he wants now. He’s off the hook for any more bills. There’s no way he’ll keep paying now that Holly is gone.” Shannon sighed, bitterness souring her face.
“Where were you on Friday evening?” Bree glanced around the kitchen. Shannon’s big house was substantially nicer than Holly and Owen’s condo. Bree’s gaze returned to Shannon.
“I was here, working late.” Shannon got up and filled her mug with water at the tap. “I usually visit my mom in the evening, but I’ve had a cold. I haven’t seen her in a couple of days. Her immune system is compromised. I can’t risk giving her germs. Even a mild cold could kill her. Usually, if I can’t visit, Holly does. It’s going to be really hard to manage Mom by myself.”
“What do you do for a living?” Bree asked.
Shannon put her mug in the microwave and pressed a button. “I run online marketing campaigns. Tea?” she asked automatically.
“No, thank you.” Matt shook his head. “Do you have any proof you were working Friday night?”
“I don’t know.” Shannon’s face creased. She looked toward the ceiling. “I waved to my neighbor as I brought in my mail and trash can around six o’clock or so, and I did paperwork most of the evening. I messaged back and forth with a client.” She pursed her lips. “I have a security system that keeps track of when I turn it on and off.”
“Which neighbor?” Bree opened a note on her phone.
“Across the street.” Shannon pointed toward the front of her house. She sighed. “Frankly, I don’t go out much. I don’t have many friends. I prefer to be alone.”
Bree noted the location of the neighbor’s house. “Do you work for a company?”
“No.” The microwave beeped, and Shannon took out her mug. “I work for myself. I have an office in the house.”
“I’ll need the contact information for the client,” Bree said.
Shannon looked alarmed. “I’d rather not involve my client. I can’t afford to lose business right now. With Holly gone, I’ll have to pay all Mom’s bills now.”
“Thank you.” Bree let it go for now. If she discovered information that implicated Shannon, she would revisit the client info. Until then, she couldn’t force the woman to comply.
Matt gestured around the kitchen. “This is a nice house. Your business must be successful.”
“I do all right.” Shannon dunked a tea bag in her mug. “But just as importantly, I’m good with finances. I save. I invest. I’m frugal.” Her chin lifted in a stubborn tilt. “You’re implying that I have more money than my sister, and I should have just paid for more of Mom’s care.”
Bree said nothing, but that was exactly what she’d been thinking. She let the silence drag on for a few, uncomfortable seconds, knowing Shannon would likely want to fill it.
Shannon huffed. “Why should I have to foot the bill when my sister and her husband spend all their money? They have two salaries and can’t manage to save a nickel.” She sipped her tea, her face tight. “In December, they took a cruise. Six months before that, they flew to Vegas. Then they fought over the money Owen lost playing blackjack. Holly slept in my guest room for three days after that fight.” She set down her mug. “All our lives, I’ve been the responsible one. As a reward, I’ve had to shoulder more of the responsibilities. That’s not fair.”
“No,” Bree agreed. “Were you angry at her?”
Shannon didn’t answer, but her eyes gleamed. Self-righteousness?
Matt said, “If my sister blew all her money on fun, then wanted to cut off my mom’s nursing care, I’d be pissed.”
Shannon’s bitter glare agreed.
“How bad was your fight?” Bree asked.
“All sisters argue,” Shannon said, but her tone was somber. “Especially in circumstances like ours.” She shuddered. “But there’s no way to take back the angry words I said to her. She’s gone, and I have to live with the fact that the last thing she heard from me was how selfish, cruel, and irresponsible I thought she was.”
“Please call me if you remember anything else that might be useful to our investigation.” Bree left a business card on the table. The dog exploded into fresh barking as she and Matt walked toward the front door. As they left, Shannon watched them from her window, her face locked in a mask of thoughtful pain.
They walked across the street and knocked on the door. The neighbor answered and verified that when she’d returned home from work on Friday evening around six