me this morning that he doesn’t even want Drake having access to the files because he’s worried he’ll start his own investigation into it. I don’t want to be here when he finds that out, either.”
“Yeah… I can’t imagine the lead detective in the department will take kindly to being refused access to files.”
“Well, that’s what happens when you have a conflict of interest. Drake and Gianna are close.” He shrugs. “No one is saying that he would, but there’s every chance of interference in the investigation. He could change things so that she can avoid conviction.”
“What if she isn’t guilty though?”
“Then the DNA will rule her out, won’t it?”
“What if there is none?”
“Noelle, you really need to lay off The New Detectives .”
“Actually, Netflix put the next season of Forensic Files on. I’m bingeing that.”
“Well, whatever it is you’re watching, stop it. It isn’t going to solve this case, and neither are you.”
I study him. He has a hard look in his eye, and his jaw is set tight.
“You’re leading the investigation, aren’t you?” I ask.
He says nothing. Again.
“You’re leading the investigation where the prime suspect is your best friend’s mom.” I’m not even asking him at this point. I know it’s true.
“It was deemed not to be a conflict of interest,” he says almost tiredly. “I had no choice. I have no choice. This is my job.”
“He’ll hate you if you arrest her.”
“I know. So, to answer your question, for whatever reason you feel like you need to know right now, the answer is yes. Gianna is our prime suspect. Hell, she’s our only suspect.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that.” I get up and walk to the door. “Thanks, Trent.”
“Don’t mention it. Literally. Don’t. I get scared when you ask questions. It usually means you’re going to stick your nose somewhere it shouldn’t be.”
Man, that would be real offensive if it weren’t true.
“Pretty much.”
“Noelle?” he calls before I step out of his office. “Please try to keep your nose out of my investigation.”
I turn to face him with my hands up and my eyes wide. “I have no idea what you mean.”
He half sighs, half groans. “In other words, you’re refusing to make a promise you know you’re going to break.”
“Tell Alison I’ll call her tonight! See ya!” I run out of his office before he can say another word and push the door to the police station open.
My stomach rumbles the second I step outside. Ugh—apparently, the sugarcoated cinnamon roll I had for breakfast didn’t fill me up. I should have known. I’ve been told a thousand times, like the child I clearly am.
I’d grow up if it weren’t so overrated.
I pull my keys from my pocket and unlock my car. I guess all I can do now is get a head start on potentially having Gianna as my client and having to prove her innocence. Since I know nothing about Wally, I figure finding out some information about him is the best place to start.
I dial Carlton’s number and hit speaker before starting my engine and pulling out of the parking lot.
“Yo, boss.”
“Yo? Really?”
His laughter fills my car. “Sorry. I’m talking and, er, working, at the same time.”
“You burn down that village yet?”
More laughter. “Something like that. What’s up?”
“I need to know about Walter ‘Wally’ Thornton. Just basic info right now—relationship status, next of kin, surviving family.” I take the turn toward Rosie’s Café. “Can you do that?”
“Can I do that? No, sorry. You’ll have to Google it.”
“I will fire you, you little shit.”
“It doesn’t get scarier when you repeat it. Just so you know.” The distinct sound of his laptop keys clicking as he types travels down the line. “Hang on.”
“Hang on for what? You to lose your sass?”
“Walter ‘Wally’ Thornton, single but divorced twice. Born and raised in Holly Woods. Has one daughter in her
“Yeah… I can’t imagine the lead detective in the department will take kindly to being refused access to files.”
“Well, that’s what happens when you have a conflict of interest. Drake and Gianna are close.” He shrugs. “No one is saying that he would, but there’s every chance of interference in the investigation. He could change things so that she can avoid conviction.”
“What if she isn’t guilty though?”
“Then the DNA will rule her out, won’t it?”
“What if there is none?”
“Noelle, you really need to lay off The New Detectives .”
“Actually, Netflix put the next season of Forensic Files on. I’m bingeing that.”
“Well, whatever it is you’re watching, stop it. It isn’t going to solve this case, and neither are you.”
I study him. He has a hard look in his eye, and his jaw is set tight.
“You’re leading the investigation, aren’t you?” I ask.
He says nothing. Again.
“You’re leading the investigation where the prime suspect is your best friend’s mom.” I’m not even asking him at this point. I know it’s true.
“It was deemed not to be a conflict of interest,” he says almost tiredly. “I had no choice. I have no choice. This is my job.”
“He’ll hate you if you arrest her.”
“I know. So, to answer your question, for whatever reason you feel like you need to know right now, the answer is yes. Gianna is our prime suspect. Hell, she’s our only suspect.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that.” I get up and walk to the door. “Thanks, Trent.”
“Don’t mention it. Literally. Don’t. I get scared when you ask questions. It usually means you’re going to stick your nose somewhere it shouldn’t be.”
Man, that would be real offensive if it weren’t true.
“Pretty much.”
“Noelle?” he calls before I step out of his office. “Please try to keep your nose out of my investigation.”
I turn to face him with my hands up and my eyes wide. “I have no idea what you mean.”
He half sighs, half groans. “In other words, you’re refusing to make a promise you know you’re going to break.”
“Tell Alison I’ll call her tonight! See ya!” I run out of his office before he can say another word and push the door to the police station open.
My stomach rumbles the second I step outside. Ugh—apparently, the sugarcoated cinnamon roll I had for breakfast didn’t fill me up. I should have known. I’ve been told a thousand times, like the child I clearly am.
I’d grow up if it weren’t so overrated.
I pull my keys from my pocket and unlock my car. I guess all I can do now is get a head start on potentially having Gianna as my client and having to prove her innocence. Since I know nothing about Wally, I figure finding out some information about him is the best place to start.
I dial Carlton’s number and hit speaker before starting my engine and pulling out of the parking lot.
“Yo, boss.”
“Yo? Really?”
His laughter fills my car. “Sorry. I’m talking and, er, working, at the same time.”
“You burn down that village yet?”
More laughter. “Something like that. What’s up?”
“I need to know about Walter ‘Wally’ Thornton. Just basic info right now—relationship status, next of kin, surviving family.” I take the turn toward Rosie’s Café. “Can you do that?”
“Can I do that? No, sorry. You’ll have to Google it.”
“I will fire you, you little shit.”
“It doesn’t get scarier when you repeat it. Just so you know.” The distinct sound of his laptop keys clicking as he types travels down the line. “Hang on.”
“Hang on for what? You to lose your sass?”
“Walter ‘Wally’ Thornton, single but divorced twice. Born and raised in Holly Woods. Has one daughter in her
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