Page 24 of Deputies Under Fire
“Most meals,” Rory repeated. “But not the one at the Elm.”
No, she hadn’t, and that in itself could be telling. However, it didn’t make her a killer.
“More posts about Ike,” she went on. And she reached the ones that would have been while Rory’s mom was still alive.
Good grief. Diedre hadn’t hidden the fact she was involved with a married man. She didn’t specifically name him, but there were a few photos of her with Ike.
And that brought her back to her concerns about Rory.
“Are you okay with seeing Diedre?” she asked as he took the final turn toward her neighborhood.
“I’m never okay with it, but I can manage it,” he insisted. “What I feel for Diedre is all rolled into the same ball with the grief over losing my mom.”
His father’s cheating was in the mix, too. Then again, Ike apparently did a lot of cheating over the years.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
He shrugged. “Dealing with Diedre will be worth it if we get answers about the murders.”
Yes, but that didn’t mean this wouldn’t put Rory through an emotional ringer. And that’s the reason she gave his hand a squeeze as they drove into Quarry Heights, an upscale neighborhood on the far east edge of San Antonio. There was no security gate, though, so they were able to drive straight throughto Diedre’s. They got out, but before they even reached the front door, it opened, and a concerned-looking Diedre met them.
“I’m glad you came,” she blurted, ushering them inside. “Please tell me you’ve arrested Ike.”
“No,” Rory answered.
Diedre groaned. “I was hoping you had good news. I thought that’s why you wanted to see me.”
Rory gave Diedre a glance before they followed her into a living room that looked more like a showroom for expensive furnishings than an actual living space.
“No,” he repeated. “We’re here to ask you some questions. And before we start, I’m going to read you your rights.”
That put some alarm in Diedre’s eyes.
“It’s for your protection,” Rory informed her. He recited the Miranda warning. Then waited, no doubt to see if Diedre was going to demand a lawyer. When she didn’t, he launched into the interview. “Tell us about the lunch you had at the Elm five and a half months ago.”
Diedre had been in the process of sitting down on a silver leather sofa but that stopped her. She froze. Blinked. “Lunch at the Elm. Why would you want to know about that…?” She sank down onto the sofa and rolled her eyes. “Because Ike saw me there, and he told you. What did he say?”
“He recalled seeing you.” That was all Rory admitted while Eden and he took the love seat across from Diedre. “Tell us about it,” he repeated. “Who was there with you?”
Diedre took her time answering. “Helen and Brenda.”
So she hadn’t denied it, and Diedre still seemed confused as to why they would be questioning her about this.
“I’ll be talking to Helen,” Rory went on, “but could you tell me what the three of you discussed during the lunch?”
Diedre opened her mouth but didn’t answer. Probably because of the sound of approaching footsteps. All of them turned in thedirection of the arched entry, and Eden saw the woman step into view.
Helen.
What the heck was she doing there?
Rory’s aunt didn’t offer up any explanation. Or even any kind of a greeting. The glances she gave Eden and him were laced with annoyance.
“So you two are friends now?” Rory asked Helen as she sat down on the sofa. Not right next to Diedre, but on the far end. “Because after Mom died, I recall you having some nasty things to say about Diedre.”
“Rightfully so,” Diedre murmured.
Helen shot the woman a glance and wasn’t able to mask the venom that was still there. “I suppose you could say that Diedre and I have reached a truce because of our mutual hatred for Ike. He helped my sister into an early grave with the stress he put on her. And Ike has done his level best to destroy Diedre both personally and professionally.”
