Page 6 of Colton's Second Chance
“Is there a problem here, ladies?” Eli said as he stepped into the ring Noelle and the older couple made.
The gray-haired woman pursed her mouth. “It’s personal business and none of yours.”
Eli reached in the inner pocket of his heavy winter coat and pulled out the bifold wallet where he kept his badge. He flashed it at the older couple. “It’s my business if I feel you’re disturbing the peace with your shouting. Besides, I’m a friend of Noelle’s, and I don’t like to see her being publicly berated.”
The woman narrowed her gaze on him and flicked a glance to the badge. “Colton? You’re the one in charge of the case. You’re the ABI agent investigating Allison’s murder.”
“I am. The same,” he answered, even though it hadn’t been phrased as a question.
Noelle gave him a hard look. “I’m fine, Eli. I don’t need you to defend me.”
“Agent Colton, you can help us!” the woman said, angling her body to face him.
“And you are?” he asked, although he already had a hunch.
The older man finally spoke, extending his hand for Eli to shake. “Clyde and Jean Gates. Jean is Allison Harris’s maternal aunt. We’ve come in from Anchorage to claim the body from the medical examiner.”
When Eli dropped the man’s hand, he stuck it in his coat pocket and divided a glance among the three parties. “I see. From what I overheard as I came in just now, you have some issue with Noelle’s claim as next of kin. Is that right?”
“Eli,” Noelle said in a dark tone under her breath. “I said I don’t need your—”
“Darn right!” Jean interrupted. “She should haveno sayin what happens with Allison or my family’s estate! We’re Allison’s blood relatives. She was just…adopted!” The bitter woman spit the word out with a timbre to her voice that said she considered Noelle no better than trash.
Noelle’s mouth tightened, and she turned her head away. But not before Eli saw the sparkle of tears that puddled in her eyes.
His heart wrenched in sympathy for her while, in his pockets, his hands fisted in outrage for how her aunt was denigrating her.
“I understand that Allison’s death is upsetting for you,” he said with more composure than he felt. Years of serving the public and dealing with all manner of human emotion and irrationality served him well in that moment. “However, the law is clearly on Noelle’s side. Because of her legal adoption, sheisAllison’s sister, and therefore her next of kin.”
Jean Gates took a staggering step back as if pushed. She knitted her gray eyebrows in consternation. “What? You can’t be serious! Blood always comes first!”
Eli shook his head. “No, ma’am. Noelle is legally—”
“Now see here, young man!” Clyde puffed out his chest as he faced off with Eli. “My wife is entitled to the money and heirlooms her family has collected over the years, and we’re prepared to take the matter to court!”
Noelle pushed in between Clyde and Eli. She scowled at Eli first. “I said, I don’t need your help!” Then facing her uncle, she growled, “I don’t want any money or any of the family’s dusty old furniture and ugly tchotchkes. But I will see that my sister receives a decent burial and not some gaudy display meant only to earn you sympathy and attention from your stuffy old friends.”
“Gaudy?” Jean said, her lips pursed in offense. “And I suppose you intend to just throw her in a pine box and be done with it? You couldn’t be bothered with the family for the last seventeen years, and suddenly you know what’s best for Allison?”
“And how many times since I left for college has anyone in the family other than Allison bothered to reach out to me? I had maybe three calls and one letter in seventeen years. That’s it! That’s all the communication from my family I had. That’s all anyone cared aboutme.” Noelle’s voice broke, and she slammedher eyes shut before drawing a deep breath and cutting an embarrassed glance at Eli.
Eli’s gut twisted. He could remember how little Noelle had mentioned her family when they’d dated, but he was seeing a new side of the situation now. Had she been rejected by her parents? Clearly there was no love lost with her aunt and uncle. This vulnerable side of Noelle, whom he’d always known to be a pillar of strength, courage and capability, shook him.
Jean gave a haughty sniff. “Why should we be in touch? You’re the one who left, and I say good riddance. You were nothing but trouble for your mother and father as a teenager.”
Noelle raised a trembling hand. “Stop. I have no desire to rehash ancient history with you. I’m only in town to claim Allison’s body and see her properly buried in the family plot outside town. You may come to the funeral, but beyond that I don’t want to hear from you or see you again.” She turned to walk away, but Jean Gates pursued and snatched at Noelle’s arm.
“Just a minute, you! Allison is coming withusto be buried with my parents and the babies my sister lost before Allison was born. She should be with herrealsiblings for eternity!”
Noelle’s back stiffened, hurt blazing in her eyes.
Eli had had enough. Noelle wouldn’t thank him for interfering, but the argument was becoming a sideshow in the medical examiner’s public lobby. He wedged himself between Noelle and her aunt and took the older woman by the arm. “That’s enough. You need to leave now. You’re disturbing the peace and blocking traffic in a public facility.”
Jean shook his hand off her elbow. “Unhand me! I have business here. I’m not leaving without claiming my niece for burial!”
“I’m afraid not,” Eli said, his tone brooking no resistance. “Noelle will be given custody of the body, but only whenthe medical examiner and police investigators are finished gathering needed evidence. Which will not be today. Now please leave the premises before I arrest you for harassment and disturbing the peace.”
“What?” Jean shrieked, her voice a full octave higher. “Arrest me?”
