Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
“Dr. Liu?” Laurel repeated, her mind already cataloging the name and filing it away.
“Yes. Miriam was married to one of my buddies from the service who died a year ago from cancer, and I promised to kind of check in on her. She doesn’t have any other family, and it looks like she might’ve died just in a car accident, but she was always so careful. Meticulous. It doesn’t feel right, but it’s not really an FBI situation, and I don’t have a lick of time right now. Plus, her body is with Dr. Ortega for the autopsy, and I know he’s your buddy. Will you just check in with him?”
Laurel seemed to be checking on people left and right. “Of course. Can you tell me anything else about her?”
“Miriam was a biomedical researcher, one of the best. Under contract with the federal government.”
Laurel booted up her computer. “So we might be able to gain jurisdiction if necessary.”
“It’s possible. She worked with Oakridge Solutions. I thought maybe you could poke around there and just make sure she didn’t have any enemies. Her boss was a guy named Dr. Sandoval.”
Laurel’s fingers hovered over her keyboard and then paused. “Oakridge Solutions?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Your friend is the second person who’s died from there lately. The first was a lab tech whose death was ruled a suicide.” Sometimes coincidences did happen, but still. She might have to call Viv that night.
Agent Norrs took a deep breath. “That’s odd, but the causes of death seem different. Yet I wouldn’t mind if you checked it out. You have time?”
“Yes.” Curiosity would propel her forward, regardless. If for no other reason than to assure Viv that the truth had been found about her friend. “Do you know anything about Oakridge other than they have governmental contracts?”
“No. Oakridge is one of many research firms in the Seattle area, and I’ve never heard anything interesting about them.”
Laurel really needed coffee. “Okay. I’ll be in touch.”
“Also,” Norrs added quickly, his words coming out in a rush like he’d been holding them back, “your sister’s really thrown by the shooting on the steps. If you could give her a call, I’d really appreciate it.”
Laurel stiffened, her gaze cutting to the rain-splattered window. “Nothing throws Abigail, Agent Norrs. She killed our father, and she’s been charged. This thing is going to trial, and apparently sooner than anticipated. Why would she want that?”
“To get it over with. She’s innocent, Laurel. It was clear self-defense.”
The guy had no clue. “I hope you’re not a witness,” Laurel said slowly.
“I wasn’t there,” Agent Norrs replied, irritation sharpening his words. “But I do know how much she feared your father. You’ll need to tell the truth on the stand as well, Laurel.”
“Of course I’ll tell the truth.” Laurel’s words came out clipped, and she didn’t bother trying to soften them. “But I think Abigail killed Zeke to hide something.”
Agent Norrs huffed a breath. “Like what?”
That was the problem. Laurel didn’t have a concrete answer, just a tangled knot of suspicion and instinct. Abigail was too composed, too calculating. Every move she made seemed deliberate and strategic.
“I don’t know,” Laurel admitted, relying on facts and not emotion. “I believe that she tried to kill Zeke once before, but he refused to confirm that fact before dying. I also suspect her in other deaths. Perhaps he had proof about those murders. All I know is that she isn’t who you think she is.”
Agent Norrs snorted. “Give her a chance. Good Lord. She was so upset that you lost your baby, she went and challenged a man who then tried to kill her. It was self-defense.”
“Was it?” Laurel’s temper flared. It wasn’t like her to lose her cool, but she was starting to like Agent Norrs, and Abigail would hurt him in the best of circumstances. In the worst, who knew what she’d do.
“Yes—definitely self-defense.” Norrs’s tone rose. “Your father was a monster, and Abigail had every right to defend herself.”
Laurel shook her head. “I don’t trust her, and you shouldn’t either.” How in the world could she convince him to protect himself ?
“There wasn’t a lot your father did except hurt her,” Norrs said, his voice losing some of its edge. “You don’t know her the way you think you do, and whatever your differences, she’s still your sister.”
“Abigail and I are not close. You need to realize that now,” Laurel said. Why wouldn’t he see what was right in front of him? “If you’re not going to see the truth regarding her, someday she’ll show it to you.”
“Oh, yeah? You think she’ll dump me?” Agent Norrs chuckled.
“I certainly do. That’s her pattern.”
A chair creaked through the line. “Does her pattern include getting engaged?”
Laurel sat back, her breath catching. Before she could reply, Kate appeared in the doorway, holding a latte with a pink sleeve wrapped protectively around it. “Thank you,” Laurel mouthed, offering Kate a smile as she accepted the cup. “Did you say engaged, Agent Norrs?”