“Lucky foryou,” he murmured.
“Why is that?”
He remained in his relaxed pose. “If I’d been the shooter, you’d be dead.”
Pink bloomed in her smooth cheeks and she licked her lips again. Appraising him. Was that approval? “Fine. How about we forget the fact that you arrested me for killing my father, when I most certainly acted in self-defense, and work together to identify the sniper?”
He’d wondered what approach she’d take. If she wanted to pretend to cooperate with him, then great. “Sounds good. Does anybody come to mind?”
She tapped her finger against her bottom lip. “A couple of people. First, Uma Carrington, who I believe had an on-again and way-off-again relationship with my father. We’ve never gotten along, and when I visited Pastor John a couple of weeks ago, she hissed at me.”
Huck reached for his phone and began taking notes. “Has she ever threatened you?”
“Not with obvious words, but she dislikes me. No question.” Abigail shifted her weight. “You dislike me as much. I’d wager you have sniper friends?”
Ah. Interesting avenue to take. “If I wanted you dead, Dr. Caine, I’d take care of it myself.” He was a big believer in each person carrying the stains on their own souls. He wouldn’t darken anybody else’s. “Who else from the congregation?”
“I’ll get you a list. I did have an odd call from Tim Kohnex last week. He was crying about my father’s death.”
Huck had dealt with Kohnex during an earlier case, and the guy thought he was a psychic. “Did he threaten you?”
“It felt like a threat, but he didn’t say the words.”
A silver-haired doctor walked in wearing a white lab coat over purple scrubs, his eyebrows bushy. “Abigail, how are you feeling?”
“I’m ready to go home as soon as my boyfriend arrives. He’s an FBI agent,” Abigail said, her gaze remaining on Huck. “He’s highly intelligent and very dedicated to me.”
Why did that sound like a threat?
The doctor looked at Huck. “I need a moment with my patient.”
“We’re not done. I’ll be back in a few,” he warned Abigail, turning and striding out of the room. That woman gave him the creeps.
Abigail’s lawyer instantly stood in his way. “Captain Rivers? I’d like a moment. I’m Henry Vexler, and I’m representing Dr. Caine.” The man stood tall, his expensive cologne drifting between them.
“Sure,” Huck said easily. “She’s a psychopath who murdered her father for a reason I haven’t found yet. It had nothing to do with Laurel. My guess is that he had something on Abigail, most likely the fact that she tried to kill him before. Or a couple other things. She’s guilty as hell.”
Vexler’s hazel eyes narrowed. “You found her and arrested her right after her fight with her father?”
“Yep. She was covered in blood and fully aware of her surroundings and deeds.” Huck wanted Abigail in prison and away from Laurel, and he spoke the absolute truth.
Vexler leaned in, his jaw hard. “That sounds personal. I’d like to interview you at length.”
“Get a subpoena.”
Vexler’s chin lifted. “Abigail wants me to take it easy on your girlfriend on the stand, but you know I can’t. She’s had a tragedy lately, and I doubt she wants to go through a cross-examination by me.”
Now Huck stepped in. “Are you threatening Laurel?”
Vexler’s smile looked like a cobra’s. “Of course not. Just stating facts.”
“We’re done.” If Huck didn’t leave, he’d hit the guy. He walked down the hallway. Wanting to check on Laurel, he saved his notes and called her.
“Hi, Huck,” she said, her voice settling something inside of him. “Did you find the shooter?”
He moved down the hallway to pause and lean his back against the calming pastel green wall. “Not yet, but I’m working on it. How are you? I took you down pretty hard earlier.”
“I’m well. You protected my head, which is what matters,” she said. “We’re driving back to Genesis Valley right now and should be there in about ten minutes.”
