Marnie dropped her gaze to the badges clipped at their hips, the sight of them reigniting the stream of tears she’d just finished wiping away. But it wasn’t the crying that had Alyssa nervous; it was the way the woman’s sudden hysterical gasping breaths turned her face purple, making Alyssa fear Gabriel’s secretary was about to pass out – or worse, puke.

Clearly impatient with the display of emotion, Mack snapped. ‘Marnie, for God’s sake, I told you to go—’

Alyssa interrupted his tirade. ‘Exactly what are you doing here?’

Mack’s left eyebrow arched high, the sneer on his face depicting a level of superiority he felt over her. ‘Not that it’s any of your business, Detective, but I’m getting my brother’s things in order.’

His opinion of her mattered not in the least. As long as he didn’t hinder her investigation, he could think she was the Great Pumpkin for all she cared. ‘Coming from you, that’s an asinine comment. Considering your line of work, Counselor, I’m sure you know exactly why it’s my business,’ Alyssa countered. ‘Especially with respect to the conversation that took place at the precinct not too long ago.’

Cord stepped forward. ‘Have you taken anything or gone through any of Gabriel’s files, paper or electronic?’

Mack leaned back and perched on the edge of Marnie’s desk in a show of confidence, but a furious tic at the corner of his eye suggested he wasn’t as unaffected as he pretended to be. ‘Just walked in two minutes before you, so no.’

Alyssa peered at Marnie who nodded her confirmation of Mack’s claimed timeline. ‘What things are you trying to get in order when you yourself claimed Gabriel didn’t speak to you about his private practice?’

‘Gabriel was my brother, and someone has to take care of it. Grace is busy with other things, I presume, so I took it upon myself to handle this side of the estate.’

Alyssa didn’t believe for a second that was all there was to it, especially as it appeared Mack had been trying to talk Gabriel’s secretary into leaving, which would’ve left him alone in the office. She leveled a narrow-eyed, penetrating glare at him. ‘Mr. Kensington, even a civilian would know that tinkering with anything regarding your brother’s estate while we’re still investigating his murder is cause for concern. Do the words obstruction of justice ring any bells for you?’ She ignored Mack’s flared nostrils and intimidating posture as she issued her command. ‘Stay out of my team’s way.’ She tipped her head toward the search warrant still clutched in Marnie’s grasp. ‘Feel free to look over the warrant while we go about our business.’ She gave the go-ahead to Joe, Tony, and Sandra who stood just inside the doorway. To Marnie, she said, ‘Is Gabriel’s door locked?’