Poisonous: A Novel by Allison Brennan Read Free Book Online Page B

years. His teacher told me he’s a gentle kid.” She paused, as if remembering something. “After the fights, his mother said Tommy wouldn’t speak for days.”
    “Why does his stepmother think he killed Ivy?”
    “Honestly? She wants someone to blame, and Tommy is different. He’s a large young man, tall and broad-shouldered. Not overweight, but not lean, either. He looks intimidating, until you talk to him.”
    “There must be a specific reason that Paula Wallace thinks her stepson is capable of murder.”
    Grace’s expression hardened a little, and she shifted away slightly. Defensive and prepared to argue. “You’re not going to use Tommy for target practice, are you?”
    “I have no idea what you mean.”
    “The kid is simple. Stutters when he’s nervous. People tend to go for the easy target.”
    “I won’t take that comment as an insult,” Max snapped.
    “Take it any way you want,” Grace said.
    “I’m looking for the truth. Whatever the truth is.” Max retrieved a copy of the letter Tommy had written her and slid it over to Grace. The detective took a moment to read it, then handed it back.
    “I see,” she said. “I didn’t realize Tommy wasn’t allowed at his father’s house.”
    “I ask again,” Max said, more formal than necessary because she had been insulted, “did Mrs. Wallace have a specific reason to believe Tommy was guilty?”
    “She said Ivy had been scared of Tommy, that Ivy had told her mother he looked at her funny.”
    “Funny how?”
    “Mrs. Wallace took that to mean sexual, but there was no evidence or any other statements that Tommy had a sexual interest in Ivy.” Grace lost her edge and relaxed, as much as a cop could relax. “He’s a simple kid, Ms. Revere.”
    Max’s anger fell away as well. Grace was protective, a cop, suspicious of everyone. “Call me Max.”
    “If I may ask, Max, what do you plan to do that you think we didn’t? Because I investigated this case fully. There is no evidence pointing to any one person.” She was still defensive. Subtle, but worried she might have missed something. If Grace hadn’t been so helpful and open, Max would have pushed that card and used it to her advantage; however, Grace had been more than accommodating and Max decided being direct would benefit her investigation.
    “I will talk to Tommy first, then go from there. I’ll interview the Brock family, Bailey Fairstein, Travis Whitman, Ivy’s mother, and Tommy’s parents. I will speak with Austin and Tommy’s sister, Amanda. Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh pair of eyes—and a different slant on the questions. Plus, fourteen months have passed. This isn’t a priority for you.” Max instantly realized that was the wrong thing to say.
    “Corte Madera isn’t a large community, Ms. Revere. Every crime is a priority.”
    “I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I didn’t mean to imply you didn’t care.”
    Grace nodded that she accepted the apology. Damn, Max really hated feeling like she had to walk on eggshells, but having Grace’s cooperation would make her investigation easier.
    “I’d also like to bring in a private forensic investigator,” she said. “Former deputy sheriff, licensed by the state, who I’ve worked with a few times on cold cases. The firm has an outstanding reputation and is funded by a grant, so there is often no cost to local law enforcement. They have a lab at UC Davis and have access to the most advanced equipment, including computer modeling.”
    “UC Davis? Are you talking about Nor-Cal Forensic Institute?”
    “Yes—Graham Jones. He and his wife, Dr. Julia Mendoza, run it.”
    “I don’t know them, but I’ve heard of the institute. I’ll talk to my boss. I don’t see that there would be a problem going to the crime scene and allowing them access to our records and photos, but there is minimal evidence. Everything we had was analyzed by the state lab.”
    “If you grant permission, the state will share their findings