Page 85 of Reckless Chance

“Criminals are often believable.”

“You’re not saying she’s an experienced criminal. You’re saying this was revenge gone wrong,” I point out.

“We’re still investigating her past. Who knows what will turn up? The good news is that we have the murderer in custody and your theater can reopen.”

“That is the best news I’ve heard in a long time,” Sean says.

“Now let’s see if Amelia will fill in a few gaps in this mystery,” Fielder remarks.

If we’re lucky, she’ll also shed light on what is going on with Mr. Galanis and his fake attorney.

47

SEAN

It’s surprising how often a casino faces the need to question someone or hold them until the authorities arrive and haul them away. We’ve had to deal with employees who get greedy and pocket gaming chips, gamblers who decide they can cheat, and guests who get out of hand after imbibing too many free drinks at the slot machines.

Dad had the wisdom when he built the Athena to include a couple of police-station-style interrogation rooms fitted with a wall of one-way glass and recording equipment. In sharp contrast to the Athena’s sumptuous luxury, Dad also insisted upon cold, bleak furniture: a simple metal table bolted to the floor, a bar across the top of the table to handcuff an unruly guest to, and hard metal chairs. No room for comfort here.

Lowri, Daniel, and I watch through the one-way glass as Detective Fielder questions a crying, shaking Amelia.

After reminding her of her rights, he says, “Please state your full name for the recording.”

“Amelia Rae Graham.”

Amelia Rae? A.R.? Is she the gambler who’s in debt to the Rossis? It must be a coincidence. Paxton said it was a guy who owed them money.

“Tell me about your relationship with Mr. Brentwood,” Fielder says.

“There’s nothing much to tell. He was a cheating bastard.”

“Is that why you broke up?”

“Yes. I found out that he was also having an affair with a man.”

“Was that Mr. Galanis?”

“Yes. He’d previously introduced him as a friend. I later learned what he meant. It didn’t matter who it was though. All that mattered was that he lied to me.”

“So, you hated him.”

“I despised what he did to me. He said we were going to be married, but it was all a lie.”

“How did Mr. Brentwood get a ticket to the show?”

“I gave it to him.”

“Why did you give him a ticket after you broke up?”

“I gave it to him a couple of months ago—before we broke up. It was a birthday present.”

“I see. Did you know that whoever sat in that seat would be invited to the stage to participate in the show?”

“Yes. I wanted him to feel special and be part of the show with me. When we broke up, I tried to get the ticket back, but the asshole refused to return it.”

“Is that why you arranged for the tree’s platform to break when he was standing on it?”

“I didn’t have anything to do with that. He just fell.”