Page 13 of Little Dark Deeds (Georgiana Germaine #12)

T he next morning, I met Simone and Hunter at the office to talk about our new investigation.

Both ladies were former detectives I’d brought on when I formed the Case Closed Detective Agency a few years earlier.

Since then, we’d solved a handful of homicide cases, Simone often speaking to the suspects I couldn’t always get to, and Hunter researching behind the scenes.

We made a good team, and no matter how much of a knack I had for catching criminals, the business wouldn’t be where it was today without them.

When they joined me on the sofa, lattes in hand, I noticed they were a bit quieter than usual.

When the silence became too stifling, I piped up with, “All right, look, I already have everyone else tiptoeing around me like they think I might break. I can’t have you two doing it too.

If we need to talk about what happened to Tiffany first and how I’m feeling about it so we can move on, then let’s do it. ”

“I’m sorry,” Hunter said.

“You don’t need to be sorry,” I replied. “I know you’re concerned about me. Everyone is, and I appreciate it. No matter how personal this is to me, we have a job to do.”

“We’re just worried,” Simone said. “That’s all.”

“About what?”

She leaned back, taking a sip of her latte as she crossed one leg over the other. “Maybe worried isn’t the right word. We feel bad that you lost such a good friend. You two have known each other forever, and I’m sure her death is weighing on you.”

“You’re right,” I said. “There is a heaviness that’s been hard to shake.”

“And hey, we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, okay? We can get straight to the case. I know talking about your feelings isn’t always the easiest thing for you.”

Discussing my feelings with others had always felt like performing on stage without a script. It was weird and awkward, and I never felt like I said the right thing in the right way—if, in fact, there was a right way.

Hunter lifted a finger.

“What is it?” I asked.

“I feel like we need to admit that we know about what happened yesterday at Tiffany’s house—you know, when you threw up and stuff.”

Simone shot Hunter an irritated look like she’d just sold them out.

“What?” Hunter asked. “If we’re sitting here telling her we’re worried, she deserves to know why.”

“It’s fine,” I said. “Continue.”

“Okay, so Foley stopped by this morning before you got here. He was looking for you, and he ... well, he told us about you being in the bathroom. I should add that right after it came out of his mouth, he felt bad for saying it.”

“How do you know he felt bad? Did he say as much?”

“Not with words, no. I could just tell.”

And I could tell a lot of assumptions were flying around.

If I wanted to shift the conversation to investigating Tiffany’s murder, it seemed I was first going to have to share where my head was at.

I set my notebook and pen on my lap, my latte on the coffee table, and crossed my arms. “I’m going to explain what happened at Tiffany’s house and why it did. Once I do, I’d like us to all move on, focus on what matters right now. And it isn’t me.”

They leaned a bit closer, eager to hear what I had to say.

“I was in a state of shock yesterday, right from the start. After we flew back, Whitlock was waiting for me at the airport. He gave me a ride to Tiffany’s house, and before I went in, we talked for a while.”

“About what?” Simone asked.

“Information they knew up to that point. I felt I’d handled the conversation well, and I convinced myself I was in the right headspace. Maybe I was at first. I then spoke with Tiffany’s father at the house, and that conversation also went as well as it could have gone.”

“When did things change?”

“I was in Tiffany’s bathroom, taking in the murder scene, and I don’t know .

.. I just felt like I was losing it. I ran from there to the guest bathroom, and I threw up a few times.

Then I sat there on the floor, questioning whether to take the case or not.

Foley and Whitlock suggested I let them be in the driver’s seat, and you know me well enough to know when that happens, I always push back. This time it was different, though.”

“We’d feel the same way if we were in your position,” Hunter said. “And we want you to know we’re here for you, for whatever you need.”

What I needed was to wrap up the conversation about me and get to talking about how we were going to solve Tiffany’s murder.

“I was ... I mean I am grieving,” I said. “And it’s fine. If I have to grieve myself through this case, so be it. If I want to work it, there isn’t another option.”

“We ... ahh, we also heard you left with your mother,” Simone said. “I know how your mother can be sometimes, which worried me even more.”

