by Sheila Kell
Blake knew AJ had been in the loop when the staff had been discussed. This was typical AJ.
“I fucked up,” Jesse admitted.
AJ turned his head and used one hand to cup his ear. “I’m sorry, what was that? Did you say you screwed up? I must’ve misheard.”
“Fuck you.”
“Wow. Does your daughter know you still say bad words like that? Has she bled you dry yet?”
Jesse’s big hand palmed the front of AJ’s face, and he pushed him away. “Get out of the way, wannabe.” After which, his eldest walked into the office.
Blake turned to AJ with a brow raised.
Using a hand to fix his hair, AJ grinned. Blake knew how much AJ liked playing his brother. “Oh, Jesse says I wanna be like him.”
“Do you?” All of his sons had different personalities and were strong in their own right.
“Hell no.” Then as if realizing how that sounded, he opened his mouth and closed it. “I’m sorry, Dad. I’m not saying there’s something wrong with how Jesse is. I just want to be me.”
His eyes nearly misted at something he’d always worried about. “I want all of you to be who you are.” The emotional moment taking flight allowed them to get back down to business.
“What do you think? Can we get him out of this?” AJ asked.
Blake knew there were so many ways to answer this question and none could be certain, except Lee didn’t do it. He couldn’t have. No. He wouldn’t allow self-doubt to hinder his work. They’d met a couple months ago, and all had been well. Besides, no one here seemed to know him either. “I know Lee is innocent. I think it’ll be easy to get him off because Aaron’s eyewitness story will be weak and the evidence will clear him. The problem is, we’ve got a murderer in our dining room. Proving who will be harder.”
AJ angled his head toward the office and lowered his voice. “I like him. I’d like to help any way I can.”
“What you’re doing now is an incredible help. Not only are you appeasing the masses, but, if our killer gets by us for some reason, I want Lee protected.”
“I’m your man.” AJ stepped back and gave him a two-finger salute then did an about-face.
How had Blake kept his sanity when they were younger? He shook his head. It was time to put the force of Hamilton behind his nephew. He walked into the room.
Lee stood from behind the desk, but Blake waved him back and sat in one of the armchairs. It made it easier for the discussion since Jesse sat beside him.
“How are you hanging in there?” Blake asked. Lee looked terrible. With tousled hair, bloodshot and red-rimmed eyes didn’t even come close to the fact he looked as if he’d aged ten years since being in the office.
“How’s Brandon?”
A good father’s first response, especially when the question was about their health.
Jesse nodded. “He’s good. Although, he’s hanging around my daughter. She’s probably bossing him around, so I can’t say if he’s having fun.”
A laugh broke from Lee, which Blake counted as a positive. “Thanks for taking care of him.”
“No thanks needed. You’re family,” Jesse offered.
“I guess you’re here to question me?” He looked at Blake.
“We are. First, know we have full faith in you. What we’re trying to find is if there’s a reason Aaron would say you were last.” Blake held up a hand. “The last one he saw.”
“You said first.”
“Second, relax. There’s no way this will go further, so relax. Remember, I told you about my sons. They’re already busy trying to find the right killer.”
“Wouldn’t it be Aaron?” Lee asked as if everyone should know that.
Jesse shook his head. “No matter what he said, I can guarantee he didn’t watch the men’s room door the entire time. He may’ve pointed at you because you were the last person he saw.”
“Well,” Lee said, “There are only two more men, so one of them had to do it.”
“It didn’t have to be a man. Although, Stacy Manner’s probably too short. There are more than two men here. There’s a small staff with four men.”
“Uncle Blake, could any of them have done it?” Lee asked with a small spark of something in his eyes. Guilty hope, maybe?
Thinking for a moment allowed him to consider the truth. “At first I said no because I trust them, but truthfully, I don’t know them personally. Duncan and Molly are fairly new.”
As expected, Jesse jerked to him, and Blake knew a reprimand was about to be given from son to father. In this situation, he’d accept it due to the importance of the situation. In no other times would Jesse say anything off to him.
“Got it,” Trent said in his ear without Jesse voicing anything specific. Glad he’d accepted an earpiece, he listened to the team’s efficiency with brevity.
Lee placed his fisted hands on the desk. He’d be pissed too in this situation. “What do you want to talk about?”
Since Jesse was more an expert on interviewing, Blake gave him the nudge to lead.
“While the others are trying to figure out who killed our vic, our goal is to figure out if someone has done this to frame you.”
“I don’t—”
“I know you don’t. It’s only one angle we’re working. We’re also looking at why someone would want St. John dead. Let’s just talk. We’ll figure it out.”
Lee shrugged. “It’s not like I have anything else to do. AJ took my phone.” He straightened and seriousness came over him. “My computer? Have you checked the rooms? Is my computer there?”
Blake jumped in at the worry in Lee’s voice. “Calm down. What’s so important about your laptop?”
“It’s got my life on it,” Lee stressed every word.
It a minute before anyone spoke, Blake said, “The rooms are secure. Besides, no one is getting in or out. With how things stand now, you’ll be free in no time and can keep it with you all the time if you want.”
