Jenna studied her.“And the lawsuit Amanda filed against you?For allegedly stealing her business concepts and suppliers?”
A flash of irritation crossed Heather’s features, quickly suppressed.“That lawsuit was unfortunate and completely without merit.The court agreed, which is why it was dismissed.”
“But it did significant financial damage to her business,” Jenna pressed.“The legal fees alone were enough to push Hartford’s Closet toward bankruptcy, according to several sources.”
“That was Amanda’s choice to pursue legal action, not mine,” Heather countered.Her tone remained polite, but Jenna detected a hardening around her eyes.“I even tried to reach out to her afterward.I offered to collaborate on a joint event that might have helped her business recover.She refused.”
“That was generous of you,” Jenna said, keeping her expression neutral.“How did you feel when her store closed down?”
Heather hesitated, her perfect composure showing the first genuine crack.“Of course I felt bad for her.Nobody wants to see a fellow business owner fail.”
“But it did benefit your shop,” Jake noted.“With Hartford’s Closet gone, you became the primary destination for mid-range women’s clothing and accessories in Trentville.”
“Business isn’t a zero-sum game,” Heather replied, but the words sounded rehearsed, like something from a business school textbook rather than a genuine sentiment.
“Isn’t it, though?”Jenna leaned forward slightly.“In a town this size, with limited customer base?One store’s success often comes at another’s expense.”
The smile slipped from Heather’s face.“What are you trying to get me to say, Sheriff?That I’m happy Amanda’s store failed?That I engineered it somehow?”
“I’m just trying to understand the nature of your relationship with the victim.”
“The nature of our relationship,” Heather repeated slowly.Her eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.“Fine.You want honesty?Business is business.Amanda failed to understand the market.She didn’t adapt when consumer preferences changed.She kept the same inventory, the same prices, the same tired displays year after year.”
“And you took advantage of that,” Jake said.
Heather’s chin lifted.“I recognized an opportunity and I seized it.That’s what entrepreneurs do.We see gaps and we fill them.”A new sharpness entered her voice.“It’s sometimes necessary to be a little ruthless to succeed in this world.Amanda, for all her abrasiveness, wasn’t ruthless enough.”
“Ruthless.”Jenna let that word linger, watching as Heather seemed to realize how it sounded in light of Amanda’s murder.
“I didn’t mean—” Heather began.
“Did you have any interactions with Derek Sullivan?”Jenna asked, changing tack.
Heather blinked at the sudden shift.“Derek Sullivan?No, not really.He was just the town drunk.Everyone knew who he was, but I never had any personal dealings with him.”
“You said earlier you thought the two murders must be connected,” Jenna noted.“Any specific reason for thinking that?”
“Well, yes.Two murders in Trentville within twenty-four hours?It stands to reason they’re related somehow.”Heather folded her arms.“Though I can’t imagine what connection there could be between Amanda and Derek.They moved in completely different circles.”
“You also mentioned yarn.Is that an item you sell here, or work with yourself?”
Heather's perfectly plucked eyebrows arched slightly."I'm a businesswoman.I wouldn't know the first thing about knitting or any of those...homespun hobbies.Of course I do carry high-quality handmade items in the shop, especially if the craftsperson is locally well-known."
Jenna had already realized that someone in her department would need to check on craftspeople in the county who worked with yarn.
“Where were you between midnight and two a.m.last night, Ms.Banning?”Jake asked.
Heather’s expression rippled from surprise to indignation.“I was at home, in bed.Asleep.”
“Can anyone confirm that?”Jenna asked.
“I live alone, Sheriff.”Heather’s voice had cooled considerably.“So no, I don’t have an alibi, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“And the night before last?Between ten p.m.and midnight?”Jake continued.
“Also at home.”Heather’s gaze hardened.“Also alone.Do I need to call my lawyer now?”
“That’s entirely your choice, Ms.Banning,” Jenna replied evenly.“We’re simply gathering information at this stage.”
