Carolyn Arnold - McKinley 03 - Money is Murder (5 page)

Not Above Suspicion

“DOES HE REALLY EXPECT US to not worry about this guy?” Sara asked as they loaded onto the elevator to the main
lobby.

“I don’t know what we’re supposed to do about it.”

“One guy who hates his job can take a company down.”

“Edward assured us that his work is being overseen by other managers. Some of his power has been taken away from him.”

Sara jutted her hip to the right.
“One thing that’s really bothering me is why Edward didn’t mention that Cindy was married to Robert. I had said in his office that it was a shame she died so young because she wouldn’t have that experience. He had diverted the subject back to the business and how there was a lot to learn.”

“Good point. Hopefully the detective can shed some light on everything. After the appointment we’ll go back to our condo and download the information Jimmy sent to the laptop.”

“Sounds good, but there’s something else. We were thinking it possible that Cindy was killed for the inheritance? What if it was a disgruntled business owner? Cindy excelled at snatching up generational companies. Paul said it didn’t seem to even affect her.”

“The young man who was in love with your diamonds?”

Sara smirked.
“You noticed that too?”

“I did, and I heard back from Daphne Graham, the executor and attorney. Quinn changed his Will six months ago, just after his daughter’s death.”

“When were you going to tell me you heard back?”

“I just did.”

“You just heard back?”

“No, I just told you.” Sean laughed and she narrowed her eyes as she moved in to kiss him.

Sara weaved through the crowded coffee shop, Sean trailing behind her.

“That’s him over there.”

The man remained seated when they approached. He was in his late fifties and life’s experiences had etched darkness into his features.

“Detective Benson?” Sean asked, holding out his hand.

“Yes, and you two are the McKinleys, no doubt.” Benson never extended his hand but kept it wrapped around his coffee cup. “Please, have a seat.” He nodded his head in the direction of the chairs across from him. “I didn’t know what you would like or I would have ordered.”

Sara studied his eyes as she sat. He had made mention of ordering for them, but there was no intention in his eyes. Benson was already prejudiced against their being here, although, part of her understood the reasoning. To him, they were questioning his detective work.

“We have some questions about Cindy Quinn’s death.” Sean leaned across the table, his hands clasped together.

“I am willing to answer them, but the girl did kill herself. There isn’t any other explanation for it.” Benson sat back in his chair, and Sara sensed it was to place distance between them.

“We’ve come to find out that she was married,” Sara said.

His eyes went from Sean to her.
“Yes, she was, but not at the time of her death. He’s not a great guy. Robert West, if I remember the name, but he had a solid alibi for the time of her death.”

“Please tell us more about how she died.”

“You know she overdosed on sleeping pills?”

“That’s what we understand.”

“There was an empty pill bottle found on her nightstand. It stands to reason that a woman of that importance would feel pressure and have a hard time sleeping. The stress must have gotten to her.”

“What did her husband, I guess ex, say about that?”

“He said she would take them periodically. He didn’t find anything strange about them being in the home.”

“And where was Robert West the night she overdosed?”

“He was away on business for Universal, your company now,” he jabbed his cup toward Sean. “Flights, accommodations and everything was verified. He wasn’t in town.”

“Paperwork can be altered and testimony paid for,” Sean said, earning a glare from the detective.

“Who found her?” Sara asked.

“Her housekeeper, Martha Colton.”

Sara turned to Sean.
“Oh, that would have been terrible.”

Sean nodded.
“I assume that she was also investigated.”

“Listen, I’m not sure how things are run in Albany, but here, we do our due diligence. I take offence to the implication that I didn’t do my job. You might be some rich guy, ’cause you got lucky, but you’re not the boss of my life. I answer to the people of New York City.”

Sara glanced at Sean
’s profile, not that she had to see his pulsing cheeks to sense his anger.

“Detective Benson, we don’t have to like each other, but—”

“That’s good then.”

“Detective, my husband and I don’t mean you any disrespect. It’s quite likely anything we find out will be exactly what you already have.”

“Quite likely