Free Blood Ties by Josephine Barly Page A

excessively close or personal, so if she did have any enemies, I’m not the person who’d know such a thing.”
    “Okay. I’ll check with her family and get information regarding her friends.”
    “My sister, Kelly, can probably help you. They were closer than Sandy and I were, so Kelly probably knows more about Sandy’s personal relationships.”
    “Thank you, I’ll check with your sister, then. Captain Nicholson will drop by any minute now; he’s my boss and is keeping up with the case. I’ve got no idea as to why he wants to speak with you directly, but if it’s for the investigation’s benefit, I won’t question it. He probably thinks Jared and I are being too slow, and the fuck up when you went running pissed him off big time, so he’ll want to express his displeasure,” Aidan made his own anger evident as he spoke through clenched teeth.
    “Which means, he’ll give me a piece of his mind,” Jared added.
    “Which you totally deserve!” Aidan replied, quite heatedly.
    “I said I was sorry and there’s no way of knowing if it was an actual conscious attempt on Sam’s life or if it was a mere accident!” Jared tried to defend himself.
    “Stop arguing over what happened earlier today! We’ve got to focus on Sandy’s murder!” I interceded.
    “You have to live your life; Sandra’s death is up for investigation, and you won’t interfere. It’s enough you’re wrapped up in Susan’s murder. I haven’t ruled Sandra’s death as accidental or intentional yet, and so far, there are no links to Susan’s murder, so it does not involve you at all,” Aidan almost barked at me.
    “Fine, Aidan. You deal with everything and I’ll just live my life as if there had been no package or no best friend killed. Will that do?” I asked deadpan.
    “That will be just perfect,” Aidan replied, just as cold.
    “So Jared can leave my place?” I asked defiantly; hoping, for whatever reason, he wouldn’t reply with an affirmative response.
    “That’s out of the question!” Aidan stated.
    “No way!” Jared said at the same time.
    I stifled a giggle and nodded.
    The door opened; under the doorframe stood a stout man who was in his mid-forties. His head was covered with grey hair; his brown eyes looked mad, and he had a scar that run from the bottom of his left ear down his jaw and finished in his chin.
    “Samantha Pearson?” Captain Bruce Nicholson asked, looking at me; I nodded, attempted to stand up, but he motioned for me to remain seated. “You two, leave. Aidan, take Jared’s statement regarding the almost-run over. Then check with Samaire to confirm whether any evidence was left on Sandra. I’ll let Miss Pearson go once I’m done talking with her.”
    The Davies brothers nodded reluctantly, stood up and left. Captain Nicholson sat down where Aidan had been, got a cigarette from a pack he had in his pocket and lit it up with a lighter from the desk.
    “So Miss Pearson, did you recognize the driver that almost ran you over today?” Captain Nicholson asked, without beating around the bush.
    “No, sir. I was running, my mind was on something else; I didn’t even notice the car until Jared pulled me backwards. The car sped by so fast I didn’t even see the license place. All I can tell you is that it was maroon with tainted windows, four doors and no bumper-stickers.”
    “Yes, I gather Jared said the same, though he did get the license plate. What can you tell me about Raymond Parker? Could he have killed Susan Andrews?”
    “Not really. I mean, I talked to him and he appeared genuinely distressed. He was about to propose to her, and I think they were going to move in together before she died.”
    “No relationship is full of blossoming roses. Was there no trouble between them?”
    “They had been on the outs recently, but due to stress from their jobs and the discussions that come from making big decisions such as moving in together.”
    “So nothing that could lead him to murder