Page 68 of A Flower for Angus

Vince grinned. “I have my ways. Anyway, it states right in the report that a DNA match had popped up with a positive for Adrian. I followed the link and found that a Carma Michelina had requested it, and that it was a sibling match to Adrian.

“I knew there was going to be trouble at this meeting, so I called you, Morgan, and went to Condoloro Enterprises as fast as I could get there. Abby Nesbitt, who just happens to be a member of the board for Condoloro Enterprises, changed her name over ten years ago from Carma Michalina. She’s the one board member whose credentials were very sketchy. I couldn’t link Carma to anyone connected to Julian until I read the coroner’s report and followed the link.”

He looked at Poppy. “The statute of limitations never runs out on murder, which was why Abby didn’t want Poppy looking into anything.

“Not only that, but someone isn’t going to want Abby talking, Morgan,” Vince told him with a steely look his way. “You might want to get her into protective custody before the locals lose their prize.”

“Did you download any of the coroner’s files?” Morgan asked Vince.

Vince nodded. “They can’t keep this secret, even if they try to do damage control by eliminating Carma, ergo Abby Nesbitt. It will come out, but just how deep her ties go into the mob will be something they will want to cover up.”

“Now that we have the mob connection, we’ll take over the entire case,” Morgan replied, standing up. “I need to get moving on this immediately and get this recording to Mike Docent, the agent on the case.”

Angus and Vince stood up and walked with him to the door. “Be careful, Morgan,” Angus warned. “People like that tend to move fast once a breach has been committed.”

“Don’t worry,” Morgan replied as he shook hands with Angus. “No one knows about this recording but the three of us yet. By the time you go to the police station tomorrow, Carma should be in our custody.”

Angus shook hands with Vince. “Thank ye, Vince. Ye saved our lives tonight. There’s no telling how this might have turned out if ye hadn’t distracted Nesbitt long enough fer Poppy to get her gun out.”

“I’d say that knife in her shoulder was a pretty good distraction, Angus. Is that where you aimed to hit her?” Vince joked.

Angus chuckled. “Like Poppy, I was aimin’ more fer center mass, but it looks like we both got a shoulder without killin’ her. I’m glad Poppy doesn’t have to deal with takin’ another person’s life.”

Vince and Morgan nodded soberly in agreement.

***

THE NEXT MORNING POPPYand Angus were in the study where Poppy was going over the newly arrived auditors report in her email. It was only 7:00 a.m. but the cook and the maid were both back and she would be sitting down with them later on. Right now, she was enjoying the luxury of having someone preparing her breakfast and bringing her a pot of fresh coffee.

She heard the doorbell but she knew Ralston would get it because he had decided to resume his duties as well, which was fine with her. He still seemed resentful of her, and why he should be was lost on her. He hadn’t been when Julian was alive. Like so many other things, it would have to wait. Condoloro Enterprises was her first concern.

Her head shot up when a knock on the door distracted her. “Come in.”

Ralston opened the door and behind him was Chief Flinders looking like a thundercloud. “Chief Flinders to see you.”

She and Angus both stood up as the Chief entered the room and immediately announced, “Abby Nesbitt is dead.”

Poppy gasped. “Dead? How? Did she die of her injuries?” she asked, her heart sinking.

“How did that happen in yer custody?” Angus growled.

“There’s also a dead FBI agent,” Flinders snapped. “Nesbitt was in their custody at the hospital as of 2:00 this morning, so the investigation as to how she died is in their hands and they aren’t talking. They’ve taken her body to their lab, and Nevil Hanrahan’s as well. I’m here to take your statements.”

“Ye couldn’t wait until after breakfast?” Angus asked mildly.

Poppy plopped back down in the office chair. “Does that even matter now?” she asked bitterly. “The chance to get any more information from Carma is gone.”

“Who?” Flinders eyes narrowed.

“Never mind,” she said hastily. “If it’s not your case, why do you need statements?”

Flinders eyebrows shot up. “A crime happened in my city. I need detailed reports on everything that happened up until the time I’m no longer investigating it. I was pulled off at 2:00 am, so that means I still need statements from witnesses until then.”

“Would you like some coffee, Chief?” Poppy asked, indicating the tray with the hot pot of coffee and extra cups.

His gaze softened slightly, making him look younger than his fifty something, even though his salt and pepper hair was thinning badly, and his paunch hung a few inches over his belt. “I’d like that, thank you, Mrs. Condoloro.”

Poppy noticed that his uniform looked permanently wrinkled as if he hadn’t been to bed yet, and there were dark shadows beneath his gray eyes.

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