Jesse cleared his throat. “Since we just met today, I’d like to take a bit to get to know you. It’ll help with future questions I’ll ask.”
Looking bewildered and probably ready for this nightmare to end, Lee nodded. His palms clutched together on the desk.
“Let’s start with a little background.” Jesse looked down at his notes, which somehow he’d managed to scribble since they’d procured the notepads. Or maybe they’d been placed there for him. “You were born to Ed and Betty Walker. Aunt Betty was estranged from the family from the moment she ran away with Ed at sixteen. Ed died ten years ago of pneumonia, and Betty recently passed from lung cancer.”
Jesse looked, expecting confirmation, but Lee’s angry outburst surprised him. “How’s that important?”
Cool as a cucumber, Jesse didn’t allow his tone to change. “You’d be surprised. If you were left property or money, there’s always a potential for someone to want what doesn’t belong to them.”
Lee stiffened, and he and Jesse glanced at each other. Blake turned back. “What, Lee?”
“Nothing. There’s nothing. We lived in basically a shack with not much to our name, so no one should be trying to dig into our pockets.”
Jesse tested the waters. “I know this is normally not my business, but did your parents leave you any money from savings or life insurance?”
“What do you think? We wore hand-me-downs and regularly moved in case Mom’s family found us. What she didn’t know was her parents and sister had died a long time ago.” His fist clenched again. “We had no reason to live like that. When I graduated from high school, Mom and Dad tried to get me to stay home. It got worse when Brandon was born.”
Jesse, who’d been able to spend a few years with their grandparents, probably felt some guilt. He rallied back and continued, “Tell me about your work and your life now. We’ll go back only if we need to.”
“I’m an independent contractor. I’m hired to break into companies’ computer systems.”
Jesse grunted. “You and Dev
will get along really well. Don’t be surprised if he wants to design systems with you. He’s a genius.”
“It’s on record you said that,” Devon said quietly.
Blake’s eyes widened but a grin formed on Jesse’s face.
AJ walked over and presented Lee with the same type of tiny earpiece he wore.
As expected, Lee looked questioningly at them.
“That’s the last comms we have. We can’t allow you to have it continuously throughout the investigation, but Dev needs to ask some questions that can sometimes make no sense to us.
After a nod, AJ helped Lee prepare.
Blake moved them forward. “Okay, Dev, it’s your floor. Basics.”
Devon’s serious voice sounded strong in his ear. He loved to hear his son in his element, but Blake rarely understood a word the computer guru said. “How many infiltrations have you attempted in the last six months?”
Lee thought about it and counted on his hands. Blake wondered if he was crossing his toes also. “Twenty.”
Devon whistled. “You’re a busy man. Have you failed at any?”
Lee like he’d been slapped, his eyes widened. “Of course not. Who’d want to hire me if I wasn’t the best.”
“I like you,” Devon said with a chuckle. “Let’s narrow it down for now, but if we need, we’ll swing back out. For the ones you breached, did they have you try again after they updated their systems?”
“Most, but not all. Some expected it was a hoax or I had inside information—which I never do.”
Jesse took that moment to take back over. “I’m going to leave you something to write with. Start from now to the last three months. If you remember a controversial job, add it. The sooner, the better.”
Moving things along, Jesse brought up an unhappy topic which could also turn into motive. “Tell us about Helena.”
Blake hadn’t asked him about Lee’s ex-wife before. He was just happy for his nephew and son. Which reminded him that there was an inheritance for Lee. How could he have forgotten that?
Blake cleared his throat. “Jesse, I just thought of something.”
His son turned to him with a brow raised, probably wondering why he interrupted now.
Turning, he addressed Lee. “When this is all done, we need to meet with your grandparents’ lawyer. You do have an inheritance—your mother’s.”
If there’d been something on the table, Blake felt Lee would’ve swiped it off in anger. “I don’t want anything from them. They forgot about us.”
“Sit down, Lee,” Blake demanded. “They never forgot your mother, and they searched for her until they died. Betty was right about her parents not giving up trying to find her. In the beginning, they probably would have brought her home, but later, they just wanted to know she was okay. When they passed, they had no idea if she lived or if she had children. Since their love was still there, they set aside money for your mother if she ever returned. It’s slated for her children after her passing. Now, I’ll tell you the same thing I tell any headstrong man who doesn’t want what they think is charity. Your grandparents built what they had in mind for their children and grandchildren. Each of my children inherited their amount when they were younger. This money was designed for you and Brandon. That’s my other thing. I can’t care how you feel about it; you need to think of Brandon, especially when he finds out the other kids will inherit. At the worst, put into a college fund for him. Don’t cheat either of you out of what your cousins were given.”
“I’ll think about it.”
He’d need to work on that more. He’d also have to be told there were an additional two levels of money just waiting. Like his kids, Lee would inherit a share. Then, the remainder would be set aside for the grandchildren when they reached twenty-one, which included Brandon.
“Tell me about Helena,” Jesse repeated.
“A year after we met, we had Brandon. A year later, she left. She said she’d taken care of Brandon long enough and now it was my turn. I don’t see her going to this much trouble to get Brandon.”
“If you don’t mind answering, why did you split?”
