Page 44 of Defending Love
Crossing my arms over my breasts, I was thankful for the sweatshirt. “Special Agent, what is this about? Do you have a lead in my father’s murder?”
“Ma’am, we have reason to believe someone illegally entered your parents’ home this evening.”
My gaze went to Eli and back to Special Agent Timmons. “What happened?”
“Two individuals were seen carrying a bag away from the house.”
“Was the house entered illegally?” I asked. “Windows broken? Door pushed in?”
“No. However, it’s come to our attention that like many of the residents in your parents’ neighborhood, security codes are often shared.”
I inhaled, hoping that honesty was still the best policy. “We were at my parents’ home this evening. You see, my mother is in a nearby physical-rehab facility, and she asked for a few personal items.”
“What did you take?” he asked.
Eli stepped forward. “Are you looking for something in particular?”
“Doctor,” Special Agent Timmons said, “what did you remove from your parents’ home?”
“Reading glasses, underwear, cosmetics…my mother had a list.”
“Have you taken those things to Mrs. Sinclair?”
“Some of the things,” Eli said. “Once we delivered them, Mrs. Sinclair realized she wanted a few things that weren’t on her list. That’s why we returned to the house. It was late. Our plan is to deliver the other items tomorrow.”
“Did your mother request items from your father’s safe?” Special Agent Timmons asked me.
His safe.
What the actual hell?
My gaze went back to Eli and then to the special agent. “I was in my parents’ bedroom. I didn’t see a safe.”
“You’re unaware of a safe in your father’s office?”
I shrugged. “He mentioned that once, now that you bring it up.”
“We have reason to believe that safe was accessed earlier this evening. Let me cut to the chase. We believe the two of you went illegally into the Sinclair house and stole the contents of the safe.”
My neck straightened as I squared my shoulders. “I have POA for my mother. Entering her home is not illegal.”
Eli stepped forward. “You don’t have a warrant. We’ve answered your questions. Any further questions will need either a warrant or be conducted in Jacksonville.”
“Sir, we could take you both in.”
“You won’t,” Eli said definitively. “If you had evidence, we wouldn’t be having this discussion right now.”
“We have evidence.” Agent Timmons showed a grainy picture on his phone of Eli and me leaving Mom’s villa with the striped bag. “If you could bring us the bag.”
Eli placed his hand in the small of my back. “Good night, Special Agents.”
“Doctor?” the second agent asked.
“We’re done,” Eli said.
“Doctor, it would be in your family’s best interest for us to see what you removed from the safe.”
“My attorney will be in touch.” That was my reply. With that, we turned back toward the villa.
