Page 13 of Ghostly Bother (Ghostly #9)

The phone hadn't been found and they'd had to request the call record from the phone company.

"It wasn't in when I looked earlier. I'm curious to see if she sent that message to Lucas.

If not, someone with tech knowledge had to have made it look like it came from her.

" Angus followed Franks back down to their office.

Once there, he took a seat and signed on to his computer.

He looked for any new information that had come in about the case.

He saw several files, but nothing concerning phone records.

"Nothing yet. A few interviews with office staff.

A warrant to pull the GPS from Eden's car. Nothing that will help us."

Franks twisted the cap off a bottle of water that was on his desk. "We need to find out what other companies have contracts with the city and who on the city council was working with Eden. There's no way she was doing this on her own."

"I'll see if she's willing to tell us when I talk to Lance.

She's opened up about a few things so far, but not everything.

I was stunned she gave us Lucas's name." Angus leaned back in his chair.

"We're meeting with Eden's sister in two hours.

She's coming here since Eden's kids are staying with her right now and she thought it would be better not to have us coming around.

Michael will watch them while she's here with us. "

"I feel for those kids." Franks frowned. "They're too young to have to face losing a parent."

"I agree. I'm glad they have their aunt and that she gets along with Michael Anderson well enough to make sure the kids are taken care of.

" Angus tapped his pen on his desk. "Michael said he'll bring the kids back to the house Sunday night and try and get them back on schedule Monday with daycare and school, but I imagine with the media attention this case is getting, it will be a while before things are anywhere normal for those kids. "

"Sad but true." Franks stood. "I'm going to go grab us lunch. When I get back, we can start going through those interviews we got back and see if we can figure out any of the other businesses Eden was striking deals with. Anyone she's worked with has to be running scared right now. Burgers okay?"

Angus was sick of burgers, but it wasn't as if there were a ton of choices.

He was sick of fast food in general. "Sure.

I'll start the process of getting a warrant for Lucas Jenkin's phone records as well as his car's GPS.

I also want to see his financials and look for any large withdrawals.

It was clear this wasn't the first deal he'd struck with our esteemed mayor. "

"Something tells me the mayor's death is going to lead to the downfall of a lot of companies." Franks shoved his phone in his pocket. "Back in a few."

Angus waved his hand and started digging into files. If he was lucky, the team investigating fraud had done most the work for him. If they were willing to share information, they'd have a list of business owners to interview, and hopefully, one of them would be their killer.

They spent the next couple of hours working until it was time to meet with Eden's sister, Rachel Reese.

Angus had done a quick background check on her and knew she worked at a local gym as a trainer and yoga instructor while also running a successful graphic design company from her home.

She was single and had no family other than her nieces now that Eden was gone.

Angus was ready for anything as he opened the door to the interview room and stepped inside, Franks following him.

Family members were one of his least favorite interviews to conduct because they were usually filled with emotion and anger.

He had no idea how Rachel was reacting to her sister's death, though he'd found her calm when they'd spoken on the phone.

"Rachel, I'm Detective Franks and this is my partner Detective Young." Franks offered his hand.

Rachel shook it, then took Angus's before taking deep breath. "Have you found who killed my sister?"

Angus took a seat beside Franks. "Not yet. We're hoping you might be able to help with that. How much about your sister's life did you know?"

Rachel laughed. "I'm her sister. I knew almost everything about her personal life, but if you're asking about work, she kept that to herself.

It wasn't that she was keeping secrets, but she knew I got bored listening to her talk about city council meetings or appearances she had to attend.

She just kind of knew not to talk about her work, and I knew not to talk about mine since she had no interest in fitness. "

Angus nodded as he looked at Rachel. She wore a Fairway Gym t-shirt, a pair of black tight fit pants, and a pair of short ankle boots. Her blonde hair was up in a tight ponytail atop her head, and she wore no makeup to hide the dark circles under her eyes and the redness in them.

"So, you weren't aware she had plans to meet someone last night?" Franks asked.

"No. I'd talked to her earlier in the day.

We mostly talked about the kids. We'd talked about taking them to the park this weekend if she got time.

I figured it would end up like usual and I'd take them because she was too busy.

" Rachel reached for a tissue from the box on the table and dabbed at the corners of her eyes.

"Did that happen often? Where she was too busy to follow through on plans?" Angus asked.

