Dead by Midnight - Beverly Barton [128]
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” Mike said.
“I want to,” Lorie told him. “It’s the least I can do for Shelley.”
“You’ve already answered all our questions, mine and Wainwright’s. You’ve signed an official statement. That should be enough. Let Griffin Powell read your statement and—”
The doorbell rang. Mike and Lorie looked at each other and then at the door.
“They’re here,” she said.
Mike crossed the room and opened the front door. Jack Perdue and Buddy Pounders had escorted their guests from their car to the porch. Mike had asked Jack to join them that afternoon, and Buddy was the deputy on guard duty.
Standing six-four, Griffin Powell towered over most guys, even men such as he and Jack, who both stood over six feet. The former UT quarterback filled out his fashionable suit with massive shoulders and thickly muscled arms. The man’s size alone was intimidating. Add the fact that he was a billionaire into the mix and it was no wonder he had a reputation for always getting what he wanted, one way or the other.
Nicole Powell stood at her husband’s side, a tall, attractive brunette, exuding an air of self-confidence. She held out her hand. “It’s nice to see you again, Sheriff Birkett, despite the circumstances.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Mike held open the door. “Y’all come on in. Lorie’s waiting for us in the living room.”
“We appreciate Ms. Hammonds agreeing to this meeting,” Nic said.
“She and Ms. Gilbert hit it off right from the start,” Mike said. “They were well on their way to becoming friends.”
Nic Powell entered the living room first. She marched straight over to Lorie and spoke to her quietly. The two women shook hands.
“Won’t you sit down, please,” Lorie said.
When Lorie sat in her favorite easy chair, Mike took his place behind her, his hands loosely gripping the back of the chair.
Once everyone was seated, Griff Powell said, “Whenever you’re ready, Ms. Hammonds, please tell us everything you remember about the day before Shelley was killed.”
“The entire day?” Lorie asked.
“Yes, the entire day, from when the two of you got up until you went to bed that night.”
“All right. I…uh…let’s see. Shelley was already up when I awoke. We drank coffee, ate breakfast, talked, and—”
“What did you talk about?” Griff asked.
“I’m not sure. Nothing really. How I hated being a prisoner in my own home. How maybe we should both take up knitting.” Lorie smiled. “Shelley was a nice person, you know. I liked her.” Tears misted her eyes. “She told me that her parents were dead, but she had a sister who lived in Phoenix and a couple of little nephews. She was going out there for a visit when her assignment with me ended.”
“Her sister is flying in to Knoxville tomorrow,” Nic said. “She’ll make all the arrangements, pack away Shelley’s things and close up her apartment.”
“Please continue with what you remember about the day before Shelley died.” Griff steered her back to what he felt was important.
Mike reached down and gripped Lorie’s shoulders and gave them a reassuring squeeze before releasing her. She tilted her head and gazed up at him, her fragile smile conveying her appreciation for his presence.
Lorie talked. The others listened. Occasionally either Griff or Nic would ask her a question and if she got off track, Griff would nudge her back onto the subject. An hour later, after she had shared every detail that she could recall with the Powells, Lorie rose from her chair.
“I’d like some iced tea. Would anyone else care for something to drink?”
“Iced tea would be nice,” Nic replied. “May I help you?”
“That’s not necessary, but thank you.”
Without saying a word, Mike followed Lorie when she left the room. He exchanged an entertain-these-people glance with Jack and headed for the kitchen. The moment he opened the door, he stopped. Lorie stood with her back to him, her shoulders trembling as she muffled her sobs by placing her hands over her mouth. Acting purely on instinct, he went over and draped his arms around her. She leaned back, allowing him to partially support her as she cried. After taking a deep,