“Two things happened right around the time of your sister’s surgery. First is your parents’ divorce. The second thing is Judd Knight took over full ownership of Knighthawk. Your father and Adler’s father knew each other in college. They were roommates who went on to start the business together.”
I studied Decker’s face. “That’s who you think my mother had an affair with.”
“Again, these are theories, Mila. I know you were very young at the time, but do you remember anything that would either support or deny what I’m suggesting?”
“Before you came into the room earlier, I was thinking about my mother and how she was only four years older than I am right now when her marriage ended. To the best of my knowledge, she never dated again. Doesn’t that seem odd?”
Decker nodded.
“She was also very strict about Sybil and me dating. Honestly, we were both late bloomers. Speaking for myself, I was so obsessed with my music that I didn’t have much time for dating. If I wasn’t practicing, at a lesson, or giving a lesson to make extra money, I was doing homework. Sybil, on the other hand, argued with our mother endlessly about her being able to date. The rule was not until we were sixteen.”
I startled when there was another knock at the door. Decker stood to answer it, and Rile came in.
“Hello, my friends,” he said, addressing both Decker and me.
I smiled when Decker rolled his eyes.
“What can we do for you, Rile?”
“Edge sent a message that he’s followed Adler Livingston to what looks like an abandoned dwelling. I’ve told him to wait for backup to arrive before making any other move.”
“Agreed. Is Grinder on his way?”f
“Affirmative. Also, a quick search of the property indicates that it was put into a trust nine years ago. The sole beneficiary of that trust is you, Mila.”
“What did you say?” Our old house had been put in a trust for me? By whom? It sure as hell wouldn’t have been my father.
“The property will not officially become yours until you turn thirty, and while it appears it has been abandoned for some time, property taxes and insurance are current.”
“Who owned the house before it was put in the trust?” Decker asked.
“Judson Knight.”
Wait a minute. “Not Judson and Nancy Knight?”
“Your mother’s name was never on the title.”
Whether my mother had an affair or not, the fact that my father had never put her on the title of a house they’d lived in from the start of their marriage, only reinforced how my father operated. I wished my mother, or even my grandfather, was still around so I could ask what in the everliving hell went on back then.
But they weren’t. The only person in my family still alive was my father, and I hadn’t considered him part of it in a very long time.
“The time has come for us to question Mr. Knight,” said Rile, looking between Decker and me.
“Let’s wait and see what Adler’s next move is first. So far, no one outside of our group knows there’s an active investigation. The news outlets haven’t picked anything up about the murder, which could mean that whoever is involved, thinks they have time to cover their tracks.”
My head snapped up. “Do you think my father killed Sybil?”
“That isn’t what my gut is telling me, no,” answered Decker.
“Who, then?”
“Given Adler was with you at the time of her death, I’d say either his father or someone he contracted to kill her.”
I groaned, put my head in my hands, and pulled my hair. “Why would someone kill Sybil? I just don’t understand. Considering how little I knew about my own life, I doubt she knew more.”
Rile sat on the stool next to me, which Decker didn’t look happy about.
“My understanding is that after your grandfather’s death, you paid his medical debts.”