“Mr. Gallagher was found dead in the trunk of a car and your brother’s body was found nearby.”
I finally looked at the detective for the first time since she’d entered the room. She was in her usual outfit of expensive pantsuit and professional demeanor. She looked so put together. I found myself wondering whether she had any brothers. Was she raised by a loving mother and a doting dad? She sat down in the chair beside me and for a moment, I thought she was going to reach for my hand or pat my arm in some display of concern. She didn’t and I appreciated her professionalism.
I blew my nose again. “So you think whoever killed Gallagher killed my brother?”
“Not exactly.” Bradford hesitated for a few seconds. “The gun found on your brother’s body was used to kill Mr. Gallagher. Your brother was killed with a different gun.”
“What? Are you trying to say my brother killed Gallagher and stuffed him in the trunk of a car?” I knew Sam better than anyone, and while he had an impressive rap sheet for low-level crimes, he was as likely to murder someone as a parish priest on Sunday. “You’re wrong. Sam wouldn’t do something like that.”
“Can you tell me why you lied to me when I showed you pictures of your brother the other day?”
“I didn’t lie. The photos were grainy. I wasn’t sure.” I snapped away from the detective’s glare. Maybe she’d known all along that it was Sam in those surveillance photos.
“Your brother is dead. Why are you being so evasive?”
She was right. Sam was gone. I couldn’t protect him anymore. No more lies. No more dances around the fringes of truth. “I don’t know what’s going on myself. I stopped by my brother’s house last night. I found out that someone from my company hired him to trail Gallagher.”
“Who?”
I hesitated for a beat, not knowing what the implications would be on my new status in the executive suite. “Jonathan Everett.”
“The CFO? Why would Mr. Everett hire your brother to trail Gallagher?”
“I honestly don’t know. I do know that my brother would never kill anyone.”
“How does Mr. Everett know your brother? Did you introduce them?”
“Of course not! I have no idea how he knows Jonathan. Sam told me a friend of his got him the job working for Jonathan.”
“What else did your brother tell you?”
“He told me the last time he saw Gallagher was Monday and Gallagher was alive. I’m telling you, I know my brother. He’s never hurt anyone in his life.”
“Why would your brother be inside Houghton’s lobby the day before Mr. Sayles was murdered? Did you give him your badge to enter the building?”
“I told you before, I lost my badge. I didn’t give my brother my badge. He said Jonathan gave him the badge. I told you everything I know. Detective, please!” I slammed the box of tissues in the chair beside me. “Can we do this another time? I just saw my kid brother dead on a metal table. I can’t do this right now.” I jumped up and headed for the door.
Detective Bradford stood as well, taking a couple of power strides in the same direction, blocking my exit from the waiting area. “I understand this is a difficult time, Ms. Littlejohn. I’m sure answering questions can’t be easy right now. But it will help us find his killer.” Her voice was calm and caught me off guard. “Trust me, I know the line between loyalty and a lie is razor thin, but right now, we have three dead men and all of them are connected to Houghton. I really need your help.”
“Detective, I told you everything I know. I can’t do this right now. I’m sorry.” I stormed past the detective and out of the building.
*
Inside my car, my cell phone rang.
“Ellice, it’s Juice. I got your message. Is everything okay?”
“It’s Sam!” I cried into the phone.
It took me nearly ten minutes to compose myself before I could say another word.
Chapter 27
I left the coroner’s office and ran back to the one person I could find solace and comfort in: Vera.
I entered the lobby, surprised to find it completely empty, the front desk unoccupied. Strange for a late afternoon. I signed in anyway and headed for Vera’s room. I tapped lightly on the door before entering. Vera was sound asleep in the chair, her head tilted back, the TV off. The entire room was a quiet oasis.
I gently kissed Vera on top of her head and stood over her. She looked so peaceful. She’d never know the pain of losing Sam. And that was a good thing. I waited for a minute, debating whether to wake her or just let her rest. The selfish part of me opted for the solitude and calm of just being near her. I slung my coat across the foot of her bed and spotted a vase with two dozen long-stemmed yellow roses on her bedside table.