Holding his Hostage - Amy Gamet Page 0,1
director had asked if she wanted to see the remains, but she couldn’t bear the idea. Just how much of him was left after the fire?
She looked around for the plainclothes police detective who’d been standing near the hearse when they arrived. He must have seen the body, read the coroner’s report. Maybe she should ask him. Bump herself up the list of suspects with one fell swoop. But instead of the detective, her stare collided with the green and bloodshot eyes of David’s mistress. Jo’s stomach bottomed out as if she’d swallowed battery acid.
McKenzie Bannon stood with her arm tucked into the crook of her husband’s, her wavy red hair falling gracefully over her shoulders. If Richard Bannon knew about the affair, he gave no indication. He was one of the most prominent clients of David’s firm, that connection being the primary reason McKenzie had gotten the job as David’s secretary all those years ago.
If you thought about it, Richard Bannon was the reason Jo’s entire life had fallen apart. There she went again, making excuses for David, putting the blame at someone else’s feet instead of his, where it rightfully belonged. Bannon hadn’t made her husband cheat on her.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Mrs. Regan,” said a man’s voice behind her, startling her. The service had ended. She vaguely recognized the pudgy, balding man as an accountant from David’s firm.
“We were separated,” she blurted, unsure why she needed to offer that information right now. “A year in February.”
“I hadn’t heard.” He mumbled an awkward goodbye, another balding accountant stepping in to take his place. This time, she kept her marital status to herself. From the corner of her eye, she saw April approach the casket while Lucas wandered among the headstones nearby.
“I gotta go potty,” repeated Fiona, tugging on her arm.
“Go tell your brother it’s time to leave.” She addressed the line of mourners waiting to pay their respects, grateful at least McKenzie hadn’t set foot in that line. “I’m sorry, I need to go.” She turned abruptly and crossed to April, bracing herself for the girl’s potential attitude. “You doing okay?” Jo asked.
“When will they lower the casket into the ground?”
“After we leave, I suppose.”
“I want them to do it now.”
“Why?”
April didn’t answer. Suddenly even colder than she had been, Jo wrapped her arms around her midsection. “Come on. Fiona’s gotta go potty.” April reluctantly fell into step beside her, Lucas and Fiona joining them as they headed for the car, the unwavering stare of the police detective tracking them like the moon on a cloudless night.
She wanted to tell him she hadn’t killed her husband. If she was going to do that, she’d have done it long before now. The service was done. David would soon be in the ground, and she’d played the part of the dutiful wife for the very last time, albeit not terribly well.
“Mrs. Regan?”
She bristled at the name, turning to see Richard Bannon hustling to catch up to her, and she stifled a suffering sigh. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.” She moved to turn around, knowing she was being rude but no longer caring. She needed to get out of this place, anxious to get to her vehicle and find Fiona a bathroom, but he grabbed her upper arm.
“Can I have a word with you? It’ll just take a second.”
She jerked her arm out of his grasp, irritated with his touch and considering telling him so. But it was a difficult day, and the easiest path was the one of least resistance. “Go on to the car,” she told the kids. “I’ll be right there.”
When they were gone, he said, “Beautiful family.”
“Thank you.” She took a shaking breath in. “I only have a minute. My daughter needs to use the bathroom.”
“We always wanted kids, McKenzie and me. Such a blessing.” He put his hands in his pockets. “You know I did business with your husband. A lot of business over the years.”
She shifted her weight. “Of course. The firm has many excellent accountants who can help you. I’m sure they’ll work to make the transition—”
“I don’t want to seem indelicate on the day you’re burying your husband, but I have a problem. David was in possession of a great deal of money at the time of his death. My money.”
She took a step back. “I don’t know anything about David’s business dealings. We were separated.” Because he was fucking your wife. “If you’ll excuse me.”
His hand shot out again, strong