The Final Tap by Amanda Flower Read Free Book Online Page B

need to talk to Mr. Elliot alone.”
    â€œI’d like Kelsey to stay,” Gavin said.
    Detective Brandon stepped to the side as if she wanted to have a clear view of both of us. “Mr. Elliot, we can talk about it here alone, or we can talk about it down at the station in a tiny windowless room. You have a right to legal counsel, of course. Ms. Cambridge does not fill in for that.”
    I rolled my eyes and was glad that my son wasn’t there to see it. “Detective, please don’t make this more uncomfortable than it has to be. If Gavin wants me here, let me stay. He’s going to tell me everything that happened after you leave anyway.”
    Gavin nodded. “I will.”
    â€œFine. I don’t have all day.” The detective focused on Gavin. “Is it true that you threatened to kill Dr. Conrad Beeson?”
    â€œWh—?” I began.
    Gavin stared at the top of his work boots. “I did, and I was sorry I said it the moment it came out of my mouth.”
    The corner of Detective Brandon’s mouth turned up. I wouldn’t call it even the beginning of a smile. It was more like a twitch, a small indication that she had her prey in her sights. “And why did you threaten him?”
    â€œI wouldn’t hurt him.” Gavin braced his hand on the rickety table for support. It wobbled but held. “You have to believe that.”
    â€œYou threatened him. I don’t have to ‘believe’ anything.”
    Gavin’s shoulders drooped. “I’m not proud of that.”
    She inclined her head. “So please answer my question.”
    â€œI said it because Conrad stole from my family. I was angry, and it just came out. I didn’t really mean it. I regretted it the moment the words left my mouth.”
    â€œIf you were angry enough to wish someone dead, maybe you were angry enough to carry out that threat.”
    Gavin looked from the detective to me. “Conrad is dead?”
    We both nodded.
    His face paled. “Poor Corrie.”
    â€œWho’s Corrie?” The detective’s voice was sharp.
    â€œConrad’s daughter.”
    The detective nodded. “I’ll need to talk to her too.”
    Gavin’s brow creased. “Corrie would never hurt her father. They didn’t have the world’s best relationship, but I know she would never do that.”
    â€œI need to talk to her because she is probably the next of kin.” Detective Brandon studied Gavin. “Are you implying that she might have reason to want her father dead?”
    The color drained from Gavin’s face. “N—no.”
    She arched an eyebrow. “Do you know Corrie well?”
    He blushed. “Well enough.”
    So Gavin knew not only Dr. Beeson, but also his daughter, and this was the first time I was hearing about it? Why hadn’t he mentioned all this when I’d told the staff that I’d hired Beeson to take over the tree tapping class?
    I could almost hear the police detective tuck this latest information into the back of her brain. “So tell me,” she said. “What were the circumstances in which you made your threat?”
    Gavin’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed. “I was at a Sap and Spile meeting, and we had a disagreement.”
    Both the detective and I blinked at him. “A what?” I asked.
    He sighed. “A Sap and Spile meeting.” Then he blushed. “It’s sort of a maple sugaring club. We meet twice a week during February and March in the shelter house in the park.”
    â€œWhat was your disagreement about? You said he stole something. What was it?” the detective asked.
    â€œHe stole sugaring rights from my family.”
    â€œSugaring rights?”
    Gavin sighed. “My family has been harvesting the maple sugar in the park for generations. My ancestors built the sugarhouse there. Beeson ignored all that history and stole those sugaring