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Twenty-Nine

Madison watched Rossi for any tells of deception as he went on to explain that Carson was stubborn and opinionated and thought she knew more than he did. “Obviously, that bothered you?” she said.

“Damn right it did. I’m her boss. I’m actually the owner here.” As he said that, pride inflated his chest. “I know what I’m doing.”

“She questioned your work?” Terry leaned back.

“She didn’t outright, but it was just…”

“Just?” Madison prompted.

“I caught her double-checking my work.”

He had a way of saying a lot while saying nothing. “Specifically?”

Rossi drew his fingertip in circles on the table. “Claims I’d filed.”

“Was it part of her job to review them, to ensure accuracy?” Madison inquired.

“Sure, when I asked her to,” he said. “A second set of eyes never hurt.” It was the slight twitch of his lips that said the opposite.

There was something about this guy Madison didn’t trust, and it wasn’t just the fact that he was a cheating scumbag. “I think we’re ready to speak with Ms. Hart, if you could send her in?” Madison glanced at the door, giving further indication that this conversation was over.

“Ah, sure.” Rossi tapped the table before getting up and leaving the room.

Madison looked at Terry. “I can see what Carson didn’t like.”

“Doesn’t surprise me.”

A few minutes later, a woman came into the room. She was mousy with dirty-blond hair and brown eyes, but they sparked with life. She wore stylish glasses that complemented the shape of her face. She had a sexy-librarian vibe coming off her. She probably swatted men away much like Cynthia had before settling down with Lou.

“Mr. Rossi said that you wanted to speak with me?”

“We do. Please.” Madison gestured to a chair across from her, and Josie Hart acquiesced, but her movements were stiff and jerky, uncomfortable.

“He told me it’s about last Friday night,” Hart said.

“It is.” Madison found it interesting that either Rossi hadn’t mentioned Carson’s murder or Hart was more focused on her affair with a married man. “Did he tell you why?”

Hart nodded and tucked a strand of hair behind her right ear. So it was the latter.

Not a single expression of sorrow over Carson’s demise. “How long have you worked here?”

“Six months.”

“Did you know Ms. Carson very well?”

She shook her head.

“Did you work with her on anything?”

“A little here and there. Mostly photocopying and whatnot that she needed done. Mostly I work alongside Mr. Rossi.”

“I see.”

Hart blushed.

Madison went on. “And what’s the nature of your relationship with Mr. Rossi?”

“I’m pretty sure he told you.”

Madison shrugged. “I’d like to hear your side.”

“I’m sleeping with him and have been for a while.”

She nodded, not quite able to find it in herself to point out their relationship meant nothing to Rossi. It didn’t stop her from saying, “From what we’ve been told, Ms. Carson took issue with Mr. Rossi. Did it have something to do with the fact he’s a married man but sleeping with his intern?”

Terry nudged his shoe against the side of hers. Her partner had a way of attempting to corral her when he thought she was being too blunt.

Hart jutted out her chin. “I wouldn’t know what her issue was—or even if she had one. It’s not like we spoke.”

“Where were you last Friday night until two the next morning?” Madison asked, ignoring the snideness in the intern’s voice.

“Here with Mr. Rossi working on an insurance proposal for Randall Investments.”

Her reply came out as if it had been rehearsed. “Is that what Mr. Rossi told you to say?”

“No,” she shot out. “I was here.”

“And you worked on that proposal all night?” Madison pushed.

Hart’s gaze flicked to Terry, back to Madison. “For most of it. And I see how you’re looking at me, but he’s an amazing man. His wife doesn’t get him. She’s always doing her own thing. Probably cheating on him.”

“Is that what he told you?” Madison said.

Hart narrowed her eyes but didn’t dispute Madison’s allegation. “Neither of us had anything to do with Carson’s death. We were both here.”

Madison scanned the intern’s face. An arrogant pride coated her features. She’d probably be a mistress all her life. This woman was everything Madison couldn’t stand. “Stay in town, Ms. Hart.” Madison stood.

“Whatever.” Hart crossed her arms, giving the full image of a petulant child.

Before leaving Southern Life, Madison and Terry spoke with the redhead from the front desk. She described Carson as a gentle soul who didn’t deserve to be screwed over and murdered. They also inquired as to the beneficiary noted on her life insurance and was told it was Saul Abbott. The address on file was for the house Carson had shared with him.

“I can’t believe she didn’t update her life insurance policy when they split,” Madison said as she got into the department car.

“She must have overlooked it with everything else that happened.”

“I can’t believe it wasn’t one of the first things she would have taken care of.” Madison started the vehicle. “Anyway, all I know is whenever we catch up with Abbott, I’m going to strangle him. Carson had people who liked her, and she just thought she’d found Mr. Right. Look how that turned out.” Somehow murder was always made worse when the victim had been a kind person. At least she felt even more responsible for making things right when that was the case. “We’ll get the warrant paperwork started for Southern Life so we can see what Carson had been working on, but I also want to try Jerrod Stevens again. Maybe we’ll find the landlord at home.”