Forgive and Forget: (A Geeks and Things Cozy Mystery Novella #2) (Geeks and Things Cozy Mysteries) by Sarah Biglow Read Free Book Online Page B

committed.”
    Kalina scratched her head, trying to follow the logic. “To get the house?”
    “Yes. There was some legal loophole that said he could get control of the deed if I was declared legally incompetent. But he waited until after I turned 25 so it was legally in my name so he could force feed me whatever drugs he thought would help make his case.” Her tone turned bitter. “He gave me downers so that I spiraled into a massive depression and then he gave me psychotropic pills to make me look manic. He kept giving them to me until one day I just lost it and started hitting him. He called the police and they dragged me off to the psych ward at Salem Hospital. I rotted there for six months before Adam and one of his partners figured out what was going on and got me released.”
    “You were able to prove it all?”
    “I even tried to sue him but the judge wanted it settled out of court. He never came out and said it, but I think he felt it was just too messy. I got some restitution financially and a restraining order.”
    “If you had a restraining order, why did you go to see him and have dinner?”
    “I let it lapse about a year ago. Adam thought it might be good to reconcile, or at least try to put the past behind us. He said there was no point in letting it eat away at our happiness.”
    Kalina did her best to stifle a bitter laugh of her own. “You know, I think maybe you were drugged this time, too.”
    “So you believe me?”
    “I found the teacup and the lab is running it. And there was someone else there in the house that night.”
    “Someone else? How do you know that?”
    It was time to spill the beans. “When I went to get your stuff from the house I ran into your neighbor, Mr. Beech. He was rather chatty. He said that that night, around two, he saw someone show up to the house and then leave a little while later.”
    “Who?”
    “Adam.”
    “No, that can’t be.”
    “Mr. Beech wrote down the license plate and Jimmy ran it. It belonged to Adam’s car. I think that’s why Chris wanted to talk to him alone.”
    Nadine scooped up the room key and headed for the door. “We have to get there now. I need to know what’s happening!”
    “Slow down, Nadine. We can’t do anything.”
    “If he tells Detective Harper anything I deserve to know about it. I knew he was keeping something from me. I just didn’t know it was this.”

 
    CHAPTER TEN
     
    Nadine was out the door before Kalina could say anything else. They didn’t have a car so it was going to be a brisk walk to the station. On the way, Kalina checked her phone for any missed calls or texts from AJ. She couldn’t share that particular theory with her friend yet. She needed to process the fact that her boyfriend had been there and might have had something to do with her father’s death. Was he confessing to the crime as they raced to the station? He could have certainly had enough strength and force to push a grown man out a window.
    “Come on,” Nadine urged as the station came into view up the street.
    Kalina stowed her phone back in her pocket and trailed Nadine through the front doors. Neither of them bothered to acknowledge the officer at the front desk. Jimmy was nowhere in sight and the bull pen was empty. Chris’s desk was still a mess of files and paperwork. Speaking of Chris, she spotted him on the interrogation room monitor sitting across from Adam.
    “Your vehicle was seen arriving at the Larrabee residence at two in the morning and leaving at two fifteen. Want to tell me what you were doing back there in the middle of the night?”
    “What evidence do you have?”
    “An eye witness who recorded your license plate. Now, I’ll ask you again. What were you doing back there?”
    Adam let out a breath and unfolded his arms. “I didn’t like how we left things with Nadine’s father. I had a trial the next day but I should have insisted she come stay with me. The stories she told me were unsettling. The last time he