Page 7 of Last Seen Alive
Amanda hated the way Trent was looking at her—like she had done something wrong. And why should he care if she was at Logan’s tonight? They worked together, and that was all. Friends too, by extension, but that wasit. He dated people, and she had every right to do the same. And why should she feel pressured by his scrutiny about how well she knew Logan? She knew himenough. For whatever that meant, but it would have to do.
He’d asked about Logan’s relationship with his ex. Honestly, all she knew was what he’d told her when she’d first found out he was married, and it hadn’t been much. Just that he hadn’t seen her in a couple of years. And that was a year ago, so it was safe to guess it had now been at least three years since Claire was in his life. But there were niggling doubts at the back of her mind because he had to have seen her more recently. Otherwise, how could she have ended up dead in his house, in such intimate attire at that? She could let most of this go, excuse it, figure there was some innocent explanation, if not for that lingerie. It was when her thoughts wandered to all that lace that she felt a prick of jealousy and betrayal. It was laughable, really, as she had no claims on Logan’s affections. They were going to sleep together. One night over and done, fun for simply old-times’ sake. There were no emotional entanglements or commitments made, nor did she want any.
Sergeant Graves drew her eyes over Amanda as soon as she returned to Logan’s side. Amanda was determined to offer what advice she could and stand by him for as long as it remained logical to do so, but she still erected a barrier of sorts. Again, it was the missing pieces from the picture that gnawed on her.
Logan’s estranged wife shows up after years, murdered in his bedroom. Did he have a motive to want her dead? After all, Amanda didn’t know the details surrounding their breakup. Why did she leave him in the first place?
“When did you last see your wife, Mr.Hunter?” One of the uniformed officers had a pen poised over a notepad, ready to record Logan’s response. The officer must have been tasked with completing Logan’s initial statement while Ryan and Hudson were looking at the crime scene. No doubt this question would be repeated by the detectives.
“I don’t know… A few years ago.”
“You’re not sure?” This came from Graves, the accusation alive in her voice.
“No, I… We broke up a while ago.”
“Not exactly definitive,” Graves said to him, her gaze briefly carrying over to Amanda.
“Fine. Four years, one month ago.”
That had Amanda going cold. He could have rounded down.Four years. But he knew the month count. The days too, which he just didn’t share? She now vaguely remembered when they’d first broached the topic of his wife that he had included the number of days. She laid a hand over her stomach. Even though he’d dated Amanda, it couldn’t be ignored that he had a bit of an obsession with his wife. That didn’t bode well. Had obsession blossomed to rage and revenge? Had Claire shown up at his doorstep and Logan snapped? But that wouldn’t explain the lingerie. That would suggest forgiveness and reconciliation. But where had things gone wrong?
“And this breakup… was it mutual?” Graves asked.
Logan glanced at Amanda, pain alive in his eyes, but she also saw fear—probably for good reason. Graves watched Logan as if she were hungry to catch him in a lie. Maybe it had to do with one of her detectives being entangled with the victim’s estranged husband. Graves would probably want to make sure that everything was by the book and beyond reproach so there couldn’t be any claims of favoritism to one of PWCPD’s own. In doing so, she might be heavy-handed in her judgment.
“Officers, Sergeant Graves, Mr.Hunter may want to secure a lawyer before he says any more.” She heard her advice hit her ears and could hardly believe she’d uttered those words. It wasn’t something she normally encouraged.
“Detective Steele.” Graves waved for her to follow. She stopped about five feet away from the group.
The woman didn’t even need to open her mouth, as Amanda could have guessed what was going to spew out. But, whatever, let her expend her energy.
“It’s time for you to leave.”
Huh.She thought for sure she’d be in for a lecture about encouraging a suspect to seek legal counsel. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You are if you want to keep your job.”
“What—?” Amanda snapped her mouth shut. Seriously, Malone couldn’t return fast enough. She took a few deep breaths. “You took me off the case. Fine. Your prerogative, but I am involved one way or another. I was here, and I made the discovery.”
“You are advising a suspect to lawyer up. Whose side are you on, exactly?”
“I’m on the side of justice, on the side of remaining objective and unbiased.”
“Really? Then are you considering the possibility that Mr.Hunter could have killed his wife?”
The question slammed into her as a physical blow.
Graves went on. “It is also possible that he did this and then used you and your presence to aid his case.”
“No. He wouldn’t do that.” Amanda was quick to come to Logan’s defense or was it more to salve her pride? Surely if he’d killed his wife, he wouldn’t drag Amanda into his mess. Or would he? Logan likely wasn’t under any misconception that feelings were involved in their reconnecting. Did he see her as easy to manipulate? Had he planned to exploit her because of the perceived influence she might offer with her job?
“Your eyes give you away, Detective. Even you are starting to wonder. I need you to go home, sit tight until morning.”
“Is no one going to takemystatement?”
“Yes. In the morning. Be at the station by eight AM. We’ll talk then too. But right now, you need to remove yourself from this crime scene, Detective. And that’s an order.”
Amanda stared the woman down, but she knew there would be no give. The sergeant had won this round.
