Page 25 of Conner's Choice
“Will you keep me updated from time to time?”
“Yes, ma’am, I will.”
The following dayat the police station Rawson yelled, chastising both Conner and William for his visit to Nona Harding. “You could have compromised our entire investigation! How do you know she’s not in touch with Kevin Warner?”
William faced the detective squarely. “She’s not. Mrs. Harding didn’t have any personal information about her son. And I didn’t tell her what we suspect.”
“Well, there’sthat,” Rawson grumbled. “All right, gentlemen. What’s our next move?”
Conner drummed his fingers on the old table in the interrogation room. “I think a visit to Lexi Loveland is in order. We can use her.”
“I agree,” William added. “I’ve been monitoring her calls. She’s desperate to talk to Warner, but he’s been ignoring her.”
“A scorned woman is a ticking timebomb,” Rawson remarked. “Let’s lean on her. Tell her we know about her affair with Warner. Accuse her of being an accessory to murder. Show her the report on the diamond necklace. She’ll crack under the pressure, believe me.” He grinned at William. “Which one of us wants the pleasure?”
The investigator inclined his head. “Take this one for yourself. Detective Stone.”
After leaving theshop Friday night, Lexi drove in a fury toward her small apartment. Stepping inside, she threw her purse and keys onto the coffee table and fought the urge to scream. Kevin hadn’t contacted her in days or responded to her many messages. She feared the worst. That she had been played. Kevin needed frequent sex, daily, sometimes more than once, and if he wasn’t getting it from either her or Elizabeth, he was sleeping with Alexa. He had to be. Her eyes narrowed as she tossed back a shot of vodka. Time to get even.
A firm knock on the door interrupted her plotting how to destroy Kevin. Looking through the peephole, she saw a badge as the officer identified himself.
“Miss Loveland, I’m Detective Rawson Stone. May I please speak with you?”
Lexi unlocked the door. “Yes, Detective?”
He moved past her and took a quick scan of her apartment, probably taking note of the modest furnishings and personal possessions. She didn’t own much.
Reading his mind, she complained, “My boss is stingy.”
“Please sit down, Miss Loveland.”
“I’d rather stand. What do you want?” She crossed her arms in defiance.
She was agitated and anxious for him to leave. They were standing next to her kitchen table where he tossed an official-looking report on it, along with a picture of her small gold hoop earring, and asked, “Do you recognize the earring?”
Lexi’s blood raced through her veins, causing heat to rise in her cheeks. She played dumb. “Should I?”
“Let’s cut to the chase, Miss Loveland. That’s your earring, which Mrs. Warner found in her husband’s pants pocket. That’s the DNA report that confirms it. Get the picture? Your ‘stingy boss’ knows about your affair with her husband. What’s more, we know Kevin Warner is planning to murder her foryou.” He tossed another document on the table. “You’re an accessory to attempted murder, Miss Loveland. This diamond necklace is laced with fentanyl.”
Lexi’s stomach clenched, and the color drained from her face. “No, you’re lying. Kevin wouldn’t do something like this. He…” She gazed at the report and gagged. She recognized those diamonds in the photograph. They were supposed to be hers. Kevin promised to give them to her when he kicked Elizabeth to the curb. Instead, he gave them to his wife. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
“I’m not part of this,” she declared. “I didn’t ask Kevin to kill his wife.”
“Youarepart of this plot, Miss Loveland,” Rawson insisted. “There’s enough evidence to arrest you. Not to mention you’re going to be named in Elizabeth Warner’s divorce complaint.”
Lexi huffed. “Wait a minute. I haven’t slept with Kevin in weeks. What about his affair with his partner Alexa Wainwright?”
“What affair, Miss Loveland?” Rawson answered. “You’re the only person Warner is having an affair with.”
“What?” she screamed, horror washing through her. “I don’t believe this!”
Rawson took notes as Lexi spilled the entire story. “I’m not the one plotting to kill Elizabeth! Alexa is! It’s Alexa.”
“Unfortunately, Miss Loveland, you don’t have any proof to corroborate what you just told me.” He paused. “However, the D.A. is willing to offer you immunity if you can get Alexa Wainwright to admit she’s having an affair with Warner.”
Lexi frowned. “That sounds easy enough, but I don’t get it. Does the D.A. plan to charge her instead of me?”
“You don’t need to get it. Just do as I say to avoid going to jail.”
