Spencer shook his head. “I don’t need to sit here and listen to this.”
Amanda stiffened. “You do, actually. Why didn’t you mention any of this to us, Spencer? You made it sound like your relationship with Christine was solid. By not speaking up, you can see how that complicates things? A lie by omission. Did you kill Christine? Maybe she told you it was over, and you didn’t agree?”
“You could have thought if you couldn’t have her, then no one could,” Trent said.
“It’s nothing like that, and if I killed her, that would be something I’d remember,” Spencer said.
His attitude was rousing her redhead temper. “Don’t get smart with us. We’re on your side.”
“It sure doesn’t feel like it.”
“We’re just doing our jobs,” she defended.
“I calledyou, or are you forgetting that? Why would I do that if I killed her?”
There were a few seconds of silence.
“Ah, I see. You think I did that to make myself look innocent,” Spencer eventually said, piecing it together.
She blinked slowly. Trent said nothing.
“Unbelievable,” Spencer muttered. “So that’s why the police car’s out front? Are you arresting me?”
“Not yet, but you are a suspect in the murder of Christine Lane.” Amanda stood. “You’re going to need to come with us for further questioning.”
“Go with you? Or be fed into the back of a police car like a criminal?”
“I’m sorry, Spencer, but we’ll need to talk in a more official manner. For the record.” The latter bitslipped out.
“Sure. Yeah, I get it, I’ll go with you. But once I’m cleared, promise me you’ll start putting your time and energy into finding her actual killer.”
Amanda would let go of the fact he made it sound like going to the station was a choice he was making. “We’ll need to collect your phone and laptop, as well. Stand up.”
Spencer let out a huff as he got to his feet. “I don’t know how we recover from this.”
She pinched her eyes shut. “You have pride in your job, Spencer. So do I. And you might not see it yet, but my treating you like any other suspect, in any other murder investigation, is my doing you a favor.”
“Excuse me for not seeing it that way.”
“Come on, grab your electronics and get your shoes on. Time to go.” Trent was standing there, shoulders squared.
The following moments broke Amanda’s heart. Guiding Spencer out the door and into the back of a squad car. Watching Officer Wyatt drive off with him. But the worst was when Spencer turned his face away from her.
FIFTEEN
It was ten o’clock when Amanda was walking down the halls of Central toward Malone’s office with Trent at her side. She was looking forward to talking to him about as much as she hated the thought of questioning her half-brother. Both were cranky, with their nights taking a turn they hadn’t expected. But it was just getting started. Spencer had demanded a lawyer, and while they waited for him to show up, they dug into his record, phone, and laptop. The discoveries they made in the last hour and a half didn’t make things look any better for him.
Sergeant Malone was seated behind his desk and waved them in. “His attorney here?”
“He arrived about fifteen minutes ago. He’s with Spencer in Interview Room One,” she told him.
“Good. I’m already late for my pillow. Nine o’clock is my typical bedtime on a school night. Lay out where we’re at.”
He was to the point, just as she expected from Malone at this hour. His cheeks were sagging, and he’d rather be curled up in bed than behind his desk. But who wouldn’t? She’d trade being there instead of here in a heartbeat. “Trent and I have found some things…” She laid out their discoveries.
When she finished, Malone sat back and ran his hands over his short, trimmed beard. “I don’t need to say it, right?”
He’d leveled his gaze on her when he asked the question, so she responded. “You don’t. This doesn’t look good for Spencer.”
