Page 31 of Little Dark Deeds
They leaned a bit closer, eager to hear what I had to say.
“I was in a state of shock yesterday, right from the start.After we flew back, Whitlock was waiting for me at the airport.He gave me a ride to Tiffany’s house, and before I went in, we talked for a while.”
“About what?”Simone asked.
“Information they knew up to that point.I felt I’d handled the conversation well, and I convinced myself I was in the right headspace.Maybe I was at first.I then spoke with Tiffany’s father at the house, and that conversation also went as well as it could have gone.”
“When did things change?”
“I was in Tiffany’s bathroom, taking in the murder scene, and I don’t know ...I just felt like I was losing it.I ran from there to the guest bathroom, and I threw up a few times.Then I sat there on the floor, questioning whether to take the case or not.Foley and Whitlock suggested I let them be in the driver’s seat, and you know me well enough to know when that happens, I always push back.This time it was different, though.”
“We’d feel the same way if we were in your position,” Hunter said.“And we want you to know we’re here for you, for whatever you need.”
What I needed was to wrap up the conversation about me and get to talking about how we were going to solve Tiffany’s murder.
“I was ...I mean Iamgrieving,” I said.“And it’s fine.If I have to grieve myself through this case, so be it.If I want to work it, there isn’t another option.”
“We ...ahh, we also heard you left with your mother,” Simone said.“I know how your mother can be sometimes, which worried me even more.”
“You know something?There are these rare moments when she shines in times of turmoil, and she becomes a radiant beacon, instead of a stubborn, obstinate worrywart.Yesterday, she was the beacon.She gave me a pep talk, reminded me of who I am, who we are, and why we do what we do.”
“Wow,” Simone said.“Go, Darlene.I’m impressed.”
“I was too.She may not always like the investigations we take, but she showed me a level of support yesterday I never expected.I slept on it, woke up this morning as determined as ever, and now we’re all here.”
“I’m glad you decided we should be involved.”
“Me too,” Hunter said.“Where do we start?”
Reaching for my notebook and pen, I grinned, pleased to be getting the ball rolling.
“Let’s start with a few notes I’ve taken,” I said.“In the months before Tiffany died, she was dating someone new, a man named Tyler Seymour.When she talked to me about him, she gave me the impression he was different than the other guys she’d dated, a man she could see a future with one day.”
“How long did they date?”Hunter asked.
“Several months, but right before our wedding, they broke up.”
“Why?”
“Turns out, Tyler’s married.”
“Holy crap,” Hunter said.“Didn’t see that one coming.”
“Me neither,” I said.“The wife, Jana, found out her husband was having an affair, and she confronted Tiffany at her law office.”
“The woman’s got balls,” Simone said.“Sounds like we have ourselves a great suspect.”
“More liketwosuspects,” Hunter added.“What’s the husband’s story?Why did he decide to have an affair?Not to mention the risks involved in lying to both his wife and Tiffany.That never ends well.What was he thinking?”
“All good questions I don’t have answers for yet.I plan to speak to them both today.I’ll tell you what I know so far, but until I hear their stories, let’s not assume anything.”
“Even when you talk to them, you might not know if they’re lying to you,” Hunter said.
“Oh, there are ways, little tells sometimes.”
“I’ve never been any good at knowing when a person is lying.”
Hunter could be a bit too trusting, but when it came to looking into a person’s background, she was a tech ninja.
