Cold in Murder: Lessons in Murder, Book 8 by Edale Lane

Author:Edale Lane [Lane, Edale]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Past and Prologue Press
Published: 2024-02-26T00:00:00+00:00

12.

“Who could this mystery boy have been?” Jamison asked when they were back in the car. “Shondra must have thought her mother wouldn’t approve, or she would have mentioned him to her.”

“Agreed,” Jenna said, “but it doesn’t mean he wasn’t Black. What if he had been in a gang, maybe a dropout?” Jenna shook her head and started the engine. “That doesn’t play, though. I know love can do crazy things to people, opposites attract and all, but I just don’t see an honor student with a gang-banger. The witness who reported seeing a Black fellow fleeing the area could have been mistaken. Eyewitnesses are the least reliable evidence, even if they are relied on the most. I want to talk to the original investigators again. Tamika has every right to be angry and their lack of effort has made me mad too. Butler is all the way over in Vinton, so let’s drop by Brenner’s again first. Hopefully, he’ll be doing better today.”

Nicole answered the door and welcomed them inside for the second time. “I’m surprised to see you back so soon,” she admitted.

“We were hoping maybe catching your husband before lunch when he’s fresher will be a more favorable time,” Jenna said.

“We don’t mean to intrude,” Jamison added.

“Oh, you aren’t intruding. I can’t imagine what set Casey off yesterday, but he calmed down easily. It’s good you’re here early, though, as his occupational therapist comes this afternoon.”

The woman moved Jenna. “Mrs. Brenner, I have to say how much I admire you and the way you take this adversity in stride. Raising three children and operating a business out of your home is a big enough challenge, but taking care of a husband with dementia on top of it?” Jenna shook her head. “I don’t know how you keep that smile on your face—and it isn’t fake, either. I can tell.”

Her bronze cheeks flushed, and her smile softened to one of genuine affection. “Helping Casey might be a challenge, but it’s no burden, detectives. He’s my hero, my knight in blue armor.”

Jenna recalled Randi calling her that just days ago, and her emotions became further stirred.

“That man saved my life—twice—and in more ways than one. When I first saw him, I was pinned in my car after an out-of-control truck rear-ended me and smashed my car into a light pole. The power line fell over the roof and, naturally, it was pouring rain. Quite a dangerous situation. This police officer was the first at my window before the fire department or ambulance arrived. Despite the obvious hazards, he opened the door, pulled back the driver’s seat, popped the airbag, cut the jammed seatbelt, and carried me over puddles to a safe distance from dangling electrical lines and crashed vehicles. I paid attention to his nametag and thought about him often, but never mustered the courage to drop a note or call him.”

A soft glow enveloped Nicole’s face as she related the story. “Then six or seven months later, I was walking to my car at the far end of the mall parking lot at closing time.

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