Page 20 of Little Stolen Memories

I filled Giovanni in on what I knew so far.

When I finished, he said, “You’re right. It is different than the other cases you’ve had since you started the detective agency. Given Harvey’s personal connection, what are your thoughts on involving him in some way?”

I’d had the same idea ever since I left my mother’s house. I couldn’t stop thinking about the look in Harvey’s eye as he discussed the case with me. It was like I’d just thrown him a bone. I had no doubt he was eager to be my sidekick if I wanted one.

There was just one sizable hurdle in the way.

“I want to involve him,” I said. “Given the fact my mother pushed Harvey to retire as chief of police after his heart attack, I’m not sure what she’d say about me asking him to help with the case. I feel like she might pitch a fit over it.”

“She might, but isn’t it his decision to make?”

We exchanged glances and burst out laughing.

“This is my mother you’re talking about,” I said. “Since when does Harvey have a say about anything? He can’t tie his shoes without her permission.”

“Harvey has his moments. Your mother does too. I’ve seen it. She may give him a hard time, but I expect part of it has to do with the loss of your father. It may have been a long time ago, but it was the biggest loss of her life. She’s protective of Harvey, and all of you. It’s because she cares.”

“She cares all right, enough to put a tracker on my car last year.”

He gave me a squeeze and said, “Think about it from her perspective. You put yourself at risk every single day when you take on a murder case.”

He was right.

Whenever I had cases like this, my mother checked in on me a lot more than usual. And that was saying something.

“I know my line of work isn’t easy for her,” I said.

“It isn’t, and I don’t expect it ever will be. On several occasions, your mother has expressed her feelings to me on the matter on several occasions. And yet, even though she worries, she’s proud of you and the peace and resolution you bring to families each time you solve a case. She has a soft spot for your line of work, and I expect she knows how important the cold case is to Harvey.”

Giovanni sat up, reaching for the bottle of prosecco I had chilling.

As he refilled my glass, I said, “You’re right. It’s worth a conversation. Harvey knows this case inside and out, as does Whitlock, I expect. If anyone can help me track the murderer down, it’s those two. It’s not about me, after all. It’s about solving the case.”

I heard a dinging sound, an indication that a vehicle was at the front gate. I glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. It was half past eight in the evening. Not too late for visitors, but I wasn’t expecting anyone.

“Are you expecting someone?” I asked.

“I am not. Are you?”

“No.”

“Better check and see who’s here, then.”

He hopped out of the hot tub, wrapped a towel around his waist, and reached for his phone to view the feed from our security camera. Then he looked back at me with a big grin on his face.

“Who is it?” I asked.

“There are a couple of gentlemen parked out front whose ears must be ringing.”

A minute later, Giovanni showed Harvey and Whitlock inside. I toweled off and changed into vintage loungewear made of rayon—and a coral color I loved. Entering the living room, I greeted both men, and then took a seat on the couch.

“I assume the two of you are here to talk to me about the Callahan girl’s case,” I said.

“Right you are,” Whitlock said. “Before we go down that road, can I pivot and address our meeting in Foley’s office today? As soon as I learned Cora hired you to investigate the murders, I’d wanted to speak to you. It just so happens you stopped into the police station before I had a chance.”

“I was surprised to learn you’d reopened the case,” I said. “As you well know, but it’s fine.”

Whitlock crossed one leg over the other. “Is it fine? When you left, I got the feeling you were upset, which is the last thing I wanted to happen. We’ve had a good working relationship ever since I started back at the department, wouldn’t you say? This case is important to me, but so are you.”

---