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

husband would never get a cent of Parker money.”
    Jude asked, “Any other questions, Skylar?”
    When she shook her head, Jude thanked Alicia, and turned to Charlotte.
    “Now, if you would please, Charlotte, tell us about your evening, where you were and with whom? And again, for the record, when you last saw either of your parents.”
    Charlotte’s cheeks flushed angrily. “So we’re all on the hot seat, Jude? Isn’t that a mite crass, given the pain that we are in? Admit it. You don’t have a fucking clue who did this to our parents, so instead of looking for the criminals, you’re questioning us like we’re the criminals?” Before Jude could answer, Charlotte pointed an angry finger at Skylar. “And what about you? Are you just going to sit there staring at us through those ridiculous glasses as though we’refreaks in a zoo?” She whirled back to Jude. “For God’s sake, Jude, your little assistant isn’t even taking notes. What kind of a secretary is she?”
    Jude’s lip curved up slightly and a sliver of amusement colored his response.
    “My colleague has an eidetic memory. Unlike the rest of us mere mortals, she doesn’t need so much as a pen and paper to capture her insights.” Pinning Charlotte with a hard stare, he continued, “Now, if you would please, Charlotte, tell us about your Monday evening.”
    Charlotte glared at him, not hiding her hostility. “That’s easy, Jude. And we can make your work even simpler. Which is a good thing, given where you are in the investigation. Which from what I can tell, is nowhere!”
    Blake frowned and shook his head. “Charlotte, I know you are upset, but there’s no need to take it out on Jude or Ms. Hughes. You know that they are working on this full-time as is the rest of the DPD. It…it’s just so unbelievable, incomprehensible…” Blake put up his hands in defeat and closed his eyes, not bothering to swipe at the moisture on his cheeks.
    At her brother’s plea for civility Charlotte appeared to reconsider. She made an obvious effort to speak less sharply. “As I said, Jude, and as you no doubt know, Marion and I were together. We’d stayed late at the Second Chance Boutique . We had dinner at Philippe’s,then went back to the shop . We had received a shipment from New York, and Marion and I agreed to stay late. Alicia had been there all day so we convinced her to go home.”
    Charlotte was quiet for a moment staring at her hands in her lap. Marion reached over and put a comforting hand on her sister’s knee. When Charlotte looked up at Jude, visible tears swam in her eyes. She swallowed hard and then said in a pained voice, “We were at the shop until you called, Jude, telling us what had happened and that you were sending a car for us.”
    Jude let the silence stand and then turned to Blake. “Okay, Blake, that leaves you. Where were you Monday night?”
    “Dammit, Jude, I…I was out drinking with my buddies. Christ Almighty, man, do you understand how hard it is for me to tell you that when my parents were being tortured to death, I was getting drunk at the Shipwreck?”
    “Yes, Blake, I understood from my squad that they found you at the pub. And no, I cannot begin to imagine how hard this is for any of you. But for the record, can you be more specific about your timing and who you were with?”
    Blake nodded and said, “I…I worked until late…in my office. No one was there, but that isn’t unusual. I have a busy law practice and usually work late. I was wired and decided to stop at the Shipwreck on my way home. I got to the pub around ten o’clock and stayed there until you called and…told me you were sending a car for me.”
    Blake closed his eyes and rested his head back against the sofa. Alicia reached for his hand and held it tightly in hers.
    As before, Jude let the silence stand allowing the Parker siblings to gain their composure. He was surprised and pleased when Skylar took over the questioning.
    “Who among you is