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“Have a seat, Ms. Killoran,” Chief Ligurio said in a measured tone as they entered the interrogation room.
Silvaria stuck her chin in the air, but Wynona could practically smell her fear. Silvaria’s hands were shaking and she kept swallowing as if she couldn’t bring moisture to her throat.
“Silvaria,” Wynona said softly, then smiled when the woman turned to look at her. Wynona waved at the chair. “We’re not here to hurt you. Please...sit down and try to relax.”
Silvaria cackled. “Relax?” She threw herself in the chair. “As if anyone could relax when they’re being questioned by the police. Or when their brother and mother are killed within days of each other.”
Wynona sat down as well, grateful for Rascal’s strong presence by her side. “I realize these aren’t ideal circumstances and we all understand that your family has had a difficult week, but—”
“A difficult week?” Silvaria snorted. “You don’t even know what that means, Ms. I’m the president’s oldest daughter.”
Wynona had to pause. Anger was instantly boiling inside of her and she could feel her magic electrifying her entire body.
Easy, Violet cooed. She’s an idiot, yes. But that doesn’t mean she deserves to be shishkebabed.
I know! Wynona shot back, then immediately gave into the guilt that comment sent through her system. Letting herself feel bad about her behavior helped pull her off the ledge and Wynona was able to take a deep breath and force herself back to calm. It was moments like this that she completely understood why Granny might have been worried for her. Left unchecked, Wynona knew there was a part of her that could definitely be everything she despised...and more. It was a side to her emotions that frightened Wynona. She didn’t like to think about the person she could have become if her parents had encouraged that type of behavior, rather than her grandmother teaching her the exact opposite.
The unrepentant smirk on Silvaria’s face did nothing to help Wynona’s ire, but she kept herself under control, pushing the magic down and earning a respectful nod from Daemon. She nodded back. “Ms. Killoran, all we want is the truth.” Wynona leaned forward. “If my father knows what happened with Zander and your mother, it’s only because someone told him about it.”
Silvaria’s jaw clenched.
Wynona sat back and waited. The tension in the room built to uncomfortable proportions, but she didn’t speak. Let Silvaria sweat it out a little. Something would eventually break her. They just had to find the right button.
Spoken like a true cop, Rascal said.
Wynona had to clench her muscles to keep from looking at him. You’re breaking my concentration.
A thousand apologies, Miss President’s Daughter.
That did earn him a glare, but it didn’t last long. The uncontrollable urge to stick out her tongue was making Wynona want to laugh. The topic of her father wasn’t a funny subject, but Rascal’s teasing always had a way of lightening the mood.
Silvaria frowned slightly, looking back and forth between her and Rascal before shaking her head. She folded her arms, thrusting her chin in the air. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”
“Are you aware that your brother had seen the will?”
Silvaria winced, giving away an answer before she could speak.
The question had come from Chief Ligurio, but Wynona jumped in. “Did he offer you part of the inheritance if you helped him kill your mother?”
“What!” Silvaria screeched. “Absolutely not!”
“So he just wanted to keep it all himself,” Wynona said with a slow nod.
“He killed your mother for the inheritance and then you killed him,” Chief Ligurio responded conversationally.
“How can you say that?” Silvaria demanded. “We all heard the will. You were allowed to sit in. The money was left to the stupid cat.”
“The one you were cuddling with just an hour ago,” Wynona pointed out.
“And your family was planning to contest the will,” Chief Ligurio added. He looked at Wynona. “By killing Zander, there was one less person to share it with.”
“Maybe her father was next?”
Silvaria thrust her hands through her hair, screaming. “You have it all wrong! I would never kill my brother! I was helping him hide the murder!” She gasped and slapped her hands against her mouth.
Wynona leaned back, feeling slightly exhausted as well as relieved. Her theory had been correct...and she hated herself for it. “What happened?” she asked softly. “Did you heal the spot on her head or did Zander?”
Silvaria was frozen for a split second before she burst into tears. Her alabaster skin turned bright red and her nose began to run. Between her sniffles and gasping for air, she began blubbering words that not even the most skilled linguist would have been able to interpret.
Wynona shared a look with the chief, then sighed. “Daemon, would you please bring me some hot water, a mug and some hawthorn and lavender?”
“Hawthorn and lavender,” he grumbled, shaking his head as he headed out of the room.
“We’re in a police station,” Chief Ligurio said under his breath.
“Amaris has some up front,” Wynona said easily.
Rascal covered his laughter with a cough.
One side of Chief Ligurio’s mouth curled and he shook his head. “Ms. Killoran,” he said over her blubbering. “If you would simply calm down, we’ll get this whole thing settled.”
Her crying only grew harder.
Wynona felt bad for the woman, but the sound was starting to wear on her nerves, making her extra grateful when Daemon made it back with the requested items. Taking them with a “Thank you,” Wynona set them on the desk and brewed the tea. She was grateful her magic had reached a point where she could have it ready almost instantaneously.
Standing, she walked around the desk. “Ms. Killoran,” she said gently. “Try some of this.”
Silvaria nodded, her bottom lip still shaking, and took the mug, sipping it carefully. Within thirty seconds, the woman had calmed down and seemed to be breathing easier. “Thank you,” she whispered hoarsely.
Wynona nodded and grabbed a nearby metal folding chair. It wasn’t comfortable, but she’d live. She sat next to Silvaria and took her hand. “Tell me what happened. Why did Zander kill your mother?”
Silvaria let out a shaky breath. “It was an accident,” she said, her voice still gravelly.
Wynona nodded encouragingly.
“He didn’t tell me until after it had all happened, but he found the will.” Silvaria pulled away from Wynona’s hold and wiped at her face. “He tried to confront Mother about it, but she refused to listen. Instead, she headed toward the pool house.” Silvaria sneered. “Her and that...merman...were always meeting in there.”
