Free Jill Elizabeth Nelson by Legacy of Lies

stairs as they ran away, the intruder must have been either a tallish, athletic woman or a slight man.”
    â€œGood observation.” Rich plucked a notebook from his shirt pocket and scribbled.
    Now she had to decide whether to tell him the rest of what she could. Exhaling a deep sigh, she arced the crumpled paper cup into the wastebasket a few feet away.
    â€œTwo points.” A small smile spread Rich’s lips.
    She could get used to those appealing crow’s feet at the edges of his eyes. She snorted a damp chuckle. “My dad taught me to play basketball. We’d shoot a few hoops almost every day, until…” She shook her head. “Never mind. It’s a good memory. I hang on to those.”
    â€œMe, too.” His gaze held heart-deep understanding. “I have lots of great memories of fifteen years with my wife. She passed away three years ago. Cancer.”
    â€œI’m so sorry.”
    He shrugged and cocked his head. “Life goes on, as we both know.”
    Nicole looked away. Maybe the fellowship of shared loss was part of this man’s attraction for her. She could use a kindred spirit for a friend. Too bad this kindred spirit was also investigating a crime that implicated her last living close relative.
    â€œI’d like to have more good memories with my grandmother. If what little I can say will help catch her attacker, I’ll tell.” She shared her grandmother’s frantic bedroom search after the discovery of the baby’s remains and the odd incident with the garbage.
    Rich scratched the side of his neck. “So you think your grandmother might have disposed of something pertinent to the investigation?”
    â€œI can only tell you what I observed…and what I didn’t observe. What happened to that garbage bag? I know there’s been a series of thefts in the area, but I hardly think the culprits are digging through the trash for valuables.”
    Rich’s gaze narrowed on the opposite wall as if drilling for clues in the paint. “Apparently someone is.”
    Nicole spread her hands. “But if they found what they wanted in the garbage bag, why did they come after my grandmother? Obviously, she wasn’t planning to tell anyone anything.”
    â€œGood question. Maybe they didn’t want to take the chance that she would continue to keep silent. Or maybe they didn’t find what they were looking for and returned to search. Maybe they still haven’t found it.”
    â€œIn other words, they could come back?”
    Rich nodded. “You might want to stay somewhere else until this case is solved.”
    Nicole’s insides churned. “I won’t be driven from our family’s home. I’m the only one left to protect it. Besides, I don’t have anywhere else to go.” Rich opened his mouth, but she lifted a hand. “I’ll have an alarm system installed. Grandma will squawk like a ruffled chicken when she finds out, but I’ll do it anyway.”
    Her gaze fell to her toes, and her stomach, too. Please, God! If only her grandmother would live to complain.
    A squeaky shoe tread brought both of their heads around. Dr. Mead entered the waiting area, expression grim. She stopped in front of their chairs. Nicole’s heart tried to pound right out of her rib cage.
    â€œIt’s a good thing Jan Keller has a hard head,” the doctor said.
    â€œShe’s alive?” Nicole clasped her hands together.
    â€œIs she awake?” Rich stood up.
    The doctor shook her head. “Better for her that she’s not right now. She has a skull fracture and a grade-four concussion with evidence of subdural hematoma.”
    â€œShe’s bleeding in the brain,” Nicole said.
    â€œCorrect,” Dr. Mead confirmed. “And for yourinformation,” she switched her gaze to Rich, “there are no other signs of a struggle on her body—no bruising and nothing under her