“You know something? There are these rare moments when she shines in times of turmoil, and she becomes a radiant beacon, instead of a stubborn, obstinate worrywart. Yesterday, she was the beacon. She gave me a pep talk, reminded me of who I am, who we are, and why we do what we do.”

“Wow,” Simone said. “Go, Darlene. I’m impressed.”

“I was too. She may not always like the investigations we take, but she showed me a level of support yesterday I never expected. I slept on it, woke up this morning as determined as ever, and now we’re all here.”

“I’m glad you decided we should be involved.”

“Me too,” Hunter said. “Where do we start?”

Reaching for my notebook and pen, I grinned, pleased to be getting the ball rolling.

“Let’s start with a few notes I’ve taken,” I said. “In the months before Tiffany died, she was dating someone new, a man named Tyler Seymour. When she talked to me about him, she gave me the impression he was different than the other guys she’d dated, a man she could see a future with one day.”

“How long did they date?” Hunter asked.

“Several months, but right before our wedding, they broke up.”

“Why?”

“Turns out, Tyler’s married.”

“Holy crap,” Hunter said. “Didn’t see that one coming.”

“Me neither,” I said. “The wife, Jana, found out her husband was having an affair, and she confronted Tiffany at her law office.”

“The woman’s got balls,” Simone said. “Sounds like we have ourselves a great suspect.”

“More like two suspects,” Hunter added. “What’s the husband’s story? Why did he decide to have an affair? Not to mention the risks involved in lying to both his wife and Tiffany. That never ends well. What was he thinking?”

“All good questions I don’t have answers for yet. I plan to speak to them both today. I’ll tell you what I know so far, but until I hear their stories, let’s not assume anything.”

“Even when you talk to them, you might not know if they’re lying to you,” Hunter said.

“Oh, there are ways, little tells sometimes.”

“I’ve never been any good at knowing when a person is lying.”

Hunter could be a bit too trusting, but when it came to looking into a person’s background, she was a tech ninja.

“Let’s go over what I know about Tyler so far,” I said. “He is a real estate agent, and he was helping Tiffany find an investment rental. At some point during that process, they hit it off and started dating.”

“Until the wife found out, I bet,” Simone said.

“Here’s something interesting. When Jana confronted Tiffany at work, I expected to hear that she was erratic, which is common in these situations.

I was told she was calm and collected, talking to Tiffany like she didn’t place any of the blame on her.

She put it all on Tyler. She and Tiffany even hugged at the end. ”

Shocked, Simone shook her head. “What happened after their lovey powwow?”

“The wife told Tyler she knew about the affair, and according to Tiffany’s father, Tyler told Jana he wanted a divorce.”

“I don’t get it. If he wanted a divorce, why make it so messy? He could have done the right thing and asked for the divorce before he started dating Tiffany. Maybe if he had, it all would have gone down a different way.”

“Who knows? People cheat for a lot of reasons.”

Hunter scrunched up her face, nodding. “Yeah, like the thrill of the chase and the fact it feels so naughty. Brings in an extra level of excitement for some people.”

Simone tipped her head back, laughing. “Umm, Hunter, is there anything you’d like to tell us?”

“Oh, no. Come on. I wouldn’t ever ... I just, I watch a lot of murder mysteries on television. Half the time, an affair has something to do with it.”

Simone eyed Hunter like she questioned her answer.

“Ladies, let’s get back on track,” I said.

“Tyler and Jana are the first people on my list to question, though to accuse them now seems too easy. If either one of them murdered Tiffany, they would have known they’d be a prime suspect.

I’ll see what they have to say, and then we’ll discuss their statements.

In the meantime, Hunter, I’d like you to look into Tiffany’s recent clients.

Her last legal case was a bit rough on her. I’d like to know more about it.”

“You bet. What type of case was it?”

“Divorce. She handled a lot of them. Given she won almost every case she took on, I’m wondering if there’s something there.”

“Are you thinking there might be a disgruntled husband?”

“I am.”

I turned toward Simone. “I’d like you to talk to Tiffany’s neighbors. See if they saw or heard anything on the day of the murder. I’m sure Foley and Whitlock have already spoken to them, but it wouldn’t hurt to circle back and speak to them ourselves.”

“I’m on it,” she said.

And with that, it was go time.