The Murder That Never Was (Forensic Instincts 5)

“I told you. I’m her tech guy. We set up the gym together. We share the apartment to save money. She’s got her room and I’ve got mine.”

“Evidently not at the moment.” Kline swept her arm across the living room area. The guy’s clothes strewn around, the blankets crumpled up on the sofa cushions, the pillow with the indent shoved against them—all those things screamed the fact that Milo was using this as a bedroom.

“Shannon’s staying in my room,” Milo replied. “So, yeah, I’m camping out here for now. But Julie’s in the master bedroom.” He indicated where that was. “And I’m not.”

About that, Kline looked convinced. “Speaking of Julie, we’ll be heading over to Excalibur to chat with her after we leave here.”

Milo couldn’t do anything but nod. “Fine. I’m just not sure either of us can tell you more than we’ve already told the Montclair police.”

“Actually, we have some questions for your friend Julie about Jim Robbins. The same goes for Shannon. So could you please tell her we’re here?”

Okay, so that was their angle. Not just to unnerve him and “Julie” but to dig into Jim Robbins’ disappearance. Well, the three of them were safe on that score. None of them knew anything about where Robbins was or if he was alive. As long as Shannon steered clear of the PED distribution, they’d be fine.

“Sure.” Milo took a step in the opposite direction, then hesitated and turned back to the detectives. “Please go easy on Shannon. The poor kid just lost her whole future.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Parker,” Kline replied, shoving her hands into the pockets of her navy pantsuit. “We’re not here to upset her. We just want to ask her a few questions.”

Nodding, Milo turned and walked to the back room. “Shannon?” Pausing in the doorway, he gave her a firm, keep-it-together stare. “The Chicago police are here. They want to talk to you.”

Shannon was curled up on the bed, still wearing that deer-in-the-headlights look. Then again, what sixteen-year-old wouldn’t look scared shitless when they were about to be grilled by the cops?

“Okay,” she said in a small voice. She stood up, tugging at the bottom of her T-shirt to ensure it reached her jeans and didn’t expose any skin. Then she followed Milo into the hallway.

“Hello, Shannon.”

Well, what do you know, Milo thought. Kline actually has a soft side to her.

She smiled at the teenage girl and spoke in a conversational, rather than a confrontational, tone. “I’m Detective Kline, and this is Detective Bogart.”

“Hi, Shannon,” Bogart said, also smiling.

Shannon looked from one of them to the other. “Please don’t make me go home,” she burst out. “My parents know I’m here…with Julie. Just ask them.”

“We did,” Bogart assured her. “They gave us permission to talk to you. And they’re fine about you spending time with Ms. Forman. So we’re not here to take you home.”

“Then why are you here?” She spread out her hands, palms up in question.

“We wanted to talk to you about Jim Robbins.”

Shannon’s eyes widened. “Did you find him?”

Good girl, Milo thought. Turn your panic into concern for Jim.

“Unfortunately, no,” Bogart said. “When was the last time you saw him?”

Shannon’s lips quivered, and her hand instinctively went to her shoulder. “I haven’t really seen anyone since the accident. My old life was over. I couldn’t deal with facing what might have been if I hadn’t…” Tears welled up in her eyes.

Detective Kline stepped forward and squeezed Shannon’s hand reassuringly. “We understand. Just one more question. Do you know anyone who might want to hurt Jim?”

“Hurt him?” Shannon stared. “Is that what you think happened?”

“We honestly don’t know. He could have left town, but why would he?”

“I can’t think of any reason. He was an awesome trainer. Everyone respected him. I don’t really know why he’d leave, or why anybody would do something to him.”

“Did Julie Forman know him?” Detective Bogart asked.

“Julie?” Shannon didn’t have to fake her confusion. “Yes, they saw each other at Apex—that’s the Olympic Center I trained in. Julie used to come and watch me practice. So she and Jim talked. But I think it was only about me and my future…my old future…” Tears slid down Shannon’s cheeks, and she wiped them away with the backs of her hands.