Page 66 of State of Alert

“Why do I have to go?” Jada cried. “I haven’t done anything!”

“We have more questions for all of you. Once you request an attorney, we’re not allowed to ask you anything else, so you’ll all need to come to the station.”

Jada turned on her sister. “This is all your fault, Zoe! As usual, you ruin everything!”

Frank intervened before their conflict could turn physical. From the way he reacted, Sam wondered if he’d had to get between them before.

“If you don’t want to be handcuffed for the ride,” Sam said, “you’ll keep your hands to yourselves.”

“I can’t believe the family members of a murder victim are being treated like criminals,” Frank said.

“No one is treating you like a criminal. If you’d like criminal treatment, we can certainly arrange for that.”

Frank gave her a hateful look and then told the girls to get their shoes on. “You can bet that I’ll be filing a formal complaint with your supervisors.”

“Please, feel free. They love to hear from the friends I make while I’m out here doing my job.”

“My wife wasmurdered, and you have the audacity to be flippant.”

“I would think you, more than anyone, would want to know who did this to your wife.”

“I do!”

“Then you’ll cooperate with our investigation, no matter where it leads.”

“What does that mean? ‘No matter where it leads’?”

“Just what I said.”

Freddie came back into the room. “Patrol is here for transport.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

After they’d turned over the Myersons to Patrol, Sam and Freddie returned to her SUV.

Vernon opened the door for her.

“Thanks, Vernon.”

“You’re more than welcome. How’s it going?”

“Taking an interesting turn.”

“Is it, though?” Freddie asked.

Sam turned to him. “Something you want to say?”

“I feel like you goaded that kid into acting like a suspect.”

“What?I didn’t have to do anything to make her look suspicious. She did that all on her own by fully sharing the animosity between her and her mother.”

“That’s your opinion.”

“Sure is.”

They didn’t say another word on the ride back to HQ. Could this day get any better?

When she got back to the pit, Agent Truver was waiting in Sam’s office. She closed the door behind Sam. “I need your help.”

---