Zoe’s phone rang. She glanced at it and winced. “It’s Paulette. I was hoping to get through an entire day without going to a death scene.” She excused herself and headed for the door while answering the call.
Pete thought about Baronick’s theory. As much as Pete wanted to believe Dustin Landis was guilty, the story the detective weaved had some loose threads. But so did Pete’s supposition about Loretta. “All right, Detective,” he said. “Who do you want to question? Landis or Loretta?”
Baronick flashed his trademarked too-bright smile. “Why do we have to choose? Let’s talk to both.”
Zoe charged back into the room, her face flushed. “I think you should talk to Loretta first.”
“Why?” Pete asked.
“Because she’s at my office right now raising hell with Paulette. If nothing else, I could use your help defusing the situation.”
Loretta’s screeching voice reached Zoe the moment she stepped off the elevator. She jogged down the hallway ahead of Pete and Wayne, thankful the other offices on her floor were vacant.
Although, for the sake of security, having other humans around might have been a good idea.
Zoe charged through the open door to find Loretta backing Paulette against one wall and demanded, “What’s going on here?” with the same voice she used on her horse when it tried to push her around.
Loretta wheeled, allowing Paulette to scuttle away from the crazed widow. “Why haven’t you released Frank’s body yet?”
Zoe held her ground despite knowing this woman might be the reason he was dead. “The case is still under investigation.”
“Don’t try to pull that ‘under investigation’ shit with me.” Loretta advanced until she was mere inches from Zoe. “You’ve done your autopsy against my wishes. There’s nothing else you need from him. All you’re doing is delaying letting me put my husband to rest.”
The words were the right ones, but any sincerity was negated by the rage in Loretta’s dark eyes.
“She’s the county coroner,” Pete’s voice boomed from behind Zoe. “The body is hers until she says otherwise.”
Loretta’s venomous gaze shot over Zoe’s shoulder to the doorway. Zoe didn’t turn to look but knew Pete and Wayne were there in all their intimidating glory. Her own personal cavalry.
“He’s my husband.” Loretta bit off the words through a clenched jaw. “I want him released now. Tonight.” Her eyes came back to Zoe. “And if you refuse, I’ll get a court order.”
Footsteps—Pete’s and Wayne’s—clunked across the creaky old floor, approaching from the doorway behind Zoe. In her peripheral vision, she saw them flank her.
“We have a few questions for you, Mrs. Marshall,” Wayne said.
Clearly not what Loretta had expected. “Questions? About what?”
“I understand you’re a sales rep for a pharmaceutical company. Is that correct?”
She eyed Wayne suspiciously. “Yes.”
“I understand your company’s developing an oral version of insulin.”
Zoe knew the detective was bluffing, but Loretta didn’t. A muscle in her cheek twitched. “I wouldn’t know. I’m not in R and D. What’s this all about?”
Pete took over. “Where were you last Monday?”
“Last Monday?” She looked from Pete to Wayne and back, skipping over Zoe. “I’m not saying a thing until you tell me what this is about.”
“When was the last time you were in Langley’s Dress Shop?” Wayne asked.
Zoe knew they were trying to throw Loretta off balance, and from her reaction, it worked.
“Langley’s? How the hell am I supposed to remember that?”
“Try,” Wayne said, his tone lacking any of his usual humor.
Loretta faced the detective. In her heels, she stood eye-to-eye with his well over six-foot frame. Zoe pictured the woman in a black hoodie running across a dark parking lot and could easily imagine her being mistaken for a man.
“This is ridiculous.” Loretta gave her head a quick shake as if freeing herself from a spider’s web she’d just walked into. “I have nothing to say to any of you.” She jabbed one red-taloned finger into Zoe’s shoulder. “Except you. Mr. Everett Jones will be at the morgue promptly at eight tomorrow morning. I expect you to be there with all the necessary paperwork done so that he can move Frank’s body.”
Pete cut her off by shouldering in front of Zoe. “We’re not done with our questions yet.”
Loretta gave an exasperated huff. “And I told you. I’m not answering any of your questions until you tell me what this is about.”
“Do you know Gina Wagner?” Wayne asked.
“Who? No.”
Pete’s turn. “How about Dustin Landis?”
Loretta’s eyes widened. Slowly. Her mouth hung open, no words coming out for longer than Zoe had ever seen from the woman. When she spoke, her voice was low, cautious. “Of course, I’ve heard of Dustin Landis.”
“How well did you know him?” Pete asked.
“I didn’t.”
“You worked in the same building.”
Loretta lifted her chin. “I’m done here.” She turned to move around Pete.
But he reached out and blocked her with an arm. “If you don’t talk to us here, you can talk to us at the county police station.”
She slapped his arm away. “You can’t detain me unless I’m under arrest and you have no grounds.”
“Grounds?” Pete unclipped his handcuffs from his duty belt. “You just assaulted a police officer.”
Loretta flashed both palms in a stop gesture. “Wait. Fine. I’ll go with you. Voluntarily. No need for those things. But I’m not going to say a word until my attorney is present.”
Wayne stepped to her side, took her by the arm, and leaned close to her ear. “Funny. That’s exactly what I was going to tell you. You have the right to remain silent.”
Zoe joined Paulette and draped an arm around the trembling secretary’s shoulders as they watched Wayne escort the widow out. Pete shot Zoe a subtle grin before trailing after them.
Stillness hung over the musty office except for the ticking of icy rain pelting the window.
Paulette finally broke the silence. “I
