Page 66 of A Vintage of Regret
“No,” Sandy said. “But you are a person of interest. I’d recommend bringing a lawyer with you.”
Grant glanced over his shoulder.
Harlan slipped out the door, tucking a stack of papers under his arm. “Good evening, Chief.” He motioned to the driveway. “I’ll drive my client to the station.”
“Alright,” Sandy said. “I’ll wait in my car and follow you.”
“Can I have a moment with my wife?” Grant asked.
“Of course.” Sandy looped her fingers into her belt and strolled back through the side gate.
Kelly raced toward Grant, throwing herself into his arms, sobbing.
“Hey. It’s going to be okay.” He cupped her face.
“It doesn’t feel okay,” Kelly whispered.
“Grant?” Walter called. He leaned against the side of the office door. “It’s getting late, and we don’t know how long this is going to take. Why don’t Kelly and the kids stay here tonight? We’ve got plenty of room. It might make them feel a little safer, less alone… a little more removed from what’s going on.”
“I don’t want to be a burden,” Kelly said.
“It’s no trouble.” Walter jogged down the steps toward the couple. He rested a firm, fatherly hand on Grant’s shoulder. “We’ll take good care of your family.”
Riley caught the subtext in Walter's careful words. What he wasn't saying—what none of them were saying—was that staying at the Boone house would keep Kelly and the kids safe from her mother's inevitable dramatics. Her mom would descend on Grant's house like a hurricane, wringing her handsand demanding answers no one could give, turning an already impossible situation into a three-ring circus. At least here, Kelly could process what was happening without having to manage Elizabeth's theatrics on top of everything else.
“Thanks.” Grant waved.
Riley’s heart ached. None of this made any sense.
“Grant…” Kelly’s voice trembled.
“I’ll be fine.” Grant kissed his wife. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He took a step back, gave a quick wave to everyone else, and followed the same path Sandy had taken.
“That was the most horrible thing I’ve ever had to watch,” Erin whispered. “Why do they think he had anything to do with Dad’s death?”
“Grant might have been the last one to see him alive,” Riley whispered.
Just then, Bryson stepped from the back of the house. He took Riley’s hand and kissed it. “I’m going to the station. Grant’s got a lot of friends in this town. But he chose us to be the ones to help him navigate this, and I’m not going to let him walk into that interview with just his lawyer.”
Riley’s heart thumped in her chest. She glanced up at Bryson. “Then I’m coming with you. I’m not sitting around here doing nothing.”
“Neither one of you are going anywhere,” Walter said with a firm tone. “Sandy will kick you out of that station faster than you walked into it.”
“Grant didn’t do anything, and he needs support.” Riley blinked back tears.
Kelly closed the gap, taking her hand. “He knows we’re all here for him.”
“What you don’t know is that Sandy called Harlan and gave him a heads-up,” Walter said. “The ME classified the autopsy as suspicious. Toss in that damn letter Sean sent, and Grant issuspect number one. They’ve got nothing else and nowhere else to turn.”
“You’re not making this better,” Kelly said softly.
Riley covered her face with her hands. “I refuse to listen to or believe a single word.”
Bryson pulled her into his arms and held her close. “I love you,” he whispered. I’m not going anywhere, and neither is anyone else in this family.”
She heard the words but couldn’t respond. All she could do was cry.
Thirteen
