Page 35 of Ghostly Bother (Ghostly #9)

Angus smiled as he walked into the interview room.

Franks was behind him. It had been a long two weeks since Eden had moved on after admitting her sister had killed her, and in that time, Angus had worked hard to link all the evidence they had together.

Today, they'd finally be able to make an arrest and hand the case over to the district attorney to handle.

What they didn't know yet was if Michael Anderson would also be arrested. They were about to find out. Angus smiled as he set the thick file down on the metal table. "Gentlemen, thank you for coming in today." Angus offered his hand first to Michael, then to his attorney, Mr. Hemsworth.

"I can't imagine what more we can do for you, Detective. We've answered all your questions. Do you have news on who killed Eden?" Mr. Hemsworth asked.

Angus took a seat beside Franks. "Actually, we do. I assume you're aware that Miss. Reese is down the hall also being interviewed right now?"

"Yes, I'd asked her to watch the kids today and found out she was scheduled to come in at the same time," Michael told them.

"Sorry for the inconvenience. It was important that we have you both here.

" Franks opened his file. "When we first started investigating, we were sure that Eden's killer was someone she'd been working with through the Mayor's Office, but as we dug a bit deeper, we found out that it was a little closer to home. "

"Home? What are you talking about?" Michael looked confused. "You told me I was cleared of the murder. The only others at home are children."

"You're right, we did clear you of the murder. We do not think you murdered your wife, and we know your children didn't do it. But what about Rachel?" Angus asked.

"Rachel? You mean my sister-in-law?" Michael glanced at his attorney. "What are they saying?"

"Yes, your sister-in-law, but she's much more than that, isn't she? She's also your lover." Franks smirked. "Getting the best of both, hmm?"

"Excuse me?" Michael asked.

"No need to hide it. We know that Rachel has been staying at your place.

We have video evidence your relationship with Miss Reese is more than the typical in-law situation.

A nice romantic dinner in town last night.

A dark corner of the patio where you thought no one could see you.

Seriously, in this day and age there are almost always cameras around when you're in public.

That's not here nor there honestly. What we would like to know is at what point were you aware that Rachel was going to kill her sister? "

"Gentlemen, please. What is this about? Are you saying Miss Reese killed her sister?" Mr. Hemsworth took off his glasses and put them on the table.

"That is exactly what we are saying. Right now, Detective Burns is reading Miss Reese her rights and placing her under arrest. We can only imagine the story she has to tell as she tries to talk her way out of the charges.

The reason you are here, Mr. Anderson, is so you have a chance to tell us your side of the story before we bring charges against you," Franks told him.

"I didn't kill my wife." Michael stood up, his voice loud in the small interview room.

"We don't think you did. We do however think you've known all along who did.

What we are here for now is to give you a chance to possibly keep yourself out of jail and with your children.

Your girls have been through enough already without ending up with your brother, or worse, in foster care.

" As Angus said the threat, he prayed those girls never ended up in a foster home.

"What exactly is it you think my client is guilty of?" Mr. Hemsworth asked.

"We think he and Miss Reese plotted and planned the murder of Eden Anderson." Angus stated.

"No, I had no idea. Honestly. Not until recently." Michael sat back down. "I didn't know."

"Michael." Mr. Hemsworth reached out to grip his arm to silence him. "Detectives, can I have a moment alone with my client, please?"

"Of course." Franks smiled.

Angus picked up his file and followed Franks out of the room and closed the door. Leaning against the wall, Angus smiled at Franks. "He'll talk."

"Yep, he sure will. Did you see his eyes when you mentioned foster care?

He'll cave. But maybe we were wrong about him knowing beforehand.

He sounded serious when he said he didn't know.

" Franks rolled his shoulders. "I will be so glad to be done with this case.

It's been the oddest case we've had in a while.

Nothing has played out like I thought it would. "

"More time to spend with Gretta once we wrap this up, right?" Angus teased. He was aware that Gretta was spending a ton of time at Franks place. Not a day went by when Detective Burns wasn't worried about her sister being around Franks.

"You want the truth?" Franks lowered his voice.

"Of course."

"Gretta and I are just friends. She's using my place as an escape from Amy and her husband.

I'm seldom home and even when I am, the place is big enough for the two of us not to be on top of each other.

I've given her a key and offered to let her move in if she wants.

I'm not saying nothing more will happen between us.

I'm interested, but I'm also respectful of the fact she needs time.

More than anything right now, she just wants to be left alone, and Amy's been a bit overbearing.

" Franks shrugged. "She's good company and my cat likes her. "

Angus laughed. "And if the cat hated her?"

"I don't know. Are cats like dogs and you should trust them if they don't like someone?"

"I'd think that covers most animals. They have some inner sense of good and bad." Angus gripped Franks' shoulder. "I'm glad to hear that you and Gretta are getting along. While I hoped for some great romance, I'm happy to hear you just like keeping each other company for now."

"Don't tell Amy," Franks warned him.

"I won't say a word to her, but I have to let Lance know. We've both been curious but were trying to mind our own business." Angus straightened as the door opened.

"You can come back in." Mr. Hemsworth smiled.

"Thanks." Franks went in and Angus followed.

"So, my client has decided to tell you everything he knows, but he'd like your word that he won't be charged with murder or conspiracy to commit murder," Mr. Hemsworth told them.

"We can do that." Franks stood. "Let me head down the hall and speak to the assistant district attorney right now. We'll get you something in writing."

"That would be appreciated." Mr. Hemsworth smiled.

They watched Franks leave, then Michael spoke. "What charges could I face if I knew after the fact and didn't come forward?"

"You could face charges for accessory after the fact, but more than likely you could face charges for impeding an investigation.

A lot will come down to how much did you know, and when did you know it?

If we interviewed you after you found out and you lied to us, that could bring charges.

Right now, we are more interested in making a solid case against Miss Reese than we are upending your life, especially if you didn't find out until after the murder happened.

" Angus couldn't make promises to Michael, but he really wanted to do all he could to keep him with his children.

"Let's see what Franks finds out and we'll see where we stand. "

They didn't have to wait long. Within ten minutes Franks came back with a signed paper from the D.A.'s Office that protected Michael from murder charges as long as he testified against Rachel Reese.

"This looks good." Mr. Hemsworth nodded and set the paper down in front of Michael. "Tell them what you told me."

Angus hit the button that would record everything said in the room.

Michael sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"I had no idea Rachel killed Eden. I honestly thought someone she'd worked with had done it, but then once Eden was gone, Rachel started spending even more time at my place.

At first it was nice. I was upset, the girls were a mess, and we needed the help and support.

Over the next week, Rachel was practically living with us.

I didn't think anything of it. Rachel was always close to my girls, and I figured she was grieving too.

She stayed in the guest room the first few days.

I don't know. Time is all jumbled for me after all this.

But one night, Rachel came on to me, telling me we could drown our sorrows in sex.

It had been so long since someone wanted me.

Eden and I hadn't been together in months.

I figured what the hell. After that, things just kept happening, until we were acting like a couple.

I made sure the girls never saw it. I didn't want them asking questions so soon, but when we were alone…

" Michael stared up at the lights in the ceiling. "I was a fool."

"When did you find out Rachel had killed Eden?" Franks asked.