Free JUDE: Book 2 The Justice Brothers Series by Taylor Lee

Who…who could possibly have hated Mom and Dad that much?”
    Jude looked from one to the other of the now clearly shaken siblings and said quietly, “That’s what we are trying to find out, Blake.”

Chapter 8
    Jude let the hard silence stand for several moments as each of the sisters decided that, like their brother, they would have a glass of water. When everyone had settled back on the sofas, he continued. “At this point this is the most that we can tell you. As more facts become clear, either Ms. Hughes or I will convey them to you. But now, I need some information from you. For the record, I need to confirm where each of you were on Monday night and when you last saw your parents.”
    He turned to Alicia. “You and I talked briefly Monday night, Alicia, after you found your parents’ bodies. Understandably, you were in shock. But we need some basic facts from you and each of your siblings. Let’s start with the questions I’ll be asking your sisters and brother. If you would please tell us where you were, with whom, and what time you got home on Monday evening.”
    Alicia hesitated and glanced at her sisters, then with a deep sigh, turned back to Jude.
    “As I told you, Jude, I was home Monday night. I had been at the boutique all day and I was tired. My sisters and I own the Second Chance Boutiqueconsignment store. We sell only original designer clothing that has been lightly worn.” She glanced over at Skylar, who was wearing what Jude now knew was her standard uniform: ill-fitting cargo pants and a t-shirt, also ill fitting. Sharing a dismissive raised eyebrow with Charlotte, she added, “We make it possible for any woman who has a smidgen of interest in looking decent to do so at half the cost of the upscale boutiques.”
    Jude turned the conversation back to the investigation. “On Monday evening, you were alone in the Carriage House?”
    “Yes, I live there.”
    Jude nodded. “I understand you’ve been living there for what—a year?”
    Alicia’s voice dripped with scorn. “Yes, when I decided to divorce that fucking asshole Charlie Berkley, I told him he could keep our shabby house for himself and his skaggy girlfriends.” She gave a dismissive shrug. “Why not? I had an iron-clad prenuptial agreement that ensured he wouldn’t get a thing unless I chose to give it to him. When I told him to keep the house, Mother and Father suggested I move back here until I found a place I wanted to buy.”
    “What time did you go over to your parent’s house?”
    “It was after 10:30, close to 11:00. I needed some documents for my divorce. I saw that the light was on in the library and knew that my mother and father were probably up. They never went to bed before 11:00 p.m., and Father usually stayed up until after midnight. I often went over there later at night to share a nightcap. My parents liked to finish the day with a glass of Scotch, and so do I.”
    When she slammed her eyes closed and stopped speaking, Jude gently prodded. “I assume you have a key to your parent’s house?”
    “Yes, and I know the code. But the door wasn’t locked and the alarm wasn’t on. That wasn’t unusual. Father usually locked up before he went to bed. My…my parents were social. They had a lot of friends.”
    “Friends who visited them in the evening?”
    Alicia nodded. “Yes, when I would stop over, they usually had company. Now that the nights are warm, they often sat in the garden. When I heard voices over the wall, I would occasionally join them.”
    “But you didn’t hear voices on Monday night?”
    “No, and…and unless I hadn’t needed those documents…I wouldn’t have gone there.”
    She put her hands over her eyes and leaned against Charlotte’s shoulder.
    Jude was surprised when Skylar spoke.
    “Did your father help you with your divorce?”
    Alicia looked up startled. Brushing at the tears on her cheeks, she said curtly. “Yes, both my mother and father were determined that my cheating