Page 53 of Whispers Left Behind
Kinsley cleared her throat when Alex would have responded, but the sound brought Gia’s attention to where it needed to be. She stared at them with desperation.
“Please don’t tell Louise. She’s been through so much already, and…”
“We can’t promise you that, Miss Torres.” Alex had responded to Gia before Kinsley had a chance to ask a question. The woman’s eyes filled with tears once more, but it was clear that Alex had no sympathy for a woman who would betray her bestfriend in such a conniving manner. “Did you and Sebastian plan Rachel’s murder together? Did you know about the three-million-dollar life insurance policy, Ms. Torres? Were you hoping that he would cut you in on half?”
So much for delicacy.
Kinsley was now forced to play the role of good partner. She never wavered her gaze from Gia, and Kinsley took advantage of the woman’s shock over hearing Alex’s blunt inquiries.
“Miss Torres, you can understand why we would jump to such a conclusion.” Kinsley could sense the vibrations of her phone through her sweater, but she ignored the call. “You claim that Rachel was your best friend, and yet you slept with her husband…twice.”
“I’m not proud of what happened, and I can’t change your opinion of me,” Gia said as she only focused on Kinsley. Her words, however, had been directed at Alex. “I swear to you that I didn’t kill my best friend. I didn’t plan anything with Sebastian. I didn’t know about the three-million-dollar life insurance policy, and I didn’t know that he had been lying to Rachel for the past six months about his test results. I found all that out yesterday from Louise. Detectives, she truly believes that Sebastian murdered Rachel. Not only that, but she thinks that Gage found proof or something, which was why he was targeted last week. And I…well, looking back at what happened, I think she might be right.”
“I’m sure you can understand why we would have trouble believing you when you say you would never have hurt your best friend.” Alex’s voice was measured, and he wasn’t giving the woman two seconds to gather her thoughts. Kinsley’s phone began to vibrate once more, so she discreetly pulled it from her pocket. “Had Rachel discovered that her best friend slept with her husband, what would she have done, Miss Torres? Is thatwhy you went along with Hanson? You didn’t want Rachel to know that you slept—”
“Detective Lanen, someone has been trying to reach us.” Kinsley held out her phone, recognizing the hospital’s number. “Would you please take this? I’ll finish up here.”
Alex and Kinsley were usually tough with those individuals who had substantial motives. She would have continued in such a manner if she thought such manner of questioning would result in answers, but Alex wasn’t pushing Gia for the sake of the case.
“What about Jack?” Gia inquired as she closely monitored Alex as he stood and walked toward the front door. “He was meeting Rachel that night. What if the two of them were—”
“Miss Torres, what can you tell me about the times you were with Mr. Hanson? Did he ever indicate to you that he didn’t want to remain married to Rachel? Was there any sign that—”
“No,” Gia replied harshly. There was even an expression of disgust written on her features. “No.”
“You said that you started to believe Louise after thinking back on your time with Mr. Hanson,” Kinsley pointed out, not willing to let such a statement slide. “Either you believe Sebastian murdered Rachel or you don’t.”
“I don’t know,” Gia muttered in frustration as she lifted her hands and pressed the flannel material against her eyes. She remained like that for a moment before lowering her arms and meeting Kinsley’s gaze. “All I’ve done since then is think over every word he said to me during that time. Nothing indicated that he would ever harm Rachel or Gage, but Louise is so convinced that Sebastian and Jack are guilty.”
“Did Louise tell you that she saw Rachel the night she died?”
“No. What are you implying?” Gia asked hesitantly as her gaze slid to Alex. He had disconnected the call, but he remained nearthe front door. Gia turned her attention back toward Kinsley. “Detective, are you suggesting that—”
“I’m not suggesting anything. I’m stating a fact. Four hours before Rachel had her throat slit and bled out on the ground of an empty barn, the two women met at Tobias Zayn’s farm,” Kinsley revealed, monitoring the woman’s features closely. “If I were to suggest anything, it would be that no one connected with this case has been truthful with us. You can understand how such omissions make it hard for us to do our job, Miss Torres.”
“I didn’t mean to…”
Alex signaled that it was time to depart the residence. From his stance, it was clear that there was another significant break in the case. She would give Gia one more chance to come clean.
“Miss Torres, if there is anything else you are keeping from us, now would be a very good time to tell us the truth.”
“There’s nothing else,” Gia whispered as she stood before crossing her arms around her torso. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her cheeks were flushed with emotion. “I swear.”
Why was it that people always placed such an emphasis on those two words during an interview or interrogation? It was as if those two words held all the power in the world, capable of determining one’s fate in a matter of seconds.
“We’ll be in touch, Miss Torres.”
By the time Kinsley reached Alex, he had already opened the front door. She stepped over the threshold, bracing herself against the cold wind. Her teeth were chattering by the time they reached the sidewalk. She held her hand out for her phone, disappointed in the results of Gia’s interview.
"That was the hospital.” Alex reached into the pocket of his jacket for the keys. “The doctor just gave us the go ahead to interview Gage Baird.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kinsley Aspen
October
Friday — 10:58 am
