Nick frowned. “Of course, I remember her name. It was Imogen Wilson. I think she was also married when they ran off.”
“She was. We’re reaching out to her husband, as well,” Pierce said.
“Is he local?” I asked.
Pierce shook his head. “I’m sorry, I can’t discuss that with you. Where were you the night your father died, Nick?”
Nick looked at me and then back. “When did he die?”
Good question. I should’ve made Pierce clarify.
“About fifteen years ago,” Pierce said. “The last time he was seen, as far as we know, was the night he and Imogen left Silverville. The police questioned your mother back then, and she said he packed his bag and took off on a Friday night. I have the Silverville police file.”
So, Pierce had already spoken with Sheriff Franco from Silverville. “You started putting a case together before announcing the deaths,” I whispered. That’s why the notification hadn’t been made until right this second. “You really are considering Nick a suspect.”
“I am.” Pierce glanced up at the camera. “Sheriff Franco more than hinted that if you all killed Richard, then it was probably self-defense. Apparently, he was shocked to learn that your father had been an abuser.”
“Abused kids and beaten wives often try to keep that a secret,” Nick said evenly.
I blinked, wanting to offer him comfort but needing to think like a lawyer. “How did Sheriff Franco find out?”
“I believe my mother told him,” Nick said, his tone flat. “I think she confided in my grams, who nearly lost her mind when she found out. But a lot of this is hazy. It was a long time ago.”
Pierce took notes. “Your grams is…”
“Gerty Basanelli,” Nick answered. “She had no idea before that. Nobody did.”
My heart hurt for him.
“I see,” Pierce said. “Gerty was your father’s mother?”
“No,” Nick replied. “Gerty was his stepmom and my grandfather’s second wife. His first wife, Richard’s mother, died of cancer when he was young. Gerty didn’t enter the picture until I was already three or four, and my grandfather died when I was around twelve of cirrhosis of the liver.”
I hadn’t known that about Gerty. Why would I? Anyway, Gerty was all in as Nick’s grams and had even colluded with my Nonna to matchmake Nick and Tessa. I shifted uneasily in my chair. As Nick’s attorney, if he kept me with my limited trial experience, I wouldn’t be able to confide in Tessa. Nick would have to do that, and I might need to advise him not to. They weren’t married, so there was no spousal privilege.
Pierce clicked his pen. “It sounds like you might’ve killed your father to save your mom or brothers. Or even yourself. Could be self-defense, Basanelli. If that was the case, please tell me all the details now.”
Leaning forward, I grasped Nick’s arm. “I think we should speak privately.”
Nick didn’t twitch. “The night he left, I went camping with my brothers. It was the middle of summer, and we slept out. Got up early to fish. It was common for us, and at that time, we were more than happy to be away from the house.”
I patted his hand because there was nothing else I could do.Except act like a lawyer, I reminded myself.
“Can anybody corroborate that?” Pierce asked.
“My brothers,” Nick said evenly. “I suppose I should add that we beat the shit out of our dad, packed for him, and then tossed his ass out of the house because he’d just hit our mom.”
I gasped. “Nick—”
“I’m telling the full truth, Anna. Holding back makes me look guilty, and there’s probably DNA on the asshole’s clothing if it survived the last fifteen years. The point is, he left and said he’d never be back. That he and Imogen were meant to be together.”
I kept my cool. Nick was a much more experienced trial attorney than I was, so I had to trust his judgment. “Just a friendly reminder that we’re here voluntarily.”
Pierce didn’t so much as wince, but his eyes hardened. “Did you, at any time that weekend, see or have contact with Imogen Wilson?”
“No,” Nick said.
Pierce made a notation. “It’s my understanding that the Marsh Mansion was a popular party place for teenagers back then, especially in the summer. True?”
