Family Sins(38)

Fiona was a bit taken aback, but she didn’t argue as CSI Griffin put the glass on another table.

Satisfied, Riordan began again, starting by asking her to identify herself and her position in the family.

Fiona answered, and then continued to answer all his questions calmly. Finally she leaned back in the chair and crossed her legs in a casual manner.

“I’m happy to cooperate, but you need to know I have an unimpeachable alibi, and so does my sister, Nita. We spent the morning in Eden shopping, and then went to a spa, and we were on our way to lunch when Leigh and her sons came racing into Eden.”

“That doesn’t relieve you of guilt. You could have hired someone. You could have conspired with one or more of your siblings. Right now, none of you are cleared of anything.”

Fiona paled, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and frowned.

Riordan continued. “What is your interest in the resort being built out by the lake?”

She shrugged. “I know the family corporation made an investment in it. That’s all.”

“How much does the family stand to lose if it doesn’t get built?”

She shrugged. “Blake handles the investments. Ask him.”

Riordan watched the woman’s gaze sliding toward her drink and wondered what he might learn if he kept her waiting long enough.

“What did you think of Leigh’s decision to marry against the wishes of the family?”

“We all thought she was mad. Why would anyone give up all this to go live in poverty?”

“But they aren’t poor,” Riordan said. “In fact, just the opposite. The family thrived, and they’re all quite successful.”

Fiona shrugged. “Whatever spell Stanton held over her is certainly over now, isn’t it?”

“Were you envious of her?” Riordan asked.

Fiona gasped. “No! Why would I be?”

“Your comments are less than kind toward a sibling who’s just been widowed.”

“I’m a widow, too, and no one is fussing over me,” she snapped.

“Did someone in your family murder your husband?”

“Of course not!”

“Then you cannot compare your situation to hers. I think I’ve heard enough for the time being. You may leave now,” he said.

Fiona stood abruptly, grabbed her drink and strode out.

“Wow,” Griffin said.

Riordan grimaced.

“They are a coldhearted bunch,” he said, and then sent Griffin back for the other sister, leaving Charles for last.

Back in the library, Charles watched his Aunt Nita leaving and then glanced at the officer standing at the door. They’d all heard the two officers going through the house looking for weapons. It made him uneasy, thinking about strangers touching their things. He wondered what was going on and kept trying to think if there was anything in his room that might make him look bad. He hated that he was going to be last. He didn’t know how to read that. Was it because he was the youngest and had no personal ties to his aunt or her family, or because of something else? He supposed he would soon find out.

Meanwhile, Nita followed Officer Griffin into the game room, almost burst into tears when she was fingerprinted, then again as she took a seat, looking everywhere but at the constable.

He frowned. She was the first one who’d come in behaving as if she had something to hide. He moved her quickly through the first part of the interrogation and then started on the specifics.

“Do you know how to ride a motorcycle?”

“I suppose, but I haven’t in years.”

“There’s one registered to the family corporation. Where is it kept?”

“I’m sure I don’t know,” she muttered.

Riordan quickly changed the subject.

“Do you know how to shoot a gun?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. However, I haven’t fired a weapon in several years.”

Riordan glanced down at his notes, then back up at her. There were tiny beads of sweat on her upper lip.

“There are several guns registered to this family. Where are they kept?” he asked.

“Not in this house. Mother never allowed it,” she said, verifying what Blake said and the same answer he’d gotten from all of them.

“Then where are they?”

She shrugged.

“I really don’t know. I don’t live here year-round. Fiona and I both have apartments in New York City, so we don’t keep up with the family stuff like we used to.”

“Where were you on the morning of the murder?”

“Fee and I had been shopping, and then we were in the day spa on Fifth Street. We were going to lunch when Leigh and her sons drove into town. It was the first time I’d seen her since she left home.”

“Really? Not even at the supermarket?”

Nita smirked. “We have people who do all that,” she said. “So, can I go now? Any number of people in Eden can verify my alibi.”

“If you’re that comfortable hiring everything done in your life, who did you hire to kill Stanton Youngblood?”

Nita gasped, choked and then began coughing.

He waited for her answer.

“How dare you insinuate I would do such a—”

“I didn’t insinuate anything. I asked a question. The murdered man already named the family. As far as I’m concerned, none of you are innocent. You could all be in this together, thinking if no single person is named, you’ll all be in the clear. But you’re wrong. Abetting is against the law. Collusion is against the law. Whatever you know and aren’t telling will send you to prison right along with the person who shot Stanton Youngblood in the back.”