Page 49 of Ghostly Bother
"Let her. I'll put her in her place if I need to. I've dealt with women like her for more years than you've been alive. She won't get in our way." Cel left him as she headed out back.
Lance raced for his room to change, suddenly feeling alive again. For the first time in days, he was looking forward to something. While it wasn't as exciting as having everyone over for dinner, it would be fun cooking with Cel and laughing at jokes. She was right, this was exactly the therapy he needed.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Angus took a slice of pizza from the box and sat down. He stared at the whiteboard where they'd written everything they knew about Eden's case down. They had a timeline, but it didn't tell them much. They knew whoever killed Eden had to have known about the meeting, and who it was with since they'd messaged Lucas to cancel the drop. It had to be someone Eden trusted. Someone who knew that the bribes were taking place and when they were happening. His phone rang and he forced his attention from the case as he saw his mother's name show up on the screen. "Hey, Mom."
"There's my favorite son." She laughed at her own joke.
"You won't be able to use that line any longer if I get married one day."
"Lance will be my favorite son-in-law. You'll always be my favorite son." His mother sounded happy.
"Thanks, Mom, but I know you didn't call me just to remind me I'm your favorite."
"I might have. I don't want you to forget it, but you're right. I do have news for you. Betty and Bethany dropped by my place to pass on some information you need to know. It seems Bethany and Ray dropped by Michael Anderson's home this morning and found him in bed with Eden's sister. They are for sure having an affair and Bethany told me she thinks it's been going on for a while. They didn't act like new lovers."
Angus sat up straighter. "He's sleeping with his sister-in-law?"
"No doubt about it. Ray and Bethany had to leave when things got a little too exciting in the bedroom. Bethany said they'll go back later tonight and see if she's still there, but theyfigured you'd want to know." She paused for a moment. "Does this help the case?"
"I don't know. It sure does give us more to look into, especially if it was going on before her murder." Angus stood as Franks and Amy stepped back into the conference room. He had to be careful what he said around Amy as this involved the ghosts, and she knew nothing about them. He caught Franks attention, gestured to his phone, and stepped out into the empty hallway, thankful it was a weekend and the place was quieter than usual. "Did they find out anything else?"
"No, but they said they were sleeping when they got there, then woke and started doingotherthings." His mother stressed the word 'other'. "They will go back later and see what they can find. They're helping Isaac with a situation later tonight, then will head over to Michael's once that's finished."
"Everything okay with Isaac? Something I need to know?" He hadn't been keeping up with the drug trafficking cases that Captain Marshall was working on. The narcotics detectives had been following up on leads that the ghosts shared with the captain. Angus left it to them to handle unless his help was needed.
"No, it's all good. They are planning on making an arrest tonight and Ray and Bethany want to be there to watch it all happen. Nothing for you to worry about. You focus on this case so you can move out of my place and back in with my favorite son-in-law."
"That's the goal. I love you and Dad to death, but I miss Lance. I just need a chance to talk to him without Eden around, and I fear that won't happen until I wrap up this case." Even then, he worried Eden might stick around since she thought Lance was the only living person who could see her.
"Then let's get that done. If I have to find a way to keep her away, you two need to talk. We'll figure something outtomorrow. For now, I hope that this information helps with your case. Bethany wanted to make sure you knew about it. Your father and I are going out tonight, and we'll be gone in the morning for our usual Sunday breakfast, but when we get home, we'll find a way to get Lance and you talking. Call me if you need anything before then."
"I will. Love you and Dad. Have fun tonight and please be safe."
"Safe is my middle name." His mother disconnected the call before he could argue.
Angus shoved his phone back into his pocket and headed back into the conference room. "I have news, but it came from an anonymous source." He sat back down at the table.
"Do tell." Amy glanced up with interest.
"Seems Rachel Reese and Michael Anderson are sleeping together, and my source thinks it's been going on for a while."
"Like before the murder?" Franks asked.
"They didn't say, but says they are very comfortable together, and from what they saw whatever this is between them didn't seem new." Angus nodded to the chart. "Michael Anderson's alibi is firm. Neighbor verified he was home with the kids. Security cameras show him coming home and not leaving again."
"What do we know about Rachel's alibi?" Amy asked.
"Not much. Said she was home when Eden was killed, but there is no one to verify. We didn't push because she wasn't on our radar as a suspect." Franks stood and went to the whiteboard. "Let's see how she matches up with what we know. Killer was taller than Eden."
"Rachel is about five-eight or so. That's a good four inches taller than Eden, and she's always in those fancy boots…" His voice trailed off.
Franks nodded as he tapped the pen against the while board where they'd written a note about the boot prints in the dirt at the murder site. "We assumed it was a man wearing cowboy boots, but we only had the heel prints."
"As far as we know, she's the only one who might have known where Eden was meeting Lucas. The question is, why kill her? Eden was giving her a life of luxury. Killing Eden ended the bribery and cuts off the income." Angus stared at the whiteboard. "She makes a good suspect. Do we think she's strong enough to strangle someone?"
"I think so. She appears fit. She works at the gym as a trainer and yoga instructor. With the height advantage and catching Eden by surprise, it's very possible. And that stray hair we wound on the scarf would about match Rachel's hair color. Do we have her DNA on file?"