“I worked too much back then. I worked in an IT department and was developing programs so I could start my own business. I’d almost finished my first program when she left.”
“Are you divorced?”
“Yes.”
Jesse shifted in his seat. “What’s the custody arrangement?”
“I have full custody.” Lee held up a hand. “Before you ask, she’s never asked to see him. I’m not even sure where she lives.”
“Do you think she knows you’ve come into a big inheritance?” Blake asked. It’d make sense if she was their person. But since she wasn’t a guest, he doubted it. Still, he wanted to look out for his nephew.
“Since I only just found out about two minutes ago, I can’t see how she’d know.”
Jesse tapped his finger on the paper. “Along with the companies, write down where she was last.”
“This can’t be happening to me.”
Lee’s strained voice hit him in the gut. He croaked out, “You’re not alone.” Damn, emotions. This was nothing though. They had until the police arrived to show Lee shouldn’t be brought in for questioning.
“Lee,” Jesse said, “I’m not worried about this, and you shouldn’t be either. We’ll find out who did this. Besides, you’re only guilty of taking a piss, so don’t sweat.”
“But the lists—”
“The lists,” his son explained, “are in case some crazy is here and trying to pin a murder rap on you.” He raised his hand to ward off the comment. “Again, that’s not happening. What we do though, is discover everything whether it has a place or not in the investigation.”
Lee shifted in his seat. “Why would someone want to blame me for something I didn’t do?”
Shaking his head, Jesse grimaced. “You’re thinking like a sane man. There are people in this world who will kill someone because they didn’t like their choice of shoes. No one tried to kill you here when the opportunity was ripe.” His son tapped his forefinger over his lips, deep in thought. When he stood, he surprised them both. Smiling at Lee, he said, “Work on that list for us. I want you to stay back here for now.”
Lee nodded and picked up the pen.
As they exited, Jesse said, “I need an office.”
After a pause, Trent popped on the comm. “I could use a quick walk.”
As they walked down the hall, Trent stepped out of an office.
Blake settled behind the small wood desk, while Jesse leaned back in a rolling chair brought in from the reception desk.
“Dad, I noticed something while you talked about money. Did he tell you he had a brother?”
Shocked, Blake didn’t know what to say. Maybe he needed to reevaluate Lee if he joined them but left out his brother.
“He’s probably embarrassed and doesn’t want it to be the first things we learn about him.”
Blake quirked a brow.
“You have another nephew. His name is Marvin, and he’s in prison for murder. I’m guessing since his name isn’t mentioned, he’s an embarrassment.”
Pain raced through his veins. Lee deserved so much. He’d worked his way through college and started his own thriving business and raised a great son. They’d talk about Marvin later to see what he could do to help Lee handle his family. No matter what, Marvin was due his half, but Blake believed there were conditions and he couldn’t recall if murder negated any interest in the inheritance. He’d never read that because he knew his sons and daughter. “How’d you know about him?” That’d been a stupid question on his part. “Let me guess; Devon checked him out as soon as you met him. When? Our lines are iffy now.”
Kate answered the question. “They did it as soon as they arrived. How do you think they have small bios on the guests before the weather interfered?”
Knowing it helped in this instance, Blake wasn’t sure he liked they’d done that to his guests.
>
“Caitlyn,” Kate said, “it sounds like the kids plan to investigate. They’re with Megan asking what was needed to solve the case. She also overheard that Brandon wants to see his dad.”
“I got this,” Jesse said before he could speak. “The munchkin leader is mine and Kate’s.”
An inappropriately timed chuckle tried to emerge. Reagan was the leader of all. His family didn’t realize she led them.
“Kate, you okay with giving them a little rope to keep them from thinking about what they saw?”
After a moment, Kate spoke up, “Dev, can you cover them everywhere?”
“Yep, we’re good to go now,” Devon answered.
“Are we certain we’ll keep everyone down here?”
“Wife o’ mine, I’d never have asked if I thought they could head into danger.”
“Fifteen minutes” was her agreement.
“AJ, ask Lee if he’s okay with it. Jake, Em, what about you?”
“Are you really going to let them move around?” Blake asked his son.
He shrugged. “It’s not my first option for them, but I know they won’t sit tight in the lobby with everyone else. Remember earlier?”
“Lee’s shaky on it, but he says he trusts your judgment,” AJ said.
“You might want to let him know that’s not always the best thing to do,” Jesse added.
“Em and I have come to a consensus,” Jake said. “It’s okay, as long as Amber isn’t left alone.”
“I really can’t believe you’d do this?” Blake said to his son. “It can’t be safe.”
Jesse dropped his head into his hands, arms propped on the desk. He wiped at his eyes, which Blake knew were tired. He’d had almost no sleep the night before, and this hadn’t been how he’d expected to spend Christmas Eve. None of them had. They had an innocent man being held and a killer in the dining room.
Jesse nodded to his dad and issued orders, “When Megan’s done, have her send them to AJ so Brandon can see Lee. Dev, I swear to God, if you lose them for one second—”
“I’ll let you know.”
With the struggle on his son’s face, Blake wished there was a way he could make it better. Maybe. “I could go with them.”