Her Frozen Cry (Detective Amanda Steele)

NINE

Friday morning, and while most people would be on a countdown until the weekend, Amanda was counting down for a break in the case. Was it too much to hope that Alicia’s toxicology results would return sooner than next week? Even if they only heard back the sleeping aid at the cabin was contaminated, it might feel more conclusive that they were looking at murder.

It was just after nine, and she and Trent were sitting in a stylish lobby, waiting on Chester Morton, an estate lawyer tasked as the executor for Alicia Gordon’s will.

“Detectives?” A man in his late fifties with a pleasant demeanor came over to them. “I’m Chester Morton. Follow me.” He led them to an office and grabbed another chair so there’d be one for her and Trent. He sat behind his desk. “How can I help you?”

“We have a question or two about Alicia Gordon’s will.”

Chester winced. “I can’t discuss the details of a client’s will without authorization from the main beneficiary.”

Amanda produced the copy of the will. “We received this from Tony Bishop, Alicia’s husband. I suspect that’s enough authorization right there.”

“Not exactly.”

“He shared this with us. There’s no other way we’d have possession of it otherwise.” She heard the desperation in her voice.

“All right,” the man dragged out and leaned back in his chair. He narrowed his eyes and steepled his hands beneath his chin. “I will do my best to be cooperative.” He gestured with an open palm for her to proceed. She motioned to Trent.

“So New Belle passed to Tony Bishop, her husband. But it reads as if Tony wouldn’t have any rights to sell the business for three years after her death. Am I reading that clause correctly?”

“Yes and no. It was very important to Alicia that her eldest son be guaranteed the business, even upon her death.”

Amanda glanced at Trent, back at Chester. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“The clause stipulates Tony Bishop can sell only after three years, but if Brad Slater is still alive at that time, Mr. Bishop must ensure Brad receives the fair market value equivalent. Whatever he cleared above that would be his to keep.”

“All right, but who would pay more than market value?” Trent asked.

“It can happen in cases of a bidding war,” Chester said.

“And just to clarify, Ms. Gordon’s other son, Leo Rossi, wouldn’t be guaranteed anything from the sale?” she asked.

“That’s right.”

“So, she was ensuring that her business proceeds landed with her eldest son?” Trent pushed.

“Precisely.”

Yet, Tony planned to sell. Did he not know about the limitation in that clause? Was that just something he’d told them? To what end? To cast the light of suspicion away from him? “So Tony was essentially fixed into running the business for at least three years?”

“That’s right. Now, another section of the will gives me the right to step in should Mr. Bishop be driving New Belle into the ground.”

“To protect Brad Slater’s interest,” Trent surmised.

“Correct.”

Amanda didn’t understand why Alicia included that clause when she was planning to sell the business herself. “We’ve come to the understanding that just before her death, Alicia was looking to sell New Belle. Is the will we have the most recent one you have on file?” Amanda handed the paperwork over to Chester, who studied it with a quick eye. Though the man had probably been through its pages so many times he’d likely memorized a lot of it.

“This would be the most recent, yes.” He gave the file back to Amanda. He rubbed his trimmed beard. “I will disclose something, though. Alicia called earlier this week and requested a meeting to review some aspects of her will.”

Amanda stiffened, inched forward on her chair. “Do you know what?”

“No, we never got that far.”

Alicia could have planned to cut someone out of the will, then that person found out and wanted to prevent it from happening.

“Is there anything else, Detectives?” Chester danced his gaze over the two of them.

“Don’t think so.” Amanda stood. “If we have more questions, we’ll be back. And if anything comes to your attention, please call me.” She gave the estate lawyer her business card, then she and Trent thanked Chester for his cooperation and left.

Back in the department car, Amanda started the conversation.

“We need to find out what she planned to change, but I realize we can’t ignore that Tony benefited financially regardless. Running New Belle in a managerial capacity, he’d draw money in. Then there were the personal assets he was set to receive, such as the house.” Saying this, she felt like she’d put a knife into Tony’s back.

“Don’t go there yet.”

She looked over at Trent, confused. First, he seemed to push Tony into the position of prime suspect, and now he was backing off.

Trent went on. “There are other people who benefited financially.”

“Yes, and you heard the lawyer. Alicia was planning to change something in her will.”

“Well, it doesn’t mean she was taking someone out of the will.”

“Okay, another motive then. Possibly someone with a personal motive or vendetta—Eve Kelley.” Hers was the first name on the edge of Amanda’s brain.

“Poison or drugging is more a woman’s method of murder.”

“Statistically. But real life doesn’t always conform to statistics. We could be looking at a man.”

He smirked. “Playing devil’s advocate, I see.”

“We have to argue every point until one sticks.”