Her Last Word by Mary Burton

Author:Mary Burton [Burton, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781503950061
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Published: 2018-05-07T16:00:00+00:00

Adler drove to the station and picked up Quinn, and together they traveled across town to a new trendy apartment complex near Rocketts Landing located east of downtown Richmond. Ashley Ralston lived in a third-floor apartment overlooking the James River.

Adler knocked on the door. Seconds later footsteps preceded the click of locks, and the door opened to Ashley Ralston. She wore no makeup, and the stress of her sister’s death was etched in lines around her mouth and red-rimmed eyes.

Adler and Quinn held up their badges. “Ms. Ralston.”

She recognized them both, and her frown deepened. “Come on in.”

She escorted them into a small living room furnished with a matching set of new furniture. A dozen moving boxes had been flattened and stacked in the corner, and several framed posters leaned against the plain antique-white walls. “I was just on the phone with the funeral home and the medical examiner’s office.” She ran a trembling hand over her hair. “I still can’t believe she’s gone. I never pictured myself having to do this.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Adler said. “Have you been able to schedule the funeral?”

“Sunday afternoon.”

He had made dozens of death notices during his ten years with the homicide department. It never got easier, nor did dealing with the grieving family’s desperate need for answers. “Looks like you just moved in.”

She shrugged. “A few weeks ago. It was supposed to be my new life after my divorce. Jennifer and I were supposed to take a trip to Paris this summer to celebrate.”

“You were close to your sister?” Adler asked.

“I haven’t seen her much in the last few years. A failing marriage distracted me, but the plan was to spend more time with her.”

“Did she talk about having issues with anyone?” Quinn asked.

“You mean like a stalker? Not until recently. Last week at our lunch a man kept staring at us. I found him annoying, but she freaked out and insisted we leave. Our food had just arrived, and I was annoyed to leave hungry. The waitress packed up our food, and we left.”

“Did the man follow?”

“No. In the car, she told me about her stalker. I asked her if she’d spoken to the cops. She said she did.”

“I remember you told me that at her home. I searched for any police reports made by your sister, but there were none,” Adler said softly.

“Really? She told me she reported this guy to the cops.” Tears welled in Ashley’s eyes. “I guess she lied to keep me from bugging her.”

“Why do you think she didn’t report it?” Quinn asked.

“Embarrassed, I guess. I don’t really know.”

“It’s unfortunate,” Quinn said.

“She was wrong to be embarrassed. That’s why we have cops, to take care of the wackos.” Bitterness twisted around the words.

“So she never mentioned a particular individual?” Adler asked.

“No. I offered her my couch, but she insisted on staying at her own place. I should have made her stay with me.”

“What about Jennifer’s ex-boyfriend?” Adler asked.

“Jeremy? He’s not the type. He’s fairly passive. And I hear he has a new girlfriend.

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