What I've Done (Morgan Dane #4)(36)

You have shed innocent blood. You are a murderess. Give up your folly of innocence. Cease your lying. You must repent, or you will be destroyed. The wicked cannot escape their punishment.

Lance frowned at the computer. “Morgan received a similar email this afternoon.”

Morgan removed her computer from her tote, opened it, and read the email she’d received to Sharp.

He ran a hand through his hair. “Shit.”

“The case could drag on for months or even years.” Morgan closed the laptop and turned to Haley. “As much as I hate to tell you, this is not the last threat you will receive. I’d like to give our computer expert access to your email. She can monitor and track any threats that come in.”

Haley’s shoulders rounded with defeat. “OK.”

Lance frowned at the floor-to-ceiling glass. “I don’t like this much exposure.”

“I know,” Sharp said. “When I came last night to inspect the security system, Eliza and I discussed covering these windows.”

The backyard dropped off into a deep ravine just beyond the black safety fence.

Eliza stood next to him, rubbing her arms. “I have blinds in all the other rooms, but I’ve never needed them out here. We always wanted the view to be unobstructed. But last night, I dug out all my spare sheets.”

Haley hadn’t moved, but she was now staring at the wide expanse of windows. “I always loved these windows, but now I feel like someone is watching me.”

Lance scanned the vista. “What’s on the other side of that gate?”

“A hiking trail that leads to an overlook.” Haley’s voice was wistful. “The view is spectacular. Mom and I go down there a few times a week.” She frowned at her ankle monitor. Who knew how long it would be before she could hike again?

“The overlook trail gets popular in the summer,” Eliza added, “which is why we have the lock on the gate.”

“Have you hiked down there?” Lance asked Sharp.

“Yes, last night,” Sharp said. “On the other side of the overlook, the trail picks up again and leads up to a small parking area on the road about a half mile from here. It’s not a difficult hike. I walked it in the dark with a flashlight. The terrain will not be a deterrent for a determined photographer.”

A strong telephoto lens could even capture a decent shot from the other side of the ravine.

“I’ll check the trail when I leave tonight.” Lance rubbed his palms together. “Let’s get these windows covered.”

“I’ll get the sheets.” Eliza left the room.

Sharp fetched a ladder from the garage. They hung the sheets with duct tape. When all the glass—and the view—was covered, the stunning room with its million-dollar vistas became claustrophobic and depressing.

Haley might not be in jail, but she definitely wasn’t free. Her beautiful house had become an expensive prison.





Chapter Fifteen

Watching Eliza pour coffee, Morgan perked up. Her own Pavlovian response?

Haley drank pale-purple liquid at the island, but her gaze kept straying to the sheet-covered windows.

“I need to ask you some questions today,” Morgan said.

“I know.” Haley sipped her drink. “I’m sorry I was so stupid when we talked before. My head gets foggy when I’m off my meds.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Morgan scanned her. Haley wore the sweater Eliza had brought to the hospital the day before. She obviously hadn’t been home long enough to shower or change clothes. “Have you eaten anything?”

“Not yet.” Haley shook her head. “Mom is making me dinner. But I desperately want to shower.” She lifted her foot and shook it. A black band encircled her ankle. “They said this was waterproof, right?”

“Yes,” Sharp answered. “You can shower, but don’t submerge it.”

“OK.” Haley sighed, her posture sagging. “I feel like a zombie. I don’t know how to feel. It’s all . . . too much. I can’t take it all in.”

“I know, but I need to ask you some questions,” Morgan said gently. “Get your shower first.”

The poor girl.

Morgan couldn’t imagine sitting in a holding cell for days, barely dressed, in bare feet, and then spending the night in jail. Neither could she imagine the quiet, slender girl stabbing a young man to death.

“OK.” Haley exhaled, a long and depressed sound, as she turned and left the room.

“Is her room safe?” Lance asked.

“Eliza has a top-notch security system,” Sharp said. “The house has steel doors, reinforced doorframes, and heavy-duty dead bolts. No one is getting in easily.”

“Good. I’m sure she needs a little alone time to process the last few days.” Morgan perched on a stool.

Eliza handed her a cup of coffee and sat next to her. “I feel so helpless. What do we do now?”

“We investigate.” Morgan drank her coffee. “Do you need to travel any time soon?”

“No.” Eliza jumped off her stool to pace. “Haley is my number-one priority. I have very good employees in my Manhattan location and a full office in the house. I can run the company from here.”

“Good. Here’s the plan.” Morgan set down her cup and checked her phone. “The evidence is starting to come in from the DA’s office. We’ll spend tomorrow reviewing it. We’ve already ordered some background checks. We’ll add more as the investigation progresses. Lance, Sharp, and I will interview witnesses and hire experts to go over all of the state’s evidence. We will review every report word by word looking for weaknesses. Our goal is to poke as many holes in the case as possible.”