Detective Partners by kate hopkins Read Free Book Online Page B

know." She tucked several strands of hair behind her ear. "Tell me about your family. Do you have any siblings?"
     
    "No." He switched on the turn signal and began slowing down. "Do you?"
     
    Nicole thought of her sister and a lump formed in her throat. "I had a sister," she said softly.
     
    "What happened to her?" Galen asked, turning a corner.
     
    "She - she was-" She broke off. "I don't want to talk anymore."
     
    "It was your idea," he pointed out.
     
    "I know it was," Nicole snapped. "Let's forget about it."
     
    "You've got secrets, Goodwin," Galen said after a few moments of silence.
     
    "Doesn't everyone?" she replied coolly.
     
    "No, not everyone." He cleared his throat. "Some people are an open book. Then there are those like you that are so closed off no one can get in."
     
    "It's better if no one gets in." Nicole adjusted her seat belt. "What about you, Detective Maxwell? Do you have any secret any skeletons in your closet?"
     
    "I'm fresh out of secrets and skeletons," he responded.
     
    She arched an eyebrow at him. "I find that hard to believe."
     
    "You can believe whatever you want, Goodwin. I don't care." Galen pulled up in front of Alicia's house, put the car in park, and turned off the ignition. "Tell me again the name of this woman we're going to interview."
     
    "Alicia Hunt," Nicole answered. "She's been my neighbor for about four years."
     
    They got out of the car and headed up the driveway. Nicole led the way up the steps and onto the porch. She rang the doorbell and then turned toward Galen. Tilting her head back, she looked up at him. "I think Alicia will be able to help us. From what I understand, she and Marsha talked often. Surely, Marsha told her about this Jeremy. At the very least-" Hearing the door open, she turned. "Hello, Alicia."
     
    "Hi, Nicole." She glanced past her and smiled at Galen. "Hello."
     
    "Ms. Hunt," he muttered. "I'm Detective Galen Maxwell. Mind if we come in and ask you some questions?"
     
    "Not at all." Alicia opened the door wider. "Please, come in."
     
    "Thank you," Nicole told her, crossing the threshold. "Were you able to get any sleep?"
     
    "No," she sighed. "Every time I closed my eyes I saw Marsha. What about you? Were you able to go back to sleep?"
     
    "No."
     
    Alicia shut the door behind her. "Would either of you like a cup of coffee?" She grimaced at Nicole. "I forgot that you prefer tea. Would you like a cup? I could make you some."
     
    "No, thank you." Nicole smiled at her weakly .
     
    "Thank you for the offer," Galen said, "but I'm fine."
     
    "Then let's sit down." Alicia led the way to the living room, where she settled in a chair and Nicole and Galen took a seat on the couch. "So what do you want to ask me?"
     
    Nicole removed her notepad and pen from the pocket of her coat. "It's about Marsha's boyfriend, Jeremy."
     
    "Her ex-boyfriend," Alicia corrected.
     
    'They broke up?" Nicole sat back against the cushion and crossed her legs. "When did that happen?"
     
    "Last week."
     
    Galen exchanged a glance with Nicole. "Tell me something, Ms. Hunt. When did Jeremy find out that Marsha was pregnant?"
     
    "Please, call me Alicia," she told him. "He found out last week. That's why they broke up. He wanted her to get rid of the baby. He even offered to pay for the abortion and everything. When she refused, he told her that she was on her own and that he never wanted to see or hear from her again. She was devastated. She had given him everything and it was like he threw it back in her face."
     
    "What can you tell us about Jeremy?" Nicole inquired.
     
    "Not much." Alicia rubbed her tired eyes with her hands. "I only met him a couple of times."
     
    "Please, try to think," Nicole urged her. "Think back to your conversations with Marsha. Did she ever mention where he lived or where he worked? What's his last name?"
     
    For several tense moments Alicia stared at the carpet, her brow wrinkled in concentration. "She did say to me once that