“You’re welcome.” With that, Casey left.
“All these hours and no solid leads.” Trent blew out a breath.
Frustrating as that was, it was how investigations worked. A step forward, several back. Sometimes it was just standing still while the clock rushed ahead.
TWENTY-NINE
Another hour and a half went by, and Amanda’s stomach was grumbling in chorus with Trent’s. It was going on one in the afternoon, and they’d had nothing to eat but the donut that morning. They had spoken with everyone at the firm they could except for the receptionist, who was due to come in at any moment.
“Did you want to break for lunch?” Trent asked her.
“Nope, we’re here. Let’s stay put and see this through.”
“You wanted to speak with me?” The receptionist entered the room.
“Yes, please sit over there,” Amanda directed, pointing at the vacated chair, which might as well have been a revolving door for the volume of traffic it had seen today.
She shut the door before following Amanda’s direction.
“We’re Detectives Stenson and Steele. We never did get your name,” Trent said.
She licked her lips before speaking. “Minnie Yates.”
Amanda offered her a smile, trying to calm her nerves. “How long have you worked for Dominique Sharp?”
“Since the doors opened seventeen years ago.”
“It’s always nice to find reliable employment. You must enjoy working here.” Amanda would assume so given her duration at the firm.
“It pays well.”
It seemed like a lukewarm response, and it had Amanda wondering about the reason. “Do you know why we’re interested in speaking with you?”
Minnie nodded.
“Do you know of anyone who might want Ms. Sharp dead?” Amanda asked.
Minnie flinched, ever so slightly, and licked her lips again.
She was nervous or thirsty, or both. But if they were going to get anywhere with her, they needed to get her to relax some. “Would you like a glass of water?”
“Sure.”
Amanda got up and poured her a glass from the sideboard and handed it over.
“Thank you.” Minnie took a sip.
Amanda returned to her seat. “If there’s something you need to say, please know that you’re safe, whatever it is.”
Minnie drank some more water and cradled the glass with both hands. “There are many people here who aren’t happy about Ms. Sharp’s decision to move the business to DC. And I’m not just talking about employees of the firm.” Minnie’s eyes flicked up and met Amanda’s.
“You mean customers?” It wasn’t even an angle Amanda had considered before. But this firm represented criminals. It could be someone who didn’t want to risk her breaking attorney-client privilege. The move could have been seen as disloyalty.
“Uh-huh.” Minnie slurped some water, adding to the palpable tension in the air.
Amanda could guess that Minnie was building up to some reveal and didn’t want to push her for risk of her clamming up.Amanda spoke up only after several minutes of stretched silence. “Do you have a specific customer in mind?”
A slight nod. “This person is rather dangerous.”
