exactly Jones had learned from the tattoo artist. Maybe if he hurried, he could reach the station in time to discuss his partner’s findings with him. Better to walk into the captain’s office with a lead than with nothing at all.
April’s watch beeped.
“Ugh, I’m sorry.” She flicked her wrist and her eyes widened. “I’m gonna be late if I don’t head out now.”
He nodded because really, what else could he do? Opening the front door, he held it, then followed her out of the apartment.
They’d barely started down the steps when she surprised him by asking, “I suppose you need to talk to Juliana about that poor woman you found in the Dumpster?”
He snapped his gaze to hers. “I’m afraid so.”
“You know she had nothing to do with what happened to that woman.” April lifted her chin. Blue fire flared in her eyes. “She couldn’t hurt anyone.”
“I believe you, April.” And he did. It didn’t change the fact that he needed to account for Jules’s whereabouts before and after she was in his apartment. “But you do understand this isn’t personal. I just need to ask her a few questions for my case.”
“Anything that happens to Juliana is very personal to me.” She paused on the third step and turned to him. Her lips thinned. “Just like it would be for you if it were Theresa caught up in a situation like this.”
True.
“April, I could have taken her down to the station for questioning yesterday, but I didn’t because she’s your daughter. Give me a little credit here. I know she didn’t kill that woman.” Seth placed a hand on April’s shoulder. “It’s why I felt confident letting her rest after she was discovered in the Dumpster with the body yesterday.”
“Thank you for that.” April gave him a wan but genuine smile.
He dropped his hand and they started moving again.
She took two more steps down then stopped again. “Seth, please take it easy on her. She’s been through a lot. We just got her back home. I don’t want to lose her again.”
Why would interviewing Jules cause them to lose her, again ?
• • •
J ULES HAD ASKED the social worker, Mrs. Harris, to meet her at The Jewish Mother because it was her favorite diner. As a teen, Big Jim and April would bring her there every Sunday morning for a chocolate-covered croissant while they ate fresh lox and bagels.
Just walking inside the building, Jules had an overwhelming sense of home. The place was busy and crowded. Even with every table filled, there was an atmosphere of intimacy and privacy. Perhaps it was because each booth had a high back. Or maybe it was the small tea light candle flickering in a mini hurricane lamp. Or maybe it was the dark wood furniture that lent itself to a homey, cozy feel. Whatever it was, each table nestled between two dark blue cushion-covered seats seemed like a world unto itself.
And Jules couldn’t have been more grateful. Because the news she’d just received shook her to the foundation of her soul.
“I wish there was something more I could do for you,” Mrs. Harris said as she set her cup of Earl Grey on the table.
Jules smiled despite the cold lump that had formed in her throat. She shifted on the butter-soft blue leather seat. “I really appreciate all you have done. At least I know Shelley ended up with a good family for a while.”
“Yes, her adoptive parents dying in that car accident was a tragedy. I didn’t even know it had happened until a few days ago. I can’t believe five years went by and no one thought to notify me. I spent most of last week trying to track down Shelley’s last known address, but according to neighbors, she moved away not long after the accident.”
“She was seventeen. Where could a seventeen-year-old go?”
Mrs. Harris gave her a pitying look and shook her head. “It’s hard to know. Potentially anywhere.”
The truth cut through Jules. Her little sister, lost and alone in the world. Granted, Shelley wasn’t a child
April’s watch beeped.
“Ugh, I’m sorry.” She flicked her wrist and her eyes widened. “I’m gonna be late if I don’t head out now.”
He nodded because really, what else could he do? Opening the front door, he held it, then followed her out of the apartment.
They’d barely started down the steps when she surprised him by asking, “I suppose you need to talk to Juliana about that poor woman you found in the Dumpster?”
He snapped his gaze to hers. “I’m afraid so.”
“You know she had nothing to do with what happened to that woman.” April lifted her chin. Blue fire flared in her eyes. “She couldn’t hurt anyone.”
“I believe you, April.” And he did. It didn’t change the fact that he needed to account for Jules’s whereabouts before and after she was in his apartment. “But you do understand this isn’t personal. I just need to ask her a few questions for my case.”
“Anything that happens to Juliana is very personal to me.” She paused on the third step and turned to him. Her lips thinned. “Just like it would be for you if it were Theresa caught up in a situation like this.”
True.
“April, I could have taken her down to the station for questioning yesterday, but I didn’t because she’s your daughter. Give me a little credit here. I know she didn’t kill that woman.” Seth placed a hand on April’s shoulder. “It’s why I felt confident letting her rest after she was discovered in the Dumpster with the body yesterday.”
“Thank you for that.” April gave him a wan but genuine smile.
He dropped his hand and they started moving again.
She took two more steps down then stopped again. “Seth, please take it easy on her. She’s been through a lot. We just got her back home. I don’t want to lose her again.”
Why would interviewing Jules cause them to lose her, again ?
• • •
J ULES HAD ASKED the social worker, Mrs. Harris, to meet her at The Jewish Mother because it was her favorite diner. As a teen, Big Jim and April would bring her there every Sunday morning for a chocolate-covered croissant while they ate fresh lox and bagels.
Just walking inside the building, Jules had an overwhelming sense of home. The place was busy and crowded. Even with every table filled, there was an atmosphere of intimacy and privacy. Perhaps it was because each booth had a high back. Or maybe it was the small tea light candle flickering in a mini hurricane lamp. Or maybe it was the dark wood furniture that lent itself to a homey, cozy feel. Whatever it was, each table nestled between two dark blue cushion-covered seats seemed like a world unto itself.
And Jules couldn’t have been more grateful. Because the news she’d just received shook her to the foundation of her soul.
“I wish there was something more I could do for you,” Mrs. Harris said as she set her cup of Earl Grey on the table.
Jules smiled despite the cold lump that had formed in her throat. She shifted on the butter-soft blue leather seat. “I really appreciate all you have done. At least I know Shelley ended up with a good family for a while.”
“Yes, her adoptive parents dying in that car accident was a tragedy. I didn’t even know it had happened until a few days ago. I can’t believe five years went by and no one thought to notify me. I spent most of last week trying to track down Shelley’s last known address, but according to neighbors, she moved away not long after the accident.”
“She was seventeen. Where could a seventeen-year-old go?”
Mrs. Harris gave her a pitying look and shook her head. “It’s hard to know. Potentially anywhere.”
The truth cut through Jules. Her little sister, lost and alone in the world. Granted, Shelley wasn’t a child
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