Her Frozen Cry (Detective Amanda Steele)

“I never went to the media because I signed a nondisclosure agreement.”

“Come again?” The response was out before Amanda could filter it. “Why would you do that? Why would Alicia offer you one?”

“She knew what she’d done. And I was desperate when I signed.”

“You did it for money?” Trent countered, sounding somewhat disgusted. Possibly because Eve had sacrificed her own value for a payday.

“There are worse ways to earn it. But, yes, she paid for my silence. Not that I was compensated for anywhere near the amount I deserved and what would have been mine if she hadn’t taken the formula in the first place.” A slight scowl.

“I’m sensing some animosity,” Amanda said as Eve’s cheeks flushed.

“Wouldn’t you? She took what was rightfully mine. We were roommates, and both of us were chemistry majors. She was working on this serum, obsessing over getting it just right. It was me who came up with the solution. Not her. Without my input, she never would have figured it out.”

Trent clasped his hands on the table. “Is that something you can prove?”

Eve scoffed. “If I could have done that, I never would have signed the NDA.”

Proven or otherwise, it was what Eve believed to be true. Had the contention festered over the years and served as motive for murder? Eve was obviously still heated about the matter.

Eve knotted her arms. “Why are you both looking at me like I killed her?”

“Did you?” Amanda countered.

“That’s absurd.”

“Alicia received a threat, part of which made it clear the sender didn’t think Alicia had any right to sell New Belle, that it wasn’t rightfully hers and was built on a lie,” Amanda said. “Did you send that threat to her?”

“No.”

“She did wrong you, badly. Maybe you wanted to make her pay.” Trent shrugged. “It would be understandable.”

“I didn’t kill her. Why would I? After all this time, she was going to make it right. And now she’s dead.”

“You could benefit from her death,” Amanda put out there.

“How’s that exactly?”

“For starters, maybe you could buy New Belle for less money now,” Trent said, answering in place of Amanda. “Assuming Ms. Gordon’s beneficiary is interested in unloading the company.”

“Good idea,” Eve said. “Something worth trying. Did it fall to her husband?”

“We can’t say,” Amanda replied.

Eve waved a hand. “I can find out.”

“It’s also possible Alicia Gordon changed her mind about the arrangement with you,” Amanda said.

Eve flashed a cold smile. “I’ve done quite well for myself without that night cream, if you take a look around.”

“We have,” Amanda said stiffly, noticing Eve hadn’t addressed the suggestion that Alicia had changed her mind. “And based off quick impression, it’s hard to believe your company could afford to buy New Belle.” A tad harsh, but Amanda hoped it would goad a reaction.

Eve glared at her. “We are in the process of expanding distribution to several states throughout the country. I invested a lot of the profits, and it’s time to diversify—not just in product line but in customer base too.”

“Fair enough.” Amanda supposed it was possible Eve had been squirreling away money, not just cycling it right back into the company.

“Fair enough,” Eve mimicked. “As I’ve said, I have no reason to want Alicia dead. Buying New Belle would have been incredible for my company and the growth of both brands.”

At face value, Eve seemed to present a convincing defense for herself. “If you were to point us in anyone’s direction, assuming of course that Alicia was killed, who would that be?”

Eve’s chin trembled just slightly, so slight in fact it could have been easy to miss.

“You know of someone?” Amanda prodded.

Eve sat straighter, but vulnerability crept into her eyes.

Amanda inched forward on her chair. “Are you afraid of someone, Ms. Kelley?”

Eve swallowed roughly. “Should I be worried about my safety?”

“I don’t see why.” Amanda was hesitant to dismiss Eve’s concern, but she needed more information.

Eve rubbed the back of her neck. “Alicia was a powerful businesswoman and often in the media. I am too, and I receive threats. But I think something about us being successful women fosters more enemies.”

“What sort of threats?” Trent asked.

“I’ve received many over the years, and there are a number that refer to me as a bitch and that I don’t deserve what I have. Threats that what I have will be taken away.”

“Did you receive any recently? Say, since you made an offer to buy New Belle?” Maybe the bidding wasn’t as blind as it was supposed to be. Things did have a way of leaking out. Could it be that other bidders found out about the arrangement Eve had with Alicia and killed her because of it?

“I usually get at least one a week, but yes.”

Goosebumps danced across the back of Amanda’s neck, shoulders, and down her arms. “Send those threats to us, please.” She gave her card to Eve.

Eve’s face paled, and she nodded. “I’ll have Joanne compile them for you now. You can take them with you when you leave.”

“And Joanne is…?” Amanda asked.

“My assistant. Be honest with me. Do I have reason to fear for my life?”

“There’s nothing to indicate that at this point. None at all.” Amanda did her best to be reassuring, but she wasn’t a fortune teller. And she’d been wrong before.