laser beams, then Matt and Bree would have been sliced into bloody ribbons.
“How. Dare. You.” Angela started toward them. Her face was red and blotchy, and she bit the words off with gritted teeth. “You arrested Noah.”
Matt stepped in front of Bree’s wounded arm. But Angela’s attorney caught his client by the elbow and stopped her movement. He shook his head and gave her a look of warning. She lifted her chin and glared down her nose at Bree and Matt with a nastiness that Matt hadn’t expected. Angela was an attractive woman, usually composed and elegant, but now, her mouth was curled in an ugly snarl. She looked like she wanted to rip off their heads with her teeth.
She looked like a woman capable of committing murder.
Her attorney tugged her into the chair next to him, leaned over, and whispered in her ear.
She sat completely stiff and unmoving. When the attorney straightened, she exhaled hard. If she were a dragon, she would be breathing fire. She said nothing, but Matt could see that she wanted to let loose.
Bree and Matt took the chairs opposite.
The attorney slid two business cards across the table. “I’m Richard Sterling. I’ll be representing Mrs. Beckett.”
They skipped the handshakes. Bree introduced herself and Matt. Then she went through the Miranda rights spiel and handed the acknowledgment to Angela. She ignored it.
“This interview is being recorded,” Bree said. “Let the record show that Angela Beckett was informed of her rights, and that her attorney is present for questioning.”
The attorney opened his briefcase and removed a single piece of paper. “This is a signed statement from Miss Chloe Miller. Noah Beckett was at her apartment. They were together when Paul Beckett was shot. Noah couldn’t have killed his father.”
They’d moved fast.
“Noah confessed.” Bree might have been responding to the lawyer, but her gaze never left Angela’s eyes.
“I spoke with him a few minutes ago,” the attorney said. “He will be withdrawing that confession.”
“Have you shot Paul’s gun in the past?” Bree asked Angela.
She opened her mouth, but the attorney held up a hand.
“Mrs. Beckett will be exercising her constitutional right to remain silent,” he said. “If you want to bring her back to the station, you’ll have to arrest her. If you had any evidence, you would already have done so.” With one hand under Angela’s elbow, he stood, pulling her up with him. “I expect Noah to be released immediately.”
“We’ll see,” Bree said.
“We all know he didn’t do it, Sheriff.” The attorney sounded bored. “You’ll have no evidence except his confession, which is invalid.”
“Then why did he give it?” Bree asked. She had a good poker face, but Matt could see frustration in the lines fanning from her eyes.
“I didn’t ask.” The attorney didn’t blink. “Because it doesn’t matter. He’s innocent. He has an alibi, which I’m sure can be confirmed by electronic means. We’re all wasting time here.”
Bree and Angela stared at each other for three awkward breaths.
Then Bree said, “He’ll be released within the hour.”
“Thank you for being reasonable. Good day.” The attorney steered his client out the door.
Bree turned off the camera. Her body was rigid. When she started for the door, it was with jerky strides instead of her usual graceful motions. Matt wouldn’t have been surprised if she kicked the trash can. But she didn’t, of course.
She swept one hand over the top of her head. “I didn’t expect him to get to Chloe that fast.”
“He’s no novice.”
“No,” Bree agreed. “He didn’t let Angela say one word.”
“What now?”
“We let Noah go. Then we go home for dinner.” She stopped in the conference room for the murder book. She tucked the Beckett Construction financials inside. “Maybe we’ll find another motivation for killing Paul.”
Bree checked in with Marge and Todd before leaving through the back door.
“Do you want me to drive?” Matt asked.
Bree sighed. “Please.”
He drove the SUV to her house. She was quiet on the short ride. When Matt turned into her driveway, he glanced over. Her head lolled back on the headrest. Early-evening sunshine hit her face, highlighting the shadows under her closed eyes.
He shifted the vehicle into park. She lifted her head and blinked hard a few times, as if she’d dozed off. She winced as she climbed out of the vehicle.
Matt fell into step beside her. “Before we get started, have you taken anything for that? I’ve been shot. I know what it feels like.”
“Ibuprofen. I’m saving the strong stuff for bedtime.” She held her arm stiffly at her