CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Miner led Susan into Jack’s office and closed the door. He sat in the chair next to Susan—he didn’t want to get anywhere near the Chief’s chair—and picked up his pen and rested his small notebook on the arm of the chair. He clicked the pen and said, “How’re you holding up?”
Susan pressed her lips together and shrugged. “It’s been hard.” Her voice was thick with suppressed emotion. “We saw them hours before. I mean, how can you … I can’t get my mind around the idea Amy was killed hours after I saw her.”
“It’s horrible when it’s someone you know.”
Susan sniffed. “What do you need to know?”
“Tell me about Saturday night.”
“The bonfire? It was like any cookout. We drank some beer, ate ribs. Talked. Laughed.”
Miner watched as Susan’s shoulders dropped a bit. “How were Matt and Amy?”
“Same as always. Amy was one of the sweetest people I know. Knew. Matt never sat down once.” Susan laughed again. “I think Eddie teased him about it.”
“Did Matt seem distracted?”
“No.”
“Amy?”
“No. They were perfect hosts. Talking a lot about the house they were going to build out there.”
“How did everyone else get along?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, when I saw the names, I thought it was a pretty interesting group. There’s no love loss between Michelle and Ellie.”
“Whatever they have between them wouldn’t have anything to do with Matt and Amy.”
“You’re right. You’re right,” Miner nodded. “Eddie McBride? What was he doing there?”
“He works for Matt.”
“That’s right.”
“I think he and Ellie came together.”
“Eddie get along with Matt?”
“Yeah. They seemed to really like each other.”
“What about Chris? He and Matt …”
Susan’s laugh was more like a bark. “Chris barely got his head out of his phone long enough to flip the ribs, let alone get into an argument. Well, with anyone other than Michelle.”
“What’d they fight about?”
Susan grimaced. “I guess it was your typical husband and wife thing. Honestly, Miner, I don’t remember.”
“Did Michelle argue with Matt?”
Susan shrugged. “There was something about the budget for their lake house, I think.”
“Kelly?”
“Talked to Julie McBride most of the night about remodeling the Yourke House.”
Miner tapped his pen on the table. “What about Brian?”
Susan’s shoulders stiffened. “You know Brian.”
Miner didn’t respond.
“He had a little too much to drink.” She fiddled with the sling her broken hand rested in.
“Is that all?”
“We smoked some weed. Except Ellie. Before Jack and Julie arrived.”
“What time did y’all get home?”
“We left about midnight, so I guess we got home a little after 12:15.”
“Were the kids there?”
“Yes. Asleep. Ethan McBride was there, too.”
“Paige?”
“Yes.”
“Awake or asleep?”
“Awake.”
“When did you hurt your hand?”
“When we got out of the car. That damn door shuts on its own before I get my hand away. Brian’s fixing it today. I’ve shut my hand in it twice now.”
“Did you go to the hospital?”
“I did. Knew it was broken immediately.” Susan stared at her ruined hand.
“Is it the same hand you’ve broke before?”
Susan nodded and looked Miner straight in the eye. “Same hand, same door.”
“You gonna have to have surgery?”
Susan shrugged, but wouldn’t look at Miner. He thought he saw tears pooling in her eyes. He pulled his handkerchief out and laid it on the arm of the chair. Susan took it without comment and dabbed her eyes. Miner gave her a minute to compose herself before asking his next question.
“Brian took you to the hospital?”
“No, Paige did.”
“Oh. Where did Brian go?”
“He stayed home, with the kids.”
“What time did you get home?”
Susan clicked her tongue. “I guess around four. Four thirty. They gave me pain pills at the hospital. Knocked me right out when I got home. Slept until after noon. That’s when I heard about Amy and Matt.”
“So, Brian was home when you got home?”
“Yes.”
Miner wrote lying and underlined it in his notebook. He smiled at Susan and closed it. “That’s all I’ve got for now.”
Visibly relieved, Susan stood and started for the door. She turned back and held out Miner’s handkerchief. “Keep it. I have two dozen, at least. Teresa’s aunt gives me a package every year, whether I want them or not.”
“Thank you.”
Miner reached out and opened the door. Before she’d cleared the threshold Miner said, “Susan, I heard Brian and Matt got into an argument Saturday night.”
“Jack tell you?”
“He did.”
“It was nothing. Brian was justifiably upset about losing the job. It was a big one, and you know how times are. But on the way home, Brian told me about another job he has lined up, even bigger than Matt’s lake house.”
“Oh, well that’s mighty fine. I might have some work for him to do on my barn. Need to replace some boards and such.”
“I’m sure he’ll be glad to.”
“Well, you be sure to stay on top of that pain.”
“I’m trying to stick with Advil, though I have the others in my purse, in case.”
“Good idea. I’ll walk out with you.” Miner followed her down the hall.
“I’ll just be a minute,” she said, stepping into the bathroom.
Miner continued on to the front and relieved Malik, who had covered the front desk for Susan.
“How’d it go?” the young woman asked.
“Good,” Miner said. “After you go to the school you should go on home. Get some rest. You’ve been on for a while.”
“Thanks, Miner. Let me know if there’s anything you need me to do.”
“Will do.”
Miner waved Malik out and was alone. He looked up the stairs that led to the City Hall offices. He heard distant conversation and laughter, but nothing nearby, nothing coming closer. With a brief look at the door to the police station, he opened the cabinet beneath Susan’s desk and pulled out her purse. The prescription was easy to find. Ten pills. Miner silently cursed the paltry amount and shook two out onto his hand. He closed the bottle, tossed it in the purse, and was closing the door to the cabinet when Susan returned.
“Thanks, Miner.”
“Don’t mention it,” he said.
He walked across the City Hall foyer and out the front door, shoving the two Oxycontin in his pocket as he went.