about one of your nonprofits that you didn’t want the public to know.” Still no response. “Knowing Tricia, she would have taken her concerns directly to you. I would imagine you alleviated her fears, but you couldn’t trust that she might say something, so you went to her house that day. You knew Thomas wasn’t there because he was at work. You’re a big strong man. It wouldn’t have taken much to see that she never talked. Although Tricia would have fought you. I suspect you drugged her, but that will come out once toxicology tests are run.”
“Wasn’t her body cremated?”
That this man knew that chilled her to the bone. “I guess you haven’t heard. A scientist found a way to get evidence from a cremated body. I’ve turned Tricia’s remains over to Forensics.”
Did Jeffrey look paler? He wiped a spot on his upper lip that had turned shiny.
“The police had no reason not to believe it was a suicide after Tricia lost her baby—and maybe a hint that her marriage was on the rocks,” Mo said. “How am I doing so far?”
“It’s your tale,” the man said, looking bored.
“Basically, you killed two birds with one stone. You weren’t happy about your son and Tricia’s relationship, especially with a baby involved. So that took care of that as well as making sure your secret never came out.”
Jeffrey chuckled. “I’m much smarter than I thought since apparently I also got away with it because all of this is simply conjecture. If you had any proof, the real police would be here, right?”
“I can’t prove that you killed her, but you definitely had motive.”
Jeffrey sighed. “I really have no idea what you’re talking about. What is it you want from me? I’m a busy man and my guests are waiting.”
Mo pushed to her feet. “Nothing. I believe I’ll have what I’ve come for soon. Justice for my sister.”
She started to turn to leave but stopped. “By the way, those incriminating papers Tricia found in your study at the Red Lodge cabin? She made copies. She loved dogs and when she realized what you were using the nonprofit facility to do, she planned to stop you. But she must have told you that.” She hesitated for a couple of beats. “Or maybe she only told your son. That kind of information could destroy you and JP if he knew about it. But I’m sure he denied everything to her—unless she didn’t believe him. Oh, and the evidence? I put it somewhere safe with instructions that if anything should happen to me or anyone around me, it would be released to the FBI and the media—and not just locally.”
With that she headed for the door. Behind her, she heard Jeffrey pick up the eagle sculpture from his desk. It shattered just feet from them as she and Brick walked out.
* * *
ONCE OUT IN the hallway, Brick swore as he spotted his father moving through the crowd. “My father is here. I need to see why—other than worrying about us.”
“I could use some fresh air,” Mo said. “I’m going to step out on the patio. Holler if you need me.”
He chuckled at that. He would always need her, he thought, and quickly stepped away before he was fool enough to say it.
“Tell me you didn’t follow us,” Brick said as he stepped up behind his father.
The marshal turned, pretending surprise to see his son there. “I just came for the champagne.”
Brick laughed. “Sure you did. Seriously,” he said, lowering his voice. “What are you doing here?”
“It has nothing to do with you.”
“Right.”
“But I do wish that you and Mo would get out of here soon,” his father said, glancing around.
Brick felt the hair prickle on the back of his neck. “You’re here for a bust? And arrest? Is it—”
The marshal shot him a look that made him swallow back the words. He thought about what Mo had said to Jeffrey Sr. Did she really have some kind of evidence on him that would be worth killing to keep secret? Or had she been bluffing? The woman could craft a lie faster than anyone he’d ever met and yet...
He met his father’s gaze. “I’ll find Mo and we’ll go.”
* * *
AFTER BRICK LEFT to talk to his father, Mo had started for the doors out to the patio when she’d heard a voice directly behind her. She’d instantly tensed as she’d recognized it.
“We should step out on the patio.” JP had placed his hand in