“So, that’s the last time you saw him alive?” Flint questioned.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Can you tell us about finding him?” I prompted.
Echo’s head snapped up. Real tears fell down her face. Did I feel bad about that? Maybe a little.
“The car dropped me off around four,” Echo whispered. “I came in the side door like I always do. I called out to Tavi, but nothing. I texted him to let him know I was home, and I heard the ping from his phone. I followed it to the front door where… I found him.”
“Did you see anyone else around?” Flint asked.
Echo shook her head.
“Not even the butler?” I added.
“No,” Echo shook her head again. “Tavi gave Abermann the afternoon off because we planned to christen every room of the house and didn’t want an audience.”
Freaking-A. The bile in my throat was going to make an appearance on the red and gold Berber carpet in here. Although that might make it look better, so I had that going for me.
I didn’t realize I had been bouncing my knee until Flint placed a hand on it. “Then what happened?”
“I didn’t touch anything and called 911,” Echo smiled. “I watch a lot of those true crime shows and know never touch the body.”
Interesting.
Flint turned to me, then back to Echo. “Mrs. Cruz. Would you mind if we looked around the house and the property?”
She waved her hands around. “Be my guest. The sooner we find the killer, the sooner we can settle the estate.”
My blood chilled. “Settle the estate?”
“Yeah,” Echo stood. “Tavi’s business partner called and said there was a problem. I didn’t catch all of it, but there’s a problem with my money.”
My money.Flint and I turned to each other. Double interesting.
I smiled at Echo. “Well, I’m sure you’ll get it worked out soon enough. Thank you for your time, Echo. We’ll just take a look around.”
“Have at it,” she walked toward the hallway. “I’ll be out at the pool.”
She left the room, but her ridiculously overpriced skunk perfume lingered. My eyes watered from the funk.
“It seemsMadamegave us her permission to search the premises,” mischief filled Flint’s eyes. “I suggest we get on with it then.”
I nodded and tried not to think about Flint, suggesting weget on with it.
Easier said than done.
