Page 34 of The Accidental Detectives

The police had been back. Maybe they’d found something else to take the heat off Brenda? “Happy to help where I can. She told us all about how the police had grilled her for hours. I hope they didn’t come back to do more of that.”

Now Beth’s eyes filled with worry. “No. It was nothing like that. We were with her. They’re just gathering evidence. I don’t know if she told you about Owen’s ex-partner, but they questioned him, too. But he was away when Owen was… Well, you know…”

I drove my hands into my hoodie as the wind picked up. “So they haven’t found anything else? No suspects?”

She shook her head, tucking her hair behind her ears. “They’ve been very close-mouthed about any information they have. They just keep telling us they’re investigating. But my husband Simon’s hired Astrid a good lawyer, so we can protect her.”

More nothing burger—this time with cheese on top. Damn. “That’s good to hear. How’s she doin’?”

“She’s exhausted…devastated. Not knowing about this other woman… It’s torn her up. She wants to believe what Owen told her about his profile being cloned and used by a catfish, but she has no proof. I almost think it’s hurt her more than his actual death. The not knowing is heartbreaking. For her. For us.”

So the police hadn’t even mentioned the catfish was true. I knew they were aware Owen had been catfished. With all their bullshit tech, they’d probably found at least that much.

I couldn’t deny they had solid proof against Brenda, but they could have, at the very least, told Astrid that her husband had never actually been chatting with anyone, and he def hadn’t been cheating. Not with Brenda, anyway.

If we could just figure out who’d done this, Astrid wouldn’t have to live with that, along with her husband’s death, for fuck’s sake.

Gripping her hand, I did something I don’t normally do. I gave her a hug. “I’m glad you’re here for her. I’ve got to hit it, but will you tell her I asked about her and if she needs anything, I think my friends left our number with her. Just call us. We’re happy to help.”

Beth hugged me back. “I don’t know where you ladies came from or why you were so nice to my Astrid, but you were a godsend. I believe everything happens for a reason, and you girls helped her hang on just long enough for us to get here. Thank you, Nina, and please thank your friends, too.”

I gave Bode one last scratch to his soft ears. “I will. Promise. Don’t forget the stuff here on the porch. Hope to see you soon,” I said, with a wave over my shoulder.

I skipped back down the steps, heading for the car—when I saw movement by the side of the garage.

Instantly, I was on high alert. Would a motherfucker come here and skulk around? I wish a motherfucker would…

I crept toward the garage, trying to keep my work boots from crunching on the snow. Peering around the corner, I saw a tall man leaning against the siding, digging around in the pocket of his plaid flannel jacket.

Without thinking, I rushed him, bracketing his body with my hands until he was pressed as close to the side of the house as he could get.

“Who the hell are you?” I growled.

“Who the hell areyou?” he boomed back, with a deep voice that rang in my ears.

Grabbing him by the collar of his jacket, I gripped it, twisting the fabric. “Maybe your worst nightmare, pal. What are you doing sneaking around back here? Answer fast, or I’m gonna reach down your throat with my nimble fingers and yank your intestines through your nose.”

“I’m visiting here!” he roared, panic evident in his tone when he obviously realized I was strong enough to hold him up with only one hand. “This is my daughter’s house!”

Oh.

Oh, fuck.

Yeah. That made sense, now that I looked at him. Owen Jr. had his nose.

I dropped him instantly with a guilty glance, straightening his flannel and patting him on his broad shoulders to make it all better. “There. All better.” Then I stuck my hand out. “I’m NinaStatleon…uh, sir. You must be Owen and Lacy’s granddad. Nice to meet you.”

He eyed me for a second as he blustered, shrinking back away from me, making me feel even worse than I already did. “You’re that lady the kids were talking about? The one who let Lacy do her hair?”

Looking at him, his dark eyes filled with storm clouds, his lean face still masked in anger, I nodded. “Yes, sir. That’s me. I’m sorry I… I’m sorry. That’s all. I was worried about the kids and your daughter, and with everything’s that’s gone on, I just… I acted before I thought. I was just looking out for them.”

Jesus, I’d threatened to pull his intestines through his nose. I could hear Wanda in my head.“Can’t you, just this once, not choose violence?”

I felt his big hand clamp down on my shoulder—then his deep laughter. “It’s all right, young lady. I’m Simon, by the way. Thanks for lookin’ out for my grandbabies and my daughter. What brings you here on a night so dang cold? Sure miss the sun in Arizona.”

“I’ll bet. It’s good you came. They need you right now.”

Relaxing a little, I took a couple of steps back as he fished around in the pocket of his shirt again, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it with the flick of his thumb on a shiny lighter. His expression was wry. “I was just hidin’ out here so the kids wouldn’t see me smoking. It’s a dirty habit, but it’s been damn stressful around here, with Owen’s death and Astrid is in such a bad way.”

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