Page 55 of Last Seen Alive
“Sounds like you’re making some progress,” Graves said. “It would seem this Claire Hunter had things to hide.”
About time she came around to that!“It does, and Trent and I are working to find out what because we’re quite certain whatever her secrets were, they wound up getting her murdered.” Amanda wasn’t getting into Rita’s accident with the sergeant.
“Keep me posted. Don’t make me flag you down in the parking lot next time.” Graves didn’t smile, but Amanda swore she detected humor in the sergeant’s voice. After all, Amanda wasn’t what dragged Graves outside. It would seem it was either her lunch break or she had an appointment somewhere.
Amanda sat in her Civic and watched Graves leave. She and Trent had been so consumed trying to uncover Claire’s story that there hadn’t been any time to dig into Graves. Now wasn’t the time either. Amanda wanted to know what was in that safe deposit box.
TWENTY-ONE
The people at Locked Up Tight were more accommodating once they saw Claire Hunter’s death certificate paired with a letter provided by her estate attorney. Amanda and Logan were led to box 1730. It was about four rows up from the floor and center on a wall full of compartments.
The clerk put their key in, and Logan inserted the one he’d picked up from the estate lawyer.
The box was released from its cubbyhole.
“There are private spaces over there for you.” The clerk gestured toward two stalls with doors before walking off.
Amanda guessed the spaces were soundproof as well in case customers wanted to make phone calls or received any.
Amanda went to one but turned when Logan hadn’t followed. He was holding on to the box and trembling. “You all right?”
“No.”
She squeezed his shoulder. “I’m not going to lie and say what comes next is going to be easy. We have no idea what’s waiting for us, but you’ve been waiting a long time for answers. Now you can get them.”
“I know. It’s just all this makes it feel so final. She’s gone. I couldn’t save her. Hell, I’m being charged with her murder.” His voice cracked on the last word, and it had a lump forming in Amanda’s throat.
“I’m working to help you. Now this is what you can do to help yourself. That box”—she pointed to it in his hands—“may give you that. And trust me, you are far more resilient than you think.”
He met her eyes, his gaze soft and warm. “Okay, let’s do this.”
“You got it.”
They went into a stall and shut the door. Compact with a table and a chair against the back wall. There was just enough room for that and two people, but it was a tight fit.
Amanda let Logan sit, and she stood to his left.
“Here goes,” he said as he lifted the lid.
Her heart picked up speed, but nearly stopped at what she saw. Nothing.
“It’s empty,” Logan burst out. “I thought it felt light, but… you’ve got to be freaking kidding me.”
It took a few seconds for Amanda to shake the shock, but then she moved behind him and put both her hands on his shoulders. “I’m sorry, Logan.”
He took a heaving breath that had his broad shoulders rising and squaring.
She rubbed his arms and leaned over, wrapping her arms around the front of his chest and putting her face against his neck. Her cheek to his, she tapped a kiss there and just let the moment suspend in time.
A couple of minutes had easily passed before he tapped the back of her arm. She returned to full height.
“We’ll figure this out,” she said. “We’ll talk to them at the front. See what they can tell us and go from there. You can stay here for a bit if you want.”
“Nah, I’m fine.” He sniffled and stood. They returned the box to the cubbyhole where it came from and went to the clerk who had helped them upon arrival.
“The box was empty. Can you tell us when Claire Hunter was last here?” Amanda held up her badge, having had no reason to show it before now.
The clerk’s eyes danced over the gold shield. “Sure.” She typed into the computer, then said, “Looks like it was this past Friday afternoon. Four thirty.”
