Deadly Truth: John Decker Universe by Anthony M. Strong

Author:Anthony M. Strong [Strong, Anthony M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: West Street Publishing
Published: 2023-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

17

Gemma Ward’s home was a small single-story Cape Cod style building with a steep gable roof. When Colum and Shelby pulled up, there was a man, no doubt Gemma’s father, clearing leaves with a rake. When he saw the car pull up he stopped and stood watching with his hands pushed into his pockets until they approached the front gate.

“Mister Ward?” Colum asked, slipping into his American accent.

“Who wants to know?” The man approached the gate with a wary look on his face.

Colum held up his fake ID and waited for Shelby to do the same. “I’m Special Agent Dale Winters with the FBI. This is my partner, Emily North.”

“I see. What can I do for the pair of you?”

“Not you. Your daughter.” Shelby slipped her credentials back into her pocket. “Is she here?”

“Yeah. She’s here. Grounded after sneaking out to a party last night. She in some sort of trouble?”

“No.” Shelby shook her head. “We just have some questions for her regarding that party.”

“The FBI are investigating teenagers drinking in the woods now?”

“Underage drinking is a crime,” Colum said with a blank expression.

“Seems like the federal government’s resources would be better spent solving real crimes.” Ward made no move to let them onto his property.

“You’re not the first person who’s told us that recently.” Colum placed a hand on the gate. He glanced toward the house. “Would you mind?”

Ward sighed and stepped away from the gate. “You sure she’s not in trouble? Because if she is, I should probably call a lawyer—”

“There won’t be any need for lawyers, Mr. Ward,” Shelby said. “We just have a few questions about something your daughter may have witnessed. She isn’t under investigation, I promise you.”

Ward observed Shelby and Colum in silence for a few moments, then shrugged. “In that case, I’ll take you to her.”

He turned and started up the path toward the front door. Colum let Shelby go first and then followed behind.

The Ward residence was small, with a living room front left and a kitchen dining room combination on the other side. The place wasn’t a complete mess, but it wasn’t exactly tidy, either. Colum sensed the absence of a woman’s touch.

“Where’s Mrs. Ward?” He asked after stepping inside.

“Damned if I know. Divorced.” There was a sour edge to Ward’s voice. “Took off with some guy she met over the internet two years ago.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah. It happens.” Ward led them toward the back of the house and the bedrooms. He knocked on a closed door. “Gemma, honey, there are some people here to see you.”

There was no response from inside the room.

Ward knocked again. When his daughter still didn’t respond, he grabbed the door handle and twisted, pushing the door open wide enough to peek inside.

This time he got a response.

Gemma was lying on the bed, eyes glued to her phone. There were several Band-Aids covering scratches on her face. She leaped up with a scowl and glared at her father. “What are you doing barging in on me?”

Ward pushed the door wider and stepped aside for Colum and Shelby.

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