Gabe’s eyes widened in horror. “In front of them?”
Shaw nodded. “If he’d been a little heavier set, he wouldn’t have been able to fit out the window. It was one of those safety windows that only slides about yeah wide.” He held out his hands about eighteen inches apart. “He was so skinny, the manager said he slipped right out before anyone could react.”
“I’m stunned.” Gabe sat down in the nearest chair, no longer playing the part, his knees no longer willing to hold him up. “I never would’ve guessed he would do something like that. He was doing so much better.”
“We hear that a lot.” Decker’s tone was gentle as he glanced at his watch and nodded toward the door.
Shaw stepped toward the exit. “If you could have your boss give us a call ASAP, we’d appreciate it.”
“Sure. I’m not sure what he can tell you, but I’ll give him your card.”
“No worries,” Shaw said, giving Gabe a genuine smile for the first time since he’d walked in. “You know how it is. We know the guy offed himself, but we have to do our due diligence. We just need a couple questions answered, and we’ll be out of his hair.”
Gabe nodded, following the detectives to the door and reassuring them that he’d give the doctor the message. When they were gone, Gabe let out the breath he’d been holding and stared down at the business card, which shook in his hand.
Joshua Gibson was dead.
Had thrown himself from a fifth-story window.
He still couldn’t believe it.
13
Ellie checked the address, pulling her silver Audi Q3 against the curb when the numbers matched.
The house was a soft primrose yellow with white trim, a one story with a small but inviting front porch. Like many houses in Charleston, in place of the screen door was a white storm door. Pink hydrangeas gave the house a storybook vibe. It was cutest out of all the houses she’d visited since being reinstated full-time last week.
Brianna Harington was the eighth coworker of Ellora Rice and Anderson Duncan’s she’d visited, and every last one had been more than helpful. Almost thirteen years later, each was still reeling from the shock of what they’d seen, and so far, everyone was eager to share their grief with Ellie.
She checked her weapon, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she got out of the car and took a deep breath. The day was unseasonably hot and humid for early spring, but there were storms in the forecast that promised to bring one last burst of chilly air with it. Mother Nature was teasing them with a taste of summer, and Ellie was more than ready for the real thing. Everyone complained when the summer was beating down on them, but Ellie loved the way the humidity made the air so thick one could almost drink from it.
The storm door opened before Ellie was halfway up the narrow sidewalk running through the center of the freshly mowed front yard.
A woman in a lavender sundress and tan sandals stepped onto the porch, her curly brown hair pinned away from her face by a single clip at the top of her head, lips painted a deep burnt crimson that shimmered in the sunlight. “Today’s pretty hot for April.” She stepped aside and motioned to the open door. “Why don’t you come inside out of the heat.”
Ellie stopped to readjust her bag, smiling at the woman. “Thank you, but I haven’t introduced myself.”
Her smile slipped. “I know who you are, and I know why you’re here.” Her eyes darted to the side, but she forced a bright smile. “My neighbors are a little nosey. I’d rather do this inside.”
Ellie nodded and followed the woman into the foyer, waiting until the door was closed to show her badge and ID. “I guess someone called you?”
She nodded, curls bouncing. “Virgil didn’t think I should be blindsided since we were friends before all this.”
Brianna led Ellie to a sitting room off the foyer, passing a table that held a frosted pink vase of cut hydrangeas the same shade of pink as the ones planted in front of the house. The walls of the room they entered were a soft blue, with crisp white trim that looked freshly painted.
“Please, sit. Would you like anything?” Brianna motioned to a frilly floral loveseat in the center of the room.
Ellie shook her head, digging in her bag for her notepad. “No, thank you. I’m just here to interview you because you were there that day. I’ll get right to the point and get this over with. You were friends with Ellora before her death?”
Brianna pursed her lips and dragged in a deep breath as they both took a seat. “I was friends with Anderson.”
“Oh. I’m sorry, I—”
Brianna waved her hand. “No need to apologize. Everyone wants to demonize Anderson now that he’s gone, but I promise you no one was more shocked than I was.” She clasped her hands together and stood abruptly. “Are you sure you don’t want a drink? Is whiskey okay? I need a drink.”
“I’ll take a water.”
Brianna shuffled out of the room quickly, fingers clutching the flowing fabric of her purple dress.
Ellie sat back, noting the perfectly folded chenille throw on the overstuffed chair, the upholstery of which matched the floral print of the loveseat.
When Brianna returned with a glass in each hand, Ellie took the water with a smile. “Thank you, Brianna.”
Brianna nodded, already bringing her own drink to her lips as she sat in the chair. She grimaced at the bite of the alcohol and let out a heavy sigh. “I’ve been dreading this conversation since Virgil called. I was hoping you’d be here yesterday so we could get it over with.”
“I’m sorry. I had planned on finishing up by yesterday afternoon, but everyone had so much
