Page 43 of Cinnamon Cider Whiskey
“Did he ever travel to Boise?” Belmont asked.
“A few times a year.”
“What about Twin City?”
“He went there too,” she admitted.
“Does your husband have a second cell phone?” Belmont asked.
Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. “I believe so. I mean, I’ve seen him with one and when I asked him about it, he told me it was none of my business.” She rubbed her cheek. “And then proceeded to hit me.” She decided tossing that piece of information out there was okay.
“I’m sorry that happened to you.” Belmont’s expression softened. “Could your husband have gone places and done things you wouldn’t have known?”
“Absolutely.”
“Can you please explain to me how that is possible?” Belmont asked.
In the past, her shame would interfere with her ability to be honest, but not anymore. “It was an abusive marriage and Pete was incredibly controlling. When he left for work in the morning, he shut down the internet, then took the car keys and all my credit cards. I’ve left him, which is why I’m here.”
“Was he always like that?”
She shook her head. “The first few years weren’t horrible. It wasn’t until after our daughter died that things changed. It was difficult for us, and he didn’t handle it well.” She held up her hand. “I’m not making excuses for what he did, especially considering how bad it got. However, it was a slow progression and I found myself trapped in a situation I didn’t know how to get out of.”
“That’s usually how it happens.” Belmont nodded.
Cinnamon glanced at her watch. It was still before noon. All she could focus on was Pete’s hearing. She should be moreconcerned about this visit from Belmont and what that meant for Austin.
And she was. The last thing she needed was more drama or for something bad to happen to Austin.
But she couldn’t deal with the idea that Pete could be released from jail. He believed he was above the law and wouldn’t hesitate to return to Buhl to collect what he believed was his property.
“Cinnamon, is it safe to say that your husband would do anything to ensure Austin was out of your life?”
“Not just Austin, but my family too. He didn’t like how close we all used to be. Pete did whatever he could to cut me off from them and sadly, I allowed it.”
“What about Gage?”
“Gage?” She tilted her head. “What does he have to do anything?”
“I’m not sure. However, I understand he had a soft spot for you and hated Charity.”
“I wouldn’t know anything about Charity. I never met her, but yes. Gage and I have a special bond. I was quite close to his daughter, Alyssa. She was on the spectrum—like Gage—and got bullied a fair amount in school from the popular crowd.”
“Did Pete bully her? Austin told me they dated in high school.”
Cinnamon laughed. “I’m not sure you could call it that. Pete hung around her as a way to get close to me. He had it in his head it would make me jealous. It didn’t. If anything, it made me mad because I never once believed he cared for her. After the fire that killed her, her two brothers, and her mom, Pete did his best to use that to console me, but I had Austin.”
“I read the fire report. It says that a cigarette started it in one of the boys’ rooms,” Belmont said.
Cinnamon closed her eyes. “I’ve always found that hard to believe. Her older brothers chewed tobacco but they never smoked.”
“But her father did, is that correct?” Belmont asked.
“He’d quit a year before and I’ve never seen him light up after that. No one has.”
Belmont flipped through his pad. “Pete stated in his interview that Alyssa confided in him that she’d not only seen her father smoke, but he’d gotten drunk and had a horrible fight with her mother that day.”
“Gage has never raised his voice in all the years that I’ve known him,” Cinnamon said. “And he’s not a drinker. He might have a beer or a glass of whiskey with the crew, but never more than one.”
