Free Debts and Debtors: (A Geeks and Things Cozy Mystery Novella #3) (Geeks and Things Cozy Mysteries) by Sarah Biglow

sister’s hand the whole time but she could still feel Jillian’s hand trembling in her own.
    “I just don’t understand. She had money.”
    “Sometimes people get greedy, Jill. And maybe she felt she had no other choice. I’ve met Mr. Mackland, remember.”
    Back in the interrogation room, Savannah let out a slow breath. “On Thanksgiving night I got a text from Mr. Mackland telling me to meet him at my house. He said we needed to make it look like someone broke in. I don’t know why since I thought that would lead the police to look into what Thomas was doing but I didn’t argue. I trashed the place myself. I thought I’d gotten rid of the bank transfer receipt but obviously not.”
    “So Mr. Mackland orchestrated everything.”
    “Yes. That’s right.”
    “Would you be willing to sign an affidavit to that effect so we can arrest him?”
    “She’ll do whatever you need,” her attorney said before Savannah could protest.
    “Thank you, Counselor. Sit tight and we’ll be back.”
    Chris stood up and Jimmy followed him out of the room, leaving the door ajar. Kalina let go of her sister’s hand and closed the distance between her and Chris.
    “So what happens now?”
    “We draft the affidavit, she signs it and we get a warrant for this guy’s arrest.”
    “That’s it?”
    “Right now, yeah, that’s it.”
    “What will happen to Savannah?” Jillian asked.
    “That’s up to the prosecutor. She’s a cooperating witness so that helps her. She may not face any jail time but I can’t say for sure.”
    Kalina put a hand on Jillian’s arm in the hopes of getting her sister out of Chris’s way. He didn’t have the time to waste talking to them. Not when a killer was still on the loose.
    “Come on, Jill. Let’s go home and let them do their jobs. There’s nothing else we can do here.”
    Jillian nodded mutely and started for the front of the building. Before Kalina got two steps, Chris’s hand wrapped around her wrist, arresting her momentum.
    “Can you come by tonight? There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
    “Sure.”
    “Good. I’ll see you later.” He kissed her on the lips.
    The gesture made her cheeks warm—not just because it was a sudden moment of passion—and she had to pull away to catch her breath.
    “Get this guy.”
    “I promise.”

 
    CHAPTER SIXTEEN
     
    The parking lot seemed oddly empty as they walked out into the afternoon air. Kalina started for her car—intent on following her sister home to make sure she didn’t have a nervous breakdown at the revelation that her close friend was capable of selling out her spouse for money—but stopped when she noted her back tires were slashed.
    “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she groaned.
    “Do you think that Mr. Mackland did this?” Jillian said from behind her.
    “Who else would try to keep me from leaving?” She pulled out her phone and hit Chris’s name on speed dial.
    It rang once before he answered. “Forget something?”
    “No, someone slashed my tires.”
    “And by someone you mean our murder suspect?”
    “Yes.”
    “Come back in and we’ll file a report.
    “No, I’ll catch a ride home with Jillian. You need to focus on catching this guy for the bigger crime. My car will survive.”
    “I’d feel better if you filed a report.”
    “I promise I’ll do that as soon as you have the guy in custody.”
    “Fine.”
    “Oh, it’s just a hunch but you should try looking for this creep at the developer’s main office. It’s the address on the business card he gave me the other day.”
    “Will do.”
    She ended the call. Jillian shifted from foot to foot, waiting for something else to happen. Kalina flashed her sister a smile. “Come on, you should go home. Spend some time with Dan and AJ. After all, I gave him the weekend off so you could hang out as a family.”
    “You talked to Dan didn’t you?” her sister said as they walked side by side to her car.
    “Maybe.”
    Together they checked