“Thanks for clearing my teen daughter.” Gabby started walking again, determined to get to her daughter’s bedroom and get this visit over with as soon as possible.

Detective Schone followed behind, laying out her case piece by piece. “You claim you didn’t know about the added security. Liam did. The alarm company technician says Liam was here when the system was installed. That would explain why he isn’t seen on the house’s security video. He would have known where the blind spots were.”

“Wait a minute.”

They stood on the landing, facing each other. The accusations piled on top of one another until they built into a sturdy stack. Not devastating, and nothing that shook her faith in Liam, but combined, they had impact.

“Money issues at the company. Baines hiding business dealings from Liam. Liam having a key. Liam knowing where the cameras are. No self-defense wounds on Baines because he likely trusted his brother and didn’t see the attack coming.”

So many coincidences, and all of it circumstantial but compelling. Even Gabby had to admit that. “Liam wouldn’t—”

“Then there’s the sedative illegally obtained and found in Liam’s home, which he would have used to disable you, so you didn’t see him lurking in the room.” The detective’s gaze dipped to Gabby’s arm. “Have you checked? For needle marks? They should have faded by now, but did you back then? Was there a part of you that sensed what really happened in that room?”

Gabby forced her hand to stay at her side. Her ribs still hurt, but she’d checked after the police found the needle. Used her magnifying mirror and contorted and swiveled around until her body ached. Looked in case someone—not Liam—had debilitated her that way. She didn’t see anything.

“Liam was at work when Baines died,” Gabby said. “That destroys your entire theory.”

The detective shook her head. “He wasn’t. He says he had a meeting at a potential warehouse site, but the individual he was supposed to meet with never showed. We haven’t been able to locate that individual to verify Liam’s account.”

The fact scenario got worse and worse. “You have this all wrapped up and solved.”

“We’re getting there.” The detective walked past Gabby and stepped into Kennedy’s room. She stopped by the window, but her gaze never stopped scanning. “Which is good for you. If Baines was murdered, you get your insurance. A substantial amount. A four-million-dollar policy.”