Chapters (49)
Val’s phone vibrated and she looked to see who was calling. “Holy crap.”
“Who is it?”
“Mrs. Morgan.”
20
“Answer it,” Gavin said. He quickly rose from his chair.
Val’s fingers fumbled to accept the call. She put her phone on speaker so that Gavin could hear. “Hello?”
“Valentina, it’s Mrs. Morgan. I heard that you met with Melinda and Bethany the other day.” Mrs. Morgan’s voice sounded cordial, but there was an odd undertone to it. “I was hoping that you could stop by, maybe this afternoon. I have a few things I’d like to discuss with you.”
Val looked at Gavin. He was at her side nodding for her to say “yes.” Val’s pulse raced. How did Mrs. Morgan know that she met with Gabrielle’s friends? Bethany must have told her. “Of course. What time would be good for you?”
“James will be home around five. Why don’t you come over before then?”
Val raised her eyebrows at Gavin. Mrs. Morgan wants a private discussion without her husband around. Val had hoped for this at the beginning, when she first met the Morgans. She didn’t need to see Gavin nodding again before she responded. “Is two all right?”
“Perfect.”
“Then I’ll see you later.” Mrs. Morgan said nothing more before Val heard the click of the phone call ending.
“Val, I want you to wear a wire. She might tell you more about Bethany and Melinda that will help this investigation, especially if she’s alone.” Gavin looked at his watch. “It’s 10am now, why don’t you come back around 12:30 and we’ll get you hooked up. I’ll run through how it all works.”
“Of course.” Val could feel sweat developing on her brow and on the back of her neck. Suddenly, she felt queasy and light-headed.
Gavin knelt in front of her chair and put his hand on her forehead. “Are you okay? You’ve gone pale. Val, you don’t have to do this.”
Val stood. “No really, I’m fine. Mitch, I want to do it.” She laughed. “Not sure what came over me. I have no problem questioning people about murder and death, but messed up friendships and grieving mothers, and a husband who’s screwing one of those friends… I don’t want to say or do anything to hurt Mrs. Morgan.”
“You can help her learn the truth about her daughter’s friends, especially since she seems to be on good terms with the one who’s screwing her husband.”
At 1:59pm, Val rang the bell at the Morgans’ front door wearing the wire. The damn thing was disguised as a decorative pin and placed on her suit jacket. It could have been even smaller and more discreet if Gavin, at the last minute, didn’t decide to get one with a camera.