Wynona pinched her lips together. How many people had been hurt because of one person’s choices? Did Ms. Roseburg have any idea how her affairs hurt her children? Maybe if she’d spent more time with them instead of entertaining men, there wouldn’t be such a fight over the money. It all seemed so senseless.
“But Zander didn’t back off. He followed, still arguing.” Silvaria paused to drink more tea, then narrowed her eyes at Wynona. “How did you know this would help?”
Wynona shrugged. “It’s a gift I have.”
Silvaria’s mouth turned down and her gaze went to her lap. “Our family magic is dying with each generation,” she admitted.
Wynona nodded again. “I know.”
“How?” Silvaria shook her head. “Never mind. It doesn’t really matter now anyway.” Pushing a hand through her hair, she went back to the story. “Anyway, Zander wouldn’t back down and Mother finally spun around to confront him, and she slipped.” The tears began again. “She fell hard and hit her head against the tile floor.” Silvaria’s voice was barely audible. “The fact that she didn’t use her magic to catch herself tells me she had to have been drunk or something,” Silvaria said.
Wynona’s eyes darted to Chief Ligurio, who nodded that he understood what she wanted him to check.
“And the hit to the head killed her?” Wynona pressed.
Silvaria nodded while taking another drink. “She didn’t try to stop herself at all. Zander said he heard the hit echo through the room. By the time he reached her side, there was a huge puddle of blood and...” She choked on the words. “And she was gone.”
Wynona gave her a moment to breathe before pressing for more. “What we’re trying to figure out is why Zander healed her. If she was already gone, why not just call it in?”
Silvaria snorted. “Zander was under the impression that Marsh was getting it all.”
A lightbulb went off. “So he healed your mom and pushed her in the water so that it looked like Mr. Monroe did it.” She straightened and looked at the chief. “He was trying to frame the pool boy to get him out of the way to the inheritance.”
“But in the end it didn’t matter,” Silvaria snapped. “It wasn’t even Marsh who got the money. All of Zander’s set up with the pool chemicals didn’t even work.”
Wynona shook her head. What a tangled web of deceit. False wills, angry children, framed innocents... “Wait,” she said. “But then...why was Zander killed? Your mother’s accident was covered up and the money was given to the cat. But why kill Zander?”
Silvaria grew depressed again and she sunk into her chair. “I don’t know,” she whimpered. “He, Dad and I were going to fight the will together, and it looked like he had gotten away with Mom’s death. I just can’t...” More tears spilled. “I have no idea why someone would want to kill him.”
Wynona leaned back, pursing her lips in thought. “What happened after the reading of the will?”
Silvaria shrugged. “We went out to lunch and discussed fighting it.”
“What lawyer were you going to use?” Wynona asked. “You couldn’t use Mr. Melion.”
Silvaria dropped her gaze again. “That’s, uh...” Her blue eyes darted up, then back down. “That’s when I went to your dad.”
Here we go, Violet said dryly.
It took a lot of concentration for Wynona to stay still.
“I told him what was going on with the will, and figured he could help us.”
“Which is how my dad knew about Zander’s role in your mother’s death.” It wasn’t a question, but at least Wynona knew she wasn’t going to have to face her dad again anytime soon. He didn’t know anything she didn’t know.
Silvaria nodded. “He said he could help us with the lawyer.”
“But...” Wynona paused. What was in her mind might be something better to discuss without Silvaria around. “Is there anything you haven’t shared with us?” Wynona asked, suddenly anxious to be done. Her questions had been answered, and Ms. Roseburg’s death solved. Now they needed to focus on Zander’s death and Wynona was almost completely positive that Silvaria was innocent in that.
Silvaria shook her head. “That’s everything,” she said with a sigh.
“Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Killoran,” Chief Ligurio said firmly. “I’m sure it will go a long way in helping the judge figure out your sentence for aiding and abetting a murderer.”
“What!” Silvaria’s mug went flying as she jumped to her feet. “You can’t be serious!”
“Did you or did you not just admit to knowing who killed your mother, but keeping the information from the police?”
“Yes, but—”
“But nothing.” Chief Ligurio gathered his things and stood. “You may want to call that lawyer the president offered you.” He paused at the door. “You’re going to need it.”
Wynona followed wordlessly. She felt bad for Silvaria, but the chief was right. She had had crucial information and hidden it from the authorities. They reconvened back in the chief’s office.
“Does anyone think she was involved in Zander’s death?” the chief immediately asked.
Wynona shook her head, noting that Rascal and Daemon did the same.
Chief Ligurio nodded. “I feel the same.” He sat at his desk with a groan. “So we’re still at square one.”
“Not necessarily,” Wynona said, stepping closer.
Chief Ligurio’s eyebrows shot up.
“If my father was helping her get a lawyer to go up against Mr. Melion, then why did he hire Mr. Melion?”
Chief Ligurio tapped the desk, his long, white fingers rapping a frantic rhythm.
“Didn’t Mr. Melion once tell you that he wanted to work for your family but hadn’t been invited into the circle?” Rascal asked.
Wynona nodded. “Yes. He did.” She turned back to the chief. “My family has used Mr. Bizana since before I can remember. Why did he suddenly hire Mr. Melion? And who was he sending to help the Killorans?”
“Do you believe your father could be trying to influence Mr. Melion?” Chief Ligurio asked.
Wynona shrugged, relaxing slightly when Rascal's hand landed on her lower back. “I don’t know. But the circumstances are odd. I can’t say that I’d put it past him though.”
“Hmm...” The chief tapped his fingers a few more times. “Looks like we better go have that chat with Mr. Melion.” He stood. “It’s going to be a long night, everyone. Grab what you need because I want this case off my desk before another body shows up.”