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Lara got off the couch and headed for the kitchen. “Thanks for nothing.” She threw her hands up as she reached the door. “You never believe me.”
Beal shrugged as he turned to us.
Josh urged me forward with him toward Beal. “Josh Benson. I called this in, and this is Nicole Rossi, Lara’s cousin.”
“We’ve met,” Beal said, glancing at me before taking his pen out again. “And your interest in this?” he asked Josh.
Josh’s eyes crinkled. “I’m a friend of Nicole’s.”
Beal’s brow went up just a hair as he looked between us. “Benson with a B?”
“That’s right,” Josh answered.
“What are you doing here, Jim?” I asked Beal. It had been five years.
Josh’s mouth quivered.
“I heard the call and thought I’d check in to see that Lara was okay.”
I wasn’t buying a bit of that line. “What’s this about a note?”
Beal produced a piece of paper in a plastic bag and offered it to me.
I shivered as I read it.
I know what you did.
I will see that you pay for your crime.
Two chilling sentences—not specific, but threatening.
He took the note back. “Your neighbor, Mr. Lenz, has he threatened you in any way in the past?”
“No,” I answered. “I didn’t even know he was back.”
“He hasn’t communicated in any way?” he asked.
“I told you, I didn’t know he was back.”
Beal took a note. “Do you know what your cousin is supposed to have done that would make somebody write this? Other than the incident five years ago with Parker, of course.”
I shook my head. I wasn’t dredging up the history he knew all too well. “Nothing I can think of.”
Beal looked at Josh. “Anything happen with Lara recently? Anything she could have done that would have somebody mad at her?”
Josh’s lips parted, and for a second I worried he’d mention the recent embezzlement bullshit, but he kept silent.
I sighed inwardly and answered. “No. Nothing.”
Beal trained his gaze back on me with a knowing smile. “Well, okay then.”
Had he already known when he’d pulled up? Cops had computers in their cars. Had he checked Lara’s history since our last encounter and now knew I was lying?
“I’ll talk to your neighbor, but as I told your cousin, this doesn’t rise to the level of an actionable threat.” He fished in his pocket and pulled out a card. “You canstillcall me anytime if you want to talk.” He held out the card as his knowing smile broadened.
* * *
Josh
