Mira scanned the board again, studying, Eve knew, both Joy and Nathan Barrister.
“A better plan,” Mira concluded, “with Aileen Carville still in the house. A better plan, as it worked out that she, rather than his sister, discovered the body.”
“A nice extra bonus for them. Joy Barrister knew her brother was unwell, and Aileen would be sleeping in the guest room. The opportunity to kill him, using the break-in as cover, was better that way. He’s weak, groggy with cold meds, and yeah, the wife is still there.”
“Yes. I read your report after you spoke to the estate attorney. She was, and likely had been, firmly in second place from the moment her brother was born. Add he gets the house and everything in it.”
“Which includes the vault.”
“Yes. He takes charge of the company, and with the majority share.”
“Which, although she won’t have a majority share even now, is going to be in her hands, under her control. It’s not the money. She’s always had money. It’s the insult. It’s never quite measuring up to her brother in her father’s eyes. Add he had a long, happy, successful marriage. Two college-age daughters who loved him and have done well.”
“The only way she could have what she felt entitled to, what had been denied her, was to remove her brother. From what we know of him, he was most likely kind to her, inclusive both personally and regarding the business.”
“The way I see it, that just burned her ass even more.”
Mira smiled a little. “I wouldn’t disagree.”
“She had the opportunity and the means, and sure didn’t quibble about hiring a kill on a cop. I think she had motive.”
“Clearly. With her brother gone, she’s in charge, in control. His widow has her own business, his daughters are still in college. She will be Zip Global now. In addition, Eve, by killing his son, she not only pays her brother back, but their father.”
“Kills the favorite, smears the old man’s rep, and comes off the savior.”
“And in her fear you were close to identifying her cohorts, she attempts to have you killed or severely injured.” Mira finished her coffee. “While foolish, it also demonstrates her mindset. ‘I’ve come this far, done this much, I won’t be stopped now.’”
“If she thinks that, she’s got a surprise coming.”
“While I’m very glad you weren’t hurt, the foolishness comes from her thinking removing you would have stopped the investigation. When, in fact, it would have accelerated it.
“In any case, I’m happy to observe when you bring her in for interview.”
Mira set the mug aside, recrossed her legs.
“Let me add, I have read over Henry Barrister’s medical records. He had progressive mixed dementia, and was moving from stage three to stage four. Misplacing things, forgetting names, confusion, increased difficulty completing tasks. He would have benefitted from memory care, but refused it.”
“That fits with his behavior toward the end.”
“But that’s not really why you asked me to meet with you here, with the door shut.”
“No. I’m asking if I can speak to you now as doctor/patient, or whatever it takes for what’s said to stay in this room.”
“You’ve only to ask. It’s about the blonde. I know who she is. You’re concerned about Roarke.”
“She knows things. I need to, and I will, convince her she’ll get nowhere with that. I believe I can, and I will, twist that around on her and away from him, if I need to. Hell, I’m going to need to. I need to take her down, but I’m not going to let Interpol or anyone use her to go after Roarke. I can’t.”
The thought of it burned in her belly like acid, twisted her heart into painful knots.
“I have to take her down or I don’t deserve the badge. I can’t let her take him with her, or I don’t deserve him.”
Mira’s gaze stayed calm and steady. “Do you value my opinion?”
“Of course I do.”
“You’ve proven time and again you deserve both. The fact it weighs on you cements that fact even more. She thinks she’s a very clever woman. I see her as more cagey than clever. How did you end this with her last time?”
“I punched her in the face and had her tossed out of the house.”
