Page 117 of Skeletons in the Closet

What I couldn’t sort out was why the man had attacked Shore’s wife. Did Natalia have more knowledge of his crime than she was letting on? Did she know David had been involved in a hit-and-run in 2010 and was covering for him?

The screen in front of me shifted out of focus while I thought. We suspected Beth, Olivia, and Noah had known about the hit-and-run. We suspected it was the reason why Beth and Noah were now dead. Logic suggested David was responsible for Beth’s death. It made sense. He had been with her the previous evening. Evidence suggested David Shore might have posed a threat to Noah and that terror had eventually led Noah to commit suicide.

If Natalia knew as well, it stood to reason that David might have wanted to eliminate her before she told anyone. But David was locked up yesterday, and besides, wasn’t it too late to take revenge and cover his bases? The police knew he was responsible for Roan’s death. They had enough evidence for a conviction.

“Except the second blood sample found on the rag didn’t match,” I said out loud to no one in particular.

The door to the records office opened, and I clicked away from the newspaper article to a work-related tab before glancing up. I was about to announce the office was closed to whoever was strolling in until I realized it was my cousin and his supposed bestie, Quaid Valor. Both were dressed casually like they’d been out and about and not at their desks.

Costa flinched when he saw my face, then chuckled. “Shit. Az wasn’t kidding.”

Quaid elbowed him in the gut before offering a sympathetic smile. “Morning, Tallus.”

“Hey,” I said with little enthusiasm. The last thing I needed was to deal with my cousin. “What are you two doing here on a Saturday?”

“I could ask you the same thing. We heard you were in the building.”

“From whom?”

“Az,” Quaid said. “He and Torin are working upstairs.”

“Oh. But why are you here?”

“We were in the neighborhood for lunch, and I wanted to be sure you were okay.” Costa scanned me head to toe. “We heard what happened at the university.”

I feigned interest in the computer. “Yeah. I zigged when I should have zagged. Learned a lesson. I’m fine.”

The two approached the counter, Costa openly examining my injuries. They were worse today. Two decent black eyes, a semi-swollen nose, and an ugly line of stitches running the length of my forehead with crusty blood on the edges I couldn’t wash off because it stung too much when I tried. I wouldn’t win any beauty contests, that was for sure.

“Az said you and Krause gave them an interesting pointer on the case. They were up half the night trying to tie it together,” Quaid said. “They’re still at it. Barely convinced them to stop to eat.”

I glanced at the MPU detective. For an older guy, he was attractive, especially when he dressed down. I’d thought so since the day I met him, but he was married to the homicide detective who had questioned Diem and me the previous day, and I wasn’t as fond of Doyle. Probably because he was pestering us about our case.

“I’m glad they found it useful,” I mumbled, unsure what else to say.

“They aren’t including you in their report,” Quaid added. “Or Krause. It’s why they’re trying to find evidence to move the caseforward on their own. They don’t want to draw you two into this mess. It could mean trouble with the department, and they know it.”

“They’re trying to protect you, Tal,” Costa added.

And now I felt like an ass for hating on Doyle. “Really?”

Quaid nodded. “So if you two find any more useful information, don’t be afraid to call them.”

“Did he send you down here?”

“No.” Quaid nudged Costa. “This one wanted to be sure you weren’t concussed, and he needed backup.”

“I didn’t need backup.”

I sized up my cousin. His humor over my injuries had sobered, and I saw the concern in his dark eyes. “I’m fine. Truly. No lasting effects from the carbon monoxide. My tango with the desk, however, proved fatal. My glasses have been laid to rest. The funeral is this afternoon. No flowers. Please. I’m strictly taking donations for a new pair.”

Costa smirked. “May they rest in peace.”

“Pieces.”

He laughed. “I’m glad you’re okay. That was kind of freaky.”

“It was. I just hope I don’t lose my job. If my boss sees me like this, I might be in shit. It’s why I came in today. Showing initiative and all that bullshit.”

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