House of Mirrors (The Braddock & Gray Case Files Book 14) by H.P. Bayne

Author:H.P. Bayne [Bayne, H.P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bayne Independent Publishing
Published: 2023-07-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

The woman in the backseat was a bundle of nerves, which made sense if she had information on the murder of a young woman.

Having made the statement, she’d promptly clammed up. Whether she was having doubts about talking or simply trying to get her thoughts in better order, Sully wasn’t sure. The best route toward the truth was to put her at ease, so he decided to start there.

“We haven’t properly introduced ourselves,” he said. “I’m Sullivan Gray. This is my brother, Dez Braddock. We work for a private investigation firm in Kimotan Rapids called Fields Investigations.”

The woman’s eyes flitted between the two of them. Sully had long ago gotten used to this sort of reaction.

“Dez’s family took me in when I was seven,” he explained.

The woman’s lips formed a smile he read as hopeful. “Adopted?”

“Started off as a foster placement, but yeah.”

The grin grew. “Oh. Me too.” She didn’t elaborate, but the way her posture eased gave Sully all the response he needed. People who were adopted or fostered shared something in common. On more than one occasion, his revelation had proved a helpful bridge, one which had led to much-needed answers during investigations.

This was one of those times. “My name’s Eleanor Canning. I work as the receptionist for the LEA. That’s how I overheard your conversation. I was supposed to be on break, but I forgot my cellphone at my desk. When I got back, I heard you talking to Max. Sorry. The doors and walls are pretty thin.”

That explained why no one was in the office to greet them when they arrived, leaving Sully and Dez to find their own way to Max McGiven’s office.

“I’m grateful for thin walls right now,” Dez said with a quirk of his lips. “Have you worked for the association long?”

Eleanor straightened in her seat, a hint of pride plucking at her facial features. “Close to twenty years. It’s been a good place to work—or at least it was. Max has a different style from our former president. Not speaking ill of him, you understand—just saying he’s far more committed to the business side of things than my previous boss.”

“Which is why he wasn’t shooting straight with us,” Dez said. “We could tell he was holding back. I can’t imagine this sort of thing would be good for business.”

Eleanor nodded. “Exactly. The issue is we had a real downturn in the economy in Lampton these past few years. We’re an oil town, and we thrive here when drilling is going strong. But companies have been pulling out, leaving a bunch of orphan wells and unemployed folks behind. Less money to spend on fun things like the summer fair. Our former president got tired of fighting what he considered a losing battle, and Max stepped in. He’s a businessman, born and bred, knows his way around glad-handing and securing investment.”

She pressed her lips together. “We have some deals in the works, things intended to keep us employed for more than the summer season.

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