Stepping Down by Michelle Stimpson

Author:Michelle Stimpson [Stimpson, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Christian, General
ISBN: 9781491210598
Google: 68YgngEACAAJ
Amazon: 1491210591
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2013-07-26T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Sharla collected her wits in the car. How stupid was that? She’d said Bria’s name aloud before Mark did. Shouldn’t have surprised her, though, for as much as she’d been thinking Bria’s name.

She could only hope that Mark’s drugs would fog his memory or recreate her faux pas in a way that left him second-guessing what had just transpired.

She lowered her visor and flipped up the mirror. Makeup still flawless, not a hair out of place. “Come on, girlie. Get yourself together.” The pep talk did little to calm her nerves, but it did strengthen her resolve. She needed to take action. The hospital financial counselor had said that there was no way to stop or delay the bills or collection actions from coming before the police investigation was complete.

Even though Sharla felt strongly that the insurance would kick in sooner or later, she didn’t even want to see a six-figure “amount owed” with their names next to it unless it was for the dream house.

For whatever reason, Detective Rozanno and his alleged team seemed to be dragging their feet on her husband’s case. Every time she called, all the detective could say was, “We’re asking questions and following up on leads.”

Well, she certainly planned to give them a lead that would bring this whole thing to a close soon and clear Mark of any wrongdoing.

She waited on a bench outside the secured doors for Rozanno. He’d have to escort her behind the fortress. Sharla couldn’t help the jitters crawling around in her belly. The last thing she needed was to be talking to anyone in law enforcement about Bria Logan.

That chapter of her life was supposed to be over. She couldn’t afford to open it back up now. Maybe after Amani was an adult, but not while there was still the possibility that someone might probe into things too deeply.

She heard a buzz, then Detective Rozanno stepped into the waiting area while keeping the door ajar. “Mrs. Clark, come on in.”

“Carter,” she corrected him.

“Right, Carter. Sorry about that.”

He was a short, dumpy man with pronounced male pattern baldness who had probably once been a young, energetic officer. Sharla imagined that maybe he’d taken a bullet to the leg, which caused him to be unfit for the streets. He’d been assigned to a desk job and started eating too many jelly donuts. All downhill from there.

She’d surmised all of this not only from his appearance, but from the way he slumped down the hallway toward his office, where he asked her to sit. “How are ya?” He said it like a disgruntled cafeteria lady might ask, “What’ll you have?”

“I’m fine, thank you,” she answered.

His office boasted several plaques and certificates acknowledging dedication and selfless service. As Sharla suspected, none of the awards had recent dates.

“I’ve got some information you might find helpful in your investigation.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You doin’ my job for me?”

“No,” Sharla denied, “I just thought I’d help.”

“We don’t need your help,” he very nearly lectured her.

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