Missing Before Daylight: An utterly gripping crime thriller (Detective Amanda Steele Book 10) by Carolyn Arnold

Author:Carolyn Arnold [Arnold, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2024-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

THIRTY-THREE

Amanda stared down Lowell Mooney, willing an answer out of him, but he was gazing back at her with a blank expression on his face. “You don’t have to talk to us, but you’re going to,” she challenged.

“And why would I?”

“Because you’re in this up to your neck. You cooperate with us then we might be able to work something out.”

“I don’t need you. I need street justice,” he spat.

“Like when you killed the mother of your child?” Trent hissed.

“I served my time for that, and that bitch deserved it.”

Trent flinched, but Amanda shook her head. He stayed put but hissed, “No woman deserves that.”

Amanda admired Trent’s restraint. Violence against women was a trigger point for him. His aunt had cut herself off from his family at the prompting of an abusive husband.

“She took my son from me.”

“Because you are a cokehead and a loser,” Trent seethed.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I’m pretty sure I do. We found your little stash, by the way,” Trent tossed out, his words a weapon.

Lowell shook his head. “Not mine.”

Trent smirked. “It was in your motel room.”

Lowell chose to observe his right to remain silent. For a few seconds. “Whatever.”

Amanda’s mind hadn’t really left Lowell’s earlier words, I want street justice. It sure sounded like he was involved with this morning’s events. He obviously justified the murder of the woman who’d birthed his son. Logically, he’d have less compunction about taking out the cop who sent him to prison. “Did you take Katherine Graves to right the scales, to get street justice? She obviously didn’t understand your side. You murdered your former lover because she must have crossed a line. You wanted to make it right.”

“Uh-huh. That’s right.” Lowell emphasized his words with a hand in the air, index finger pointing down like he was preaching from some soapbox.

Amanda passed a side-glance at Trent. Had she heard Lowell correctly? “Is that an admission? You took Katherine?” The loss of Leah Bernard was never far from her mind, but she kept her focus on a life they could potentially still save.

Lowell rubbed his jaw and slouched. “Nope. Never took her. Never shot that kid.”

Trent pulled a photo of the woman and slid it across the table.

“Who is that?”

“She’s your partner. You tell us,” Trent pushed out.

“I don’t know who she is. Where is this?” Lowell’s forehead wrinkled up, and Amanda tended to believe him, but she wasn’t letting her guard down. Criminals said and did whatever necessary to keep a charade alive as long as it benefited them.

“Captain Ron’s Marina in Lorton, though I’m sure you know that,” Amanda said.

“Never heard of the place.”

All of this back and forth was wearing on Amanda’s patience and nerves. Most of the volleying wasn’t getting them any closer to Katherine. “Detective Stenson, a minute?”

They left the room, ignoring Lowell’s protests for release.

Trent tucked the folder under an armpit and crossed his arms, standing with his back to the door. “The guy’s giving me a headache.”

“You and me both.

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