Page 39 of Ruthless Cross

"Start with the messages. You can read them aloud if they're important."

Flynn skimmed for a minute. "There are a lot of one liners—hope you're okay, thinking of you kind of stuff—from Elaine, Shari, and Rose Baker, and some phone numbers that don't have names attached."

"Elaine and Shari work at the museum. Rose is her hair stylist."

"Here's one that's a little longer and much more intriguing. It's from Moira Shanahan."

"That's Arthur's administrative assistant. What does she say?" she asked curiously.

"Juliette, I can't believe what's happened," he read aloud. "I keep thinking it's a nightmare, and I'll wake up. You must feel the same way. I know how much you loved Arthur. I feel so terrible. I want to help in any way I can. Please call me or text me and let me know what I can do."

"Moira must be devastated. She's been with Arthur for almost ten years."

Flynn frowned as he looked down at the phone once more. "This message is odd."

"What does it say?"

"I think you should know your husband was cheating on you," he read. "He was in love with me. And he was going to leave you. I have this terrible feeling you already know that, and that's why you killed him. Arthur said you would go crazy if you knew. But I think you're already crazy. Arthur was too good for you and now he's dead. You should be careful you don't end up the same way."

Her stomach tightened and her pulse began to race. "Can you trace that phone number? This woman is threatening to hurt my mother."

"She's also suggesting your mom killed Arthur because she found out about the affair."

"But that didn't happen. And I don't like that she says my mother might end up dead, too."

"No one can get to your mom right now. She's safe."

"I hope so."

"There's a chance this text is also not true," he said.

She was surprised by his words. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"Any number of reasons. Someone could be trying to set your mother up, but we'll know more when we trace the number."

"How long will that take?"

"At least until tomorrow."

She knew that Flynn and his team were working around the clock, but it still didn't seem fast enough. "I have to know who sent that text."

"We'll figure it out."

"I wonder if Moira would know about an affair. She handled his work schedule, which sometimes overlapped with his personal schedule. Hand me my mom's phone. I want to call Moira."

He hesitated.

"What?" she demanded.

"I don't want you in the middle of this investigation, Callie. I'll talk to Moira."

"She's much more likely to tell me the truth than to tell you. She was fiercely loyal to Arthur. She will want to protect his reputation."

"She might not want you or your mother to know about an affair."

"I still think I'll get further than you," she argued.

His lips tightened, and he didn't look happy with her suggestion, but he did hand her the phone.

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