“She trusted him.” Though love could make people see only what they wanted to see.
“Then let’s pay Lindsay a visit now.” Dot’s tone was grim, and Nhiari almost felt sorry for Lindsay.
When they pulled into Lindsay’s drive, she was just about to get into her car. She turned, walking over to them. “You’re up early today,” she said. “I was just on my way to work.”
“We haven’t been to bed,” Dot said. “And this isn’t a social call.”
Lindsay examined Dot’s face and then glanced at Nhiari. She sighed. “Come in.” The older woman went into the kitchen and switched on the coffee machine. “What is this all about?”
Nhiari spoke, knowing this was already difficult for Dot. “Lee Kwong.”
Lindsay nodded as she measured ground coffee. “I thought it might be.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were helping him?” Dot demanded. “You knew how exhausted I was. You knew I needed a break in the case.”
Lindsay set the machine running and turned to her. “Because I believed Lee was trying to help you stop them.”
“He shot and killed two men!”
“Both of whom would have shot innocent people,” Lindsay pointed out. “He saved lives by taking some.”
Dot’s face turned red and before she could speak, Nhiari said, “Sit down and tell us how you met him.” She went to the coffee machine and finished pouring the drinks, putting one on the kitchen table for Dot, who was still standing with a look of utter betrayal on her face.
“He knocked on my door,” Lindsay began. The story which followed mirrored what Lee had told Nhiari. “After he shot Tan, he came to me in the middle of the night to ask for food. I agreed to provide him with care packages regularly so he could continue working to stop Stonefish.”
“Why did you think he was telling you the truth?” Nhiari asked. It was the question she needed to resolve.
“Because he had the same tell as his father.” She smiled sadly. “I knew my Julian would have come back to me if he could.”
Nhiari said nothing. What could she say? This woman had lost the man she’d loved not once, but twice.
“What will happen to Lee now?” Lindsay asked.
Nhiari glanced at Dot. It was a question she also wanted answered.
“He was injured last night,” Dot said. “We’ll need to question him again and then it’s up to Organised Crime how they will prosecute him.”
Rodney would throw the book at him. Nhiari paused. No. Rodney might be under arrest himself, which meant there might be a chance.
But did she want a chance with Lee? He had shot her.
Lindsay placed her hand over Nhiari’s. “You can trust Lee. I could tell how much he cared for you when he called me to organise your clothes. He has such a big heart. Don’t throw it away.” She sighed. “I would do anything to have his father back again. We never got the life we wanted.”
Lee wasn’t his father.
Dot got to her feet. “We need to get going.” She hesitated, then hugged Lindsay. “You should have told me everything, but I understand why you didn’t.”
Lindsay nodded. “I’m sorry.”
Nhiari followed Dot to the door.
“Can I visit Lee in the hospital?” Lindsay asked.
“I’ll need to check with Organised Crime,” Dot said. “I’ll call you.”
Nhiari drove to the police station. Only Pierre’s car was in the car park. Dot sighed. “I’ll fill him in and then I’m getting some sleep. Make sure you do as well, and we’ll reconvene at midday.”
“All right.” She hadn’t had a minute to herself. Should she go home? After a week away, her pot plant was probably dead and she couldn’t remember if she’d done her breakfast dishes the morning the boys had been kidnapped. She rubbed her eyes. A lifetime ago.
