Page 17 of Decoding Morse

“Of course.” Amelia steepled her hands on the table. “Thank you for providing a safe house for my family.”

Link nodded. “We take care of our own. Now, any information you provide will help us figure out who wants you dead and why.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have any information to give. I wasn’t aware I was in danger until Morse showed up at my house.” She shook her head and glanced around the table. “In fact, I’m kinda hoping you’re about to tell me this is some kind of mistake.”

“No such luck. The threat’s been verified,” Tap said, clicking the keys of his laptop. He turned the screen around and showed her the original posting paired with the decoded version before copying the decrypted link and pasting it into a browser. Her picture popped up. Along with her name, height, weight, maiden name, and address.

All color drained from Amelia’s face.

“Morse tells me you have no idea who could have hired the hit.”

“No.” The tremor in her voice hadn’t been there before. Tap turned his laptop back around, but she continued staring at it. “I’ve been racking my brain, but there’s n… nobody.”

Link nodded. “Are you currently employed?”

“I own and operate a small non-profit named Black Lace Rations. It’s a meal delivery service for military widows.”

“She doesn’t just deliver meals, she spends time with the widows.” I hated that she still sold her contribution short after all this time. “Makes sure they’re not lonely. Takes those who don’t have anyone else to doctor appointments or therapy.”

Respect was in the nods of the men who thanked her for what she was doing. Color flooded back into Amelia’s cheeks, and she dropped her gaze. Her inability to handle praise clearly hadn’t improved over the years. That was unfortunate. Embarrassing her hadn’t been my intention, but my words were calculated. I knew what made my brothers tick. Apart from me and Specks, everyone in this room was married. Knowing what Amelia did for a living would prioritize her safety.

Tap glanced up from his laptop long enough to ask, “Are there any other groups you’re involved in? Civic? Church? Neighborhood? Are you on any boards of directors?”

“I’m involved in the PTA at Morgan’s school, but I don’t have a role. I… bring snacks and occasionally make suggestions.”

“What about your family?” Link asked.

Amelia went perfectly still. “You want to know about my family?”

“Yeah. Siblings. Parents. Aunts and uncles. Cousins.”

“I’m an only child. My parents live just outside of Boise. We’re not close. I haven’t kept in touch with the rest of my family.”

“Would they have the motive or means to initiate a one-hundred-thousand dollar hit?” Tap asked.

She frowned. “The means, yes, but motive? They’re more of the controlling type than the murderous, and they’ve never sent contract killers after anyone before. It’s harder to demean and humiliate a corpse.”

Her lips half raised in a mirthless smile as I mentally noted the information. I knew very little about Amelia’s relationship with her family other than there didn’t appear to be one.

“How’s your relationship with your neighbors?” Link asked. “Any boundary disputes, disagreements on decorations, or calls to the cops?”

She shook her head. “I have a young family on one side and an elderly couple on the other. They’re both perfect neighbors.”

He was grasping at straws, but it helped to know no stone would be left unturned. Their line of questioning continued. I learned nothing new, but Tap clicked away as Amelia talked. He was former intelligence and even more paranoid than me, so I was damn grateful for his presence.

“We’ll need you to hand over your phones,” Tap said.

She clutched her purse. “But. I…”

“Only until we get this mess settled, but cell phones are easy to track. Is Thia on your plan?”

“No. She’s not named on my mortgage, either.”

“We’ll still need to keep an eye on her,” I said. “Since your address is likely listed as her place of residence, and she has mail delivered to your house.”

“This is insane. I don’t have a clue what I did, and now I’m putting my best friend in danger. And my daughter….”

The panicky pitch of Amelia’s voice made me want to comfort her, but my fists clenched in my lap, and my ass stayed in my seat.

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