Free Murder with a Twist by Allyson K Abbott Page A

He was good, but I thought there was still enough self-awareness when he lied for me to be able to pick up on it. I spoke into the mike and gave Duncan some directions. He acknowledged that he’d heard me with a slight nod.
    â€œTell me exactly what it is you heard about Dan Thornton,” Duncan said.
    â€œShelly told Cindy that he hanged himself and left a note that said he was sorry for taking people’s money. Supposedly the note said something about borrowing the money and thinking he could make it back.”
    Once again I had to admire Will’s ability to avoid an actual lie.
    â€œDo you think Dan Thornton hanged himself?” Duncan asked.
    Will hesitated before answering this time, chewing his lower lip and frowning as he thought about what to say. “Are you suggesting he didn’t?” he said finally.
    Damn! The kid was smarter than I’d given him credit for.
    â€œI’m not suggesting anything,” Duncan said, keeping his own voice even. “I’m simply asking you if you think Dan Thornton was the type of person who would hang himself.”
    â€œI’d say yes, given that, from what I heard, he did exactly that.”
    â€œAnd do you also think he stole money from the firm? Yes or no, please.”
    â€œYes,” Will said after a moment of hesitation. He was still leaning forward, elbows on his knees, but his feet tapped nervously, making it clear that he didn’t like what Duncan was doing.
    I said something into the mike and Duncan responded accordingly.
    â€œDid you have anything to do with Dan Thornton’s death or the money he stole?” he asked. Will opened his mouth to answer but before he could, Duncan added, “Yes or no, please.”
    â€œNo.” His answer, short as it was, tasted bitter and briny, like a mouthful of seaweed soaked in salt water.
    â€œHe didn’t like that last question,” I said through the mike. “His voice is different all of a sudden, but I can’t be sure if he’s actually involved or just angry that he’s a suspect.”
    Duncan switched gears then, asking Will about his social life and the time he spent with his coworkers outside of the firm. Will talked about the group’s outings, naming a couple of places they liked to go, and verified Dan and Theo’s gaming sessions.
    Whenever Will mentioned Cindy’s name during this discussion, I detected a change in his voice that made me suspect something. I was about to share my suspicions with Duncan, but before I could, Duncan showed me that we were both thinking along the same lines.
    That’s when Dan Thornton’s case got really interesting.

Chapter 8
    â€œA re you dating Cindy Whitaker?” Duncan asked Will.
    â€œNo,” Will said, and his voice turned bitter-tasting again, though without the brine this time. “It’s against work rules to date someone in your group,” he added.
    â€œAh, so you two are keeping it under wraps then,” Duncan said. “We have no interest in sharing this information with your bosses, but I need you to be honest with me. If we find out you are lying about one thing, no matter how trivial, it makes everything you say suspect. So tell the truth . . . your relationship with Cindy is more than one of simple coworkers or friends, isn’t it?”
    Will tensed up in his chair; his cheek muscles twitched and his fingers fidgeted. After a few seconds, his facial muscles relaxed and he slumped down in his seat. “Yeah, okay,” he said with a smarmy smile. “I’m doing Cindy Whitaker. But I mean, have you seen her?” he asked, his eyes growing big. “That’s one hot package.”
    When Duncan asked Will where he was this morning between the hours of two and four he said, “I was home . . . alone.”
    â€œYou mean, Cindy wasn’t doing you this morning?”
    Will had the good grace to look uncomfortable when Duncan threw his