?”

“She’s a senator’s daughter. That in itself might make her a target.”

He blinked. “Yeah. Maybe.”

“And someone tampered with her brakes.”

He snorted. “Well, there you go. Do you need any more proof?”

“Dad, she’s in a coma. Someone tried to kill her. This whole thing is being investigated as an attempted murder. If you have any information that you can share as to who could have done this, you need to give it to the detectives.”

He sighed and raked a hand over his head. “Fine. I’ll dig up all my notes and files and take those to the police first thing in the morning. Happy?”

“Yes. Thank you. And one other thing. Do you mind if I look at Mom’s stuff in the attic?”

He frowned. “What? Where did that come from? You’ve never shown any interest in that stuff before.”

“I know. Now I’m interested.”

“Why?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yeah. It matters. Why stir up old memories that are better left buried?”

“Because she was my mother. I need to do this. For me.”

He studied her, eyes the exact same shade of gray as hers. But somehow different. What was it that she was seeing now that she’d never noticed before? Something ... lacking. He shrugged and looked away. “I don’t think I have that stuff anymore. I probably gave it to charity.”

“Dad!” She blinked. “Why would you do that?”

He slammed a hand on the arm of the chair. “Because she loved her job more than she loved us and I didn’t need the reminders!”

“Well, she was my mom and I wanted her stuff! Emily and Ethan might have wanted something too. You should have asked.” She pulled in a ragged breath.Don’t yell. Stay calm.She forced her fist to relax. “I can’t believe you did that.”