"More than was good for her girls. They got used to Eden not being around and either Michael or I would go do things with them.

" She took a deep breath. "I'm upset about my sister's death, but what really kills me is knowing what those two precious girls are going through right now.

They're a mess. I'm not sure they fully understand what's going on, and how do I explain it to them?

They're so young." She sniffed and wiped at tears that were starting to fall.

"I'm so sorry your family is having to deal with this," Franks told her. "Did Eden talk to you about any problems she was having with anyone? Tell you she was worried someone was upset with her?"

"No, Eden thought everyone loved her. She'd always been that way, even as a kid.

She never heard the snide remarks from bullies or a mean word from another girl.

I mean, of course she had to have heard them, but she never let them get to her the way the rest of us did.

She blew it off as if it never happened and went on as if it wasn't important.

She tried to be everyone's friend. Like I said, she didn't talk to me much about work.

I knew about the investigation into her office, but when I asked her about it, she waved it off as if it was nothing to worry about.

" Rachel looked up at Angus. "I knew she was probably skimming money from somewhere.

She always had extra. She took all of us on a trip a few months ago and paid for everything.

I think Michael was concerned about it, but it wasn't something we ever talked about.

I guess it was easier to act like we didn't see it.

Like we didn't question how she could suddenly afford the best hotels or pay for huge meals. "

"Did she talk to you about her relationship with her husband?" Angus asked.

"A little. I know Michael wasn't happy. Eden worked a lot.

She wasn't the best wife or mother because of that.

Eden was aware of that as well, but she always said that she needed to take advantage of being the mayor now so she could give her family a better life later.

I understood that. Still, it was hard on Michael when she wasn't around as much.

I think the girls are too young to understand that something wasn't normal.

Michael being the main caregiver was their normal.

They got used to me filling in when Michael was busy.

Eden loved Michael, but sometimes I think she forgot to show it. "

"Were you aware Eden was having an affair?" Franks asked.

Rachel's eyes went wide, then she shook her head.

"I'm not going to lie. I thought she might have been.

She was very secretive for a while with me about where she was going or where she had been.

We never discussed it, so I guess you could say I didn't know, but I'm not really shocked to hear that.

" She clutched the tissue in her hand. "Please tell me you didn't tell Michael. "

"He's aware." Angus kept it simple, not wanting to go into more about it.

He knew that it didn't have any weight on the case, so there was no point in dwelling on it.

What he wanted to know by asking the question was how much Eden confided in her sister.

"Is there anything you think we should know or is there anyone you think we should be looking at? "

Rachel shook her head. "No. I don't know who would kill her. I know some people didn't like her, but I don't know anyone who hated her. I was stunned when Michael called and told me what happened." She wiped more tears from her eyes.

"Did Eden keep things at your home?" Franks asked.

"What kind of things?" Rachel asked. "I think I have some of her clothes, but that's because I borrowed them."

"Nothing like files or anything work related?" Franks asked.

"No, nothing like that." Rachel sniffed.

"She always said it was important to keep work and home separate, so I can't see her even taking much to her house, let alone mine.

" She reached for another tissue. "I really wish I could help you.

I want her killer caught more than anyone, but she didn't talk to me about anything that made me believe she could be in danger.

If the rumors are true about her stealing money from the Mayor's Office, then maybe someone there would be who you need to talk to.

Like I said, she blew it off when I asked about it.

I don't know what I can tell you. It's just so hard to imagine anyone wanting Eden dead.

She was always so happy and was really working to make this city a better place. "

That was something they could disagree on, but Angus wasn't here to insult Eden to her family. "If you think of anything that might help us, please let us know." Angus handed her his card. "Thank you for coming in and talking with us today."

Rachel nodded as she took the card. She stuck it in the small purse she had beside her. "Thank you for all you're doing to bring my sister's killer to justice." She stood. "Do you know yet when we'll be able to get her body so we can bury her?"

"Not yet, but the Medical Examiner's Office will contact Eden's husband as soon as they release the body," Franks told her.

"Thank you, Gentlemen." Rachel slung her purse over her shoulder.

Angus held the door open for her and watched as she made her way down the long hallway. When she was out of sight, he turned to Franks who still sat at the table. "Well?"

"Another dead end." Franks sighed.

Angus agreed. He rubbed the back of his neck, wondering when they'd finally get a break in the case. Someone knew something. They just had to figure out who.