Page 48 of Memory of Murder
“I’m beginning to see that.” She was. For the first time in her life she believed someone had cared and wanted her. The realization that her parents had not thrown her away was so overwhelming it was almost painful. She waffled between wanting to weep and wanting to scream.
The sound of a vehicle arriving drew their attention to the red BMW Alpina that parked behind their rental. Anne recognized the car. Carin Carter Wallace’s luxury automobile—the one her dead husband’s money had paid for.
Carin emerged from the driver’s side, closed the door and strode toward them. The woman was a year younger than Eve. She had managed to maintain her looks considerably better than the other woman. Maybe she’d had more cosmetic surgery or simply better surgeons. Possibly better skin to begin with. Good genes often made all the difference. Additionally, unlike her friend, Carin’s wardrobe appeared to be far more stylish and youthful. She could be an influencer on social media.
“Anne Griffin, I presume,” Carin announced as she paused a few steps away. Her hands rested on her silk-clad hips. She wore creamy pearl-colored pants and a button-up shirt in the same elegant, flowy fabric that flared open sharply since the top three pearl buttons were unfastened. Her long blond hair and dark sunglasses were emphasized by ruby-red lips. The woman actually looked as if she’d just stepped off the set of aVogueorVanity Fairphoto shoot.
Anne gave her a nod.
“Jack Brenner.” He thrust out his hand, which prompted Carin to step closer, only the headstone separating them now.
She touched her hand to his briefly. “Carin Wallace.”
“Nice of you to join us,” Anne said, drawing the woman’s attention from Jack.
Carin reached up, removed her designer sunglasses and hung them in the vee of her shirt, which resulted in more showing off of her cleavage. “Have you been here before? Or is this only a drive-by to settle your mother’s affairs?”
Anne worked at restraining the anger building inside her. “If bysettle her affairsyou mean find the truth about who murdered my father, yes, that’s why I’m here.”
Carin laughed softly. “I can’t imagine you’ll find anything the police didn’t.” She eyed Jack. “Even with your world-class private investigator.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “Your agency has quite the gold-standard reputation…not to mention a fascinating history.”
“We do our best.” Jack’s tone and his expression were proof enough that he was not impressed by the lady.
Anne appreciated that more than he could know. “We’ve concluded a number of new scenarios since we arrived,” she told the woman devouring Jack with her eyes. “You play a major role in most of them.”
Her red lips parted in a laugh. “How strange when I wasn’t even here during the time frame of the murder.”
“You were less than an hour away,” Jack countered. “An easy, quick commute.”
She looked from him to Anne. “So I’m your prime suspect, am I?”
“One of them,” Anne said.
“My money’s still on the senator.” Jack eased his hands into his pockets and studied Anne for a moment. “I know we talked at length about Carin being at the top of our list, but now that we’ve met in person—” he gave the older woman a once-over “—I’m not so sure she could have handled the job.”
Carin laughed again, but there was no humor in the sound. “It’s nice to have someone on my side who recognizes I’m not capable of murder.”
Jack was the one chuckling this time. “Oh, I’m confident you’re capable. I’m just not sure you could have pulled it off without getting caught. The person who murdered Neil Reed was very careful. Meticulous, even. Unless the police were completely incompetent, the killer left no evidence whatsoever.”
Anne nodded. She got where he was going now. “A mastermind.” She made ano wayface at Carin. “You’re right. She’s obviously not the one.”
“Whatever you believe,” the older woman snapped, “your mother is theonewho murdered Neil. She was jealous and vindictive. She despised her life. I remember her fantasizing about having a life just like the one Eve had planned. I guess she thought if she got Neil out of the way—”
“She could have Kevin,” Anne interrupted. “I can’t deny that scenario is a possibility. Not since we found the lab she used.” This idea had only just occurred to Anne. She hoped Jack would approve.
Confusion flashed on Carin’s unlined face before she could restrain it. “I’m not following. What lab?”
“The one she used for a prenatal DNA test to determine whether Neil was my father or if it was…” She stared directly into the other woman’s eyes. “Kevin.”
The impact of the words visibly shook Carin Carter Wallace.
Anne kept going, determined not to let up now. “Her journal was very insightful. I’m just sorry she didn’t allow me to see it before she died. It would have changed everything for her…for me too.”
“I hate to be the one to tell you this,” Carin said, the shock under control now, “but Mary Morton was a liar. A consummate liar and a cheater. She betrayed Neil. She betrayed all of us.”
“Kevin didn’t seem to mind,” Anne countered. She glanced at Jack then. “I think you’re right. It probably was Kevin who murdered him. He stole Neil’s offer from BioTech, assaulted his wife and got away with it all.”
“Until now,” Jack pointed out.
