Suspicious Deaths by Peter S. Berman

Author:Peter S. Berman [Berman, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-11-26T16:00:00+00:00

THIRTY-ONE

Day Six, 1:20 p.m.

Culpin made his way from his car to Amanda’s unit where he quickly knocked on the door. She had taken the day off from working in his office, ostensibly to get some errands run. When she opened it up, he could see the surprise on her face. Her hair was up, tied in a loose ponytail, and her face was makeup-free. He detected a flash of annoyance that he had shown up without calling her first. She might have thought he was checking up on her being away from work, but he quickly sensed that it was because he had seen her without her makeup.

He walked in and waited for her to close the door.

“What’s happened?” she asked, taking her cue from the angry expression on his face.

“Do you have any coffee?”

She cocked her head at the deflection of her question, but decided not to challenge him by pushing back. If she gave him enough time, he’d tell her what was on his mind.

She went into the kitchen, checked the pot, and poured him a cup.

“You want it black?” she called out.

“Black’s fine.”

She carried it back to the living room where he took a sip, frowned, then put it down on the table.

“You need to learn how to make good coffee. This is awful.”

“Then, don’t drink it.”

He inhaled deeply, then sighed.

“Look, I’m sorry for snapping at you like that. The last few days have been hell, and I think it’s catching up with me.”

“I’m not surprised. You need to go through the grieving process, and you can’t do that when you tuck your emotions away like you’re doing.”

“I know.”

She decided it was time to tell him about her interview with the police.

“The day before yesterday, a couple of detectives came by. They wanted to ask me about our relationship and I told them the truth like you wanted me to.”

Culpin’s head snapped up. He hadn’t expected them to show up so soon.

“So, you told them about us?”

“You said to tell them the truth, so I did.”

“Did they ask about anything else?”

“They wanted to know if there were any problems in your marriage. I told them that you and Kathy had grown apart and that you were having trouble getting up the courage to leave her and the kids—”

She was interrupted mid-sentence by a knock on her front door.

“Are you expecting anyone?” Culpin asked.

“No.”

She walked over to the door, looked through the peephole, then slowly opened it up.

An attractive Caucasian male in a dark blue suit was standing in the hallway. He gave her a smile.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“Are you Amanda Grant?”

“I am.”

He pulled out a subpoena from his inside breast pocket and put it in her hand.

“This is a subpoena to appear before the Grand Jury, Miss Grant. Consider yourself served.” And with a brief parting smile, the man walked off down the hallway.

She shut the door and turned around. Culpin was standing right behind her.

“Let me see that,” he said as he grabbed it from her hand.

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