An hour later, Roxy sat in Nia Maas’s large home. The house was black beams and glass. Contemporary and huge. Exactly what you’d expect from a local lawyer with commercials during the hockey game.
Rafe had propped himself against the wall. Something about that man and walls.
Nia was on the couch across from Roxy. She was around five feet tall, with beautiful light brown skin and straight black hair. Her curves were perfectly placed. Her bare feet were tucked beneath her as she leaned against the arm of the couch. She was runway ready, but also relaxed. Zen.
Which made sense. Her house was immaculate. She was immaculate. Not one hair was out of place. Flawless makeup. It would have been like Roxy was looking in a mirror, if Roxy wasn’t naturally a disaster. Nia wouldn’t be the main suspect in a murder investigation. She was too elegant for that.
“You’re investigating Donnie’s murder.” Nia shook her head. “It’s such a tragedy. He had a baby on the way.”
“A little boy.” Roxy nodded. It was a tragedy.
She smiled, but it was sad at the corners. “He would’ve liked having a little boy to play catch with.”
“You knew him well?”
“Not well. He’s friends with my husband and Steve. They all went to college together.”
“When was the last time you saw him?” Rafe asked from his perch.
“Adelaide, Donnie, Mandy and Steve came over for dinner a few weeks ago.”
“Mandy and Steve? Aren’t they divorced?”
“They are.” Nia laughed. “But they got joint custody of the friends.”
“Was the dinner unusual?”
“Not really. Same old drama. Adelaide was quiet. Mandy was stressed. But between the divorce and Steve’s money problems, you can’t really blame her.”
“Steve had money problems?”
“He had partner problems. Donnie was having money problems and dragging Steve down with him.”
None of this was news. Roxy was no longer feeling the wind in her sails. She would have to move out of state and change her name. She didn’t want to lead her life on the run, but it was either that or making license plates. “How about your Scrapbook Mavens jacket? Do you have one?”
“I do.”
“I’ve heard so much about this jacket. I’d love to see it.” And touch it. If Nia didn’t have her jacket, it might be sitting in the evidence locker at LVPD.
“Of course.” Nia glided to the front closet. She pulled out a black jacket. “Adelaide bought these for us.”
“I heard yours was missing.”
Nia handed Roxy the jacket and sat back on the couch. “That’s what I told Adelaide. But it wasn’t lost. I forgot it. We don’t wear the jackets very often, just scrapbook nights, so she gets a little upset when we forget it. With everything going on with Donnie, I didn’t want to upset her.”
“What was going on with Donnie?” The more Roxy learned about Donnie, the less she liked him. Thief. Adulterer. Leprechaun—and not in that cute Lucky Charms way. What Nia’s friends saw as “everything” might be different from what Roxy saw.
“They were moving to Reno, away from Adelaide’s family and friends. He was losing his business. That stuff takes a toll on a woman, and with all the fighting she did with Mandy, I didn’t want her to fight with me, too.”
“Adelaide and Mandy were fighting?” Roxy slid her finger along the jacket like she’d wanted to do at the crime scene. It didn’t disappoint. It was soft and thick. “About what?”
“I’m not sure. I’m assuming it had to do with Donnie. There were whispers.” Nia’s voice dropped.
Donnie and Mandy? Ew. Roxy wanted to gag. Mandy had made it clear she hated Donnie. Would she have slept with him? Why would Adelaide still talk to her? “What kind of whispers? Was Mandy sleeping with Donnie?”
“Oh God, no. Nothing like that. Mandy never forgave him for dumping her in college. But it all worked out. She got Steve, who was so much better. They had a kid and got married.”
Had a kid and got married. That wasn’t usually the order. It was usually marriage then child. Not that Roxy was judging. She’d freaked over her share of broke condoms. Mistakes could happen. Thankfully, they hadn’t happened to her. But still no judgement.
Roxy needed some clarification here. “Mandy had Gretchen before they married?”
“Yeah, apparently, it was a big scandal, and she wasn’t sure who the father was, but it all worked out. Well, except for the divorce and all.”
“So, in college, Donnie and Mandy were dating, then she found out she was pregnant and started to date Steve?” Rafe asked from the corner.
Roxy had almost forgot he was there.
“No. Yes. It depends who you ask. She started dating Steve, and eight months later she gave birth to Gretchen. Mandy said she was a premie, but come on, the baby was over nine pounds. She claims it’s Steve’s but the numbers don’t match up. And back in the day, everyone did the math.”
“Do you know someone named Presley?”
Nia shook her head. “Should I?”
“No.” Roxy stood from the couch and handed Nia her jacket. “Thank you so much for talking with us.”
Nia took the jacket. “I hope you can find who did this.”
“Me too.” Roxy and Rafe left, and Roxy waited to say anything until they reached his truck. “What do you think?”
“I think we’re getting close,” Rafe said, getting right in her space.
“One minute I think we’re getting close, but then—not.” She sighed. “I don’t get it. Mandy has an alibi. She looks like the posterchild for peace. But there’s something about her.”
“What’s her alibi?”
“She was with Adelaide and Nia at a scrapbooking weekend. Although she also said she was with Adelaide when she dropped off his phone at the hotel.”
Rafe hummed under his breath. “So she was at the hotel that night.”
“But she said she waited in the car,” Roxy pointed out.
“Are you sure?”
“She said she did. Maybe I need to check with Adelaide again.”
“Maybe.” Rafe leaned in, his lips so close… And his phone rang. “Dammit.” He looked at his phone. “I have to take this. He touched the screen and put it to his ear. “Amato.”
Sounds came from the phone. Maybe a man’s voice. But it was too hard to hear the words.
“Was anyone hurt?” Rafe walked farther away, frowning. “Okay. I’ll be there in an hour.” He hung up and lowered his head.
“You have to go,” Roxy guessed.
“I have to go.” The regret in his voice matched the feelings in her gut. “Can you wait till tomorrow to check with Adelaide?”
“Can you wait till tomorrow to go into work?”
“I’ll take that as a no.” Rafe took the meaning exactly as she’d meant it. What she had to do was just as important as what he was doing.
“I need to talk to her.”
“Fine.” He opened the driver’s side door and dug in the center console. He found something inside and slid it into her hand. Mace. “Keep this with you. Use it if you need to.”
“On the cops?”
“Refrain from using it on the cops.” He laughed. “Although it would be pretty funny seeing MacAuley lit up. I won’t be with you today to keep yourself safe.”
“I managed to survive thirty-one years without you. I can make it for a few hours.”
“Humor me.” He touched her cheek, pushing a runaway hair back in place.
“Okay.” She followed as he circled the hood and opened the passenger door.
“I’ll take you to your car.”
“Thanks.” She climbed in, her hand slid along the hot metal. She’d like to think that she was strong and independent, that she didn’t need a man. But a part of her wanted to skip going to Adelaide’s house, just skip everything she had to do, and hide in the Schmidts’ house until Rafe came home.
Home. But it wasn’t his home or hers. She wouldn’t be able to go to either of their homes until this was all sorted out. And sorting it out meant talking to Adelaide.
At least she prayed it did.