Arson at the Art Gallery by Grace York

Author:Grace York [York, Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-08-14T23:00:00+00:00

16

By the time Wilcox and Short arrived, Rick Ramirez was long gone. Layla sat at the kitchen table with them while Addison hung around in the kitchen. Olivia had taken Charlie up to her room.

Addison was desperate for a glass of wine to calm her nerves, but didn't want to start drinking in front of the cops. Even though she rarely had more than one or two glasses, it just didn't feel right.

"You're sure it was him?" Wilcox asked Layla.

"I don't know," she replied. "I didn't see him. Addison did."

"I'm sure it was him," said Addison. "I know I've only met him face-to-face twice, but I've seen enough pictures. I remember his face clearly from the trial. It was definitely him."

"And he was at the side of the house, trying to get a look in through the window?" asked Wilcox.

"That's right."

"He's supposed to be in jail," said Layla. "What's he even doing here?"

"We checked with Brisbane Correctional Centre on the way over here," said Short. "He was released on parole two weeks ago."

"Why wasn't Layla told?" asked Addison. Didn't they have some kind of system for informing the victims when convicted criminals were released?

"I can't answer that, I'm afraid," said Wilcox.

"What can you do?" asked Addison, fearing the answer.

"Not a lot. As far as we know he hasn't done anything wrong. He hasn't harmed anyone, made threats, or acted in a threatening manner."

"Doesn't peering in through the side window constitute a threatening manner?" said Addison. She gripped the edge of the kitchen bench as hard as she could in an effort to keep calm. Arguing with Wilcox wasn't going to do Layla any good right now. "Surely if he weren't up to no good, he'd have knocked on the front door like a normal person. Can't you get him for trespassing, at least?"

Wilcox sighed. "We can talk to him. If we can locate him." He turned to Layla. "Do you have any idea where he might be staying in town?"

Layla shook her head. "I haven't seen or spoken to him in five years, Detective. Not since he put me in the hospital. Our divorce was arranged by lawyers. Jenna made sure I never had to see or speak to that man again."

Wilcox shifted in his chair. "Your sister Jenna was your divorce lawyer?"

"Yes."

Addison saw the connection at the same time as Wilcox. If Jenna had stood between Rick and Layla in the past, maybe this time he got her out of the way. Rick had just put himself in the frame for murder.

"What was the relationship like between your ex-husband and your sister?" Wilcox asked Layla.

Layla's eyes sought out Addison, pleading for help. Pleading to not have to go through this story again. Addison took charge. She came and sat at the table next to her cousin, across from Wilcox and Short.

"Rick was a violent drunk, to put it bluntly," Addison began. "He put Layla in the hospital more than once, and the last time was the last straw. Jenna

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