Page 52 of Home Team Advantage
Kieran placed his hand over Faith’s. “None of us want to believe someone is capable of doing something like that, especially to someone like Mrs. Campbell. The truth is, we don’t really know anything about her.”
I know her, Matt wanted to say, but he didn’t. He was going purely on instinct and the inexplicable, almost primal, attraction he felt toward her. The low growl that came from his throat was completely unintentional.
Kieran’s eyes flicked to Matt’s before he turned back to Shane. “I’m afraid to ask about the basis for the fraud charges.”
“According to his statement, Eddie didn’t trust Anna from the start and hired a private investigator to do a background check. Apparently, there were some red flags.”
Eddie. It always came back to fucking Eddie.
“But you knew that already,” Shane said, “because you asked Ian to look into the girl, too, didn’t you?”
No one denied it.
Shane sat back. “All right. Does someone want to tell me what the fuck is going on?”
Matt looked at Kieran, who nodded. Matt started at the beginning and brought Shane up to speed. Shane went into what Kieran called his lawyer mode—no show of emotion, his expression one of focus and contemplation while he absorbed everything. Matt could practically see the gears turning in his head, looking for holes, assessing possibilities.
“Ian was able to go back seven years before he hit a roadblock,” Matt told him. “That’s the only potential red flag I’m aware of. Ian took a deep dive into Anna’s former clients. There was no indication of foul play. No hint of motive. No reports of misconduct. No financial gain because none of her prior patients left her anything. Everyone Ian contacted had only positive things to say about Anna, throwing around words like professional, caring, competent, and compassionate.”
Shane remained still and silent for long minutes after Matt stopped talking.
Eventually, Kieran asked, “What do you think?”
“I think,” Shane said slowly, “that nothing about this situation is as straightforward as it appears.”
Matt thought back to his layover at the USO in Atlanta. “You aren’t the only one who hides who he truly is beneath a carefully crafted exterior, you know. You must keep that in mind, especially when you get home.”
Could this be what Blessing had been talking about?
Shane turned his attention to Matt. “Besides Mrs. Campbell, you’ve spent more time with her than anyone here. What is your gut telling you?”
Matt shoved his personal feelings aside and tried to look at the situation objectively. He thought about the time he’d spent with Anna. Her body language. Her tells. The little things that had told him she was hiding something. In that ER? Anna was wrecked. That had either been an Oscar-worthy performance or straight-up genuine concern, and again, he didn’t think Anna was that good of an actress.
“I think you’re right,” Matt said. “I don’t know what really happened, but nothing about this is what it appears to be.”
Shane nodded, as if that was what he’d expected.
“Also, is anyone else bothered by the fact that so much of this rides on Eddie Campbell’s word? Have any of his statements been corroborated?” asked Kieran.
“From what I can tell, the police haven’t gotten around to that yet, but there should be a complete investigation.” Shane answered.
Matt snorted. “Yeah, don’t hold your breath. You know that PI Eddie hired? He’s a cop with the Pine Ridge PD who’s been assigned to desk duty for professional misconduct.”
“Well then,” Kieran said, “we’ll just have to conduct our own investigation, won’t we?”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
ANNA
“Black. Let’s go.”
Anna slowly got to her feet. Based on the number of meals and shift changes, she’d been in the holding cell of the Pine Ridge Police Department for about forty-eight hours, give or take. They’d made a few more cursory attempts at interrogation, but those sessions had gotten shorter and shorter each time as they realized she was serious about the right to remain silent thing.
“Hands.”
Anna put her hands out, and the officer slapped a set of cuffs on. Another set went around her ankles, and then a chain was linked between the two sets. She wanted to ask if that was really necessary because, besides shutting up, she had been cooperative. Did they really think she was going to suddenly turn violent? And even if they did, what was she going to do?
She was shuffled out of the holding cell, down a short corridor, and pushed out of an exit door at the back of the station. A van was waiting, the name of a county correctional facility stenciled on the side. She supposed that was where people accused of crimes were sent to await trial, but she didn’t know, because no one was telling her anything. They’d stopped talking soon after she did.
