Free On Shadow Beach by Barbara Freethy Page B

stayed until the library closed at ten, you didn’t arrive at your house until eleven twenty-five. That’s an hour and twenty-five minutes that were unaccounted for.”
    Her heart pounded against her chest, but she tried to stay calm. He wanted to get a reaction from her, but she wouldn’t give him one. “I went for a walk after I left the library. I got some coffee and then I went home. The police confirmed that I stopped at Dina’s to get coffee.”
    “You were at Dina’s for only five minutes. What did you do after that?”
    She had gone down to the marina to see if Shane was back from the fishing charter he’d told her he was going to run with his dad. The boat was there, but there was no sign of Shane. She’d gone by his house, but his motorcycle was gone. She’d finally given up and returned home.
    She threw back her shoulders. “I don’t have to answer your questions. I didn’t kill my sister.”
    “Then who did? Shane Murray?”
    “This is just your roundabout way of getting me to implicate him, isn’t it?” she challenged.
    A small smile crossed his lips. “Maybe. Althoughwhen I mentioned my theory about you to Mr. Murray, he didn’t dispute the possibility that you could have been involved.”
    She stiffened. Devlin was lying. Shane wouldn’t throw suspicion on her. Would he?
    “The reports that I read indicated that your family was very concerned about Abby’s relationship with Shane,” Devlin continued.
    “Abby didn’t have a relationship with him, and in the beginning we were all in shock. We were surprised that Shane and Abby had been seen together, but it was no big deal that he gave her a ride. And there was no evidence to connect Shane to Abby’s death.” She ran up the stairs, hoping to escape his questions, but he was right on her heels as she re-entered the kitchen.
    “I realize this is a difficult situation for you, but I’m trying to help,” he said as he followed her through the house.
    “No, you’re trying to make money off my sister’s death. Why would you want to put our family through the worst nightmare of our lives a second time?”
    “Because your sister deserves justice. I’d rather work with you than against you,” Devlin said as they reached the foyer. “But with or without your help, I’m going to pursue the truth.”
    Before Lauren could answer, a woman came through the front door. She had on a stylish red business suit with a short skirt and very high heels, her black hair pulled back from her face. She gave Devlina smile, sending a questioning look in Lauren’s direction.
    “Hello,” she said. “Sorry I’m late, Mark. Am I interrupting something?”
    “No, we’re done,” Lauren said briskly.
    “This is Lauren Jamison,” Devlin interjected. “Rachel Silveira,” he added to Lauren.
    “Silveira?” Lauren echoed. “The chief’s wife?”
    The woman frowned. “In Los Angeles, I never have to introduce myself that way,” she grumbled to Devlin.
    “The charm of a small town, darling.”
    “Yes, I’m the chief’s wife,” Rachel said to Lauren. “I’m also a real estate agent, and an associate of Mr. Devlin’s.”
    “Why are you here?” Lauren asked.
    “To help Mark scout the location,” she replied.
    “I’m going to recreate part of the house, in particular the basement, on a soundstage in L.A.,” Devlin interjected. “The exterior scenes will all be shot here.”
    “You’re building a set before you have a script?” Lauren asked. “How can you make a movie if you don’t know who the villain is?”
    “Everything takes time. I’m just setting the wheels in motion.”
    He
’
s really going to do this.
The truth hit Lauren hard. It wasn’t just a vague idea, there was actual progress being made. “This movie is just going to hurt innocent people.”
    “Or perhaps finally catch the killer,” he said. “I
am
going to find out who did it.”
    She might have found his confidence inspiring if she hadn’t just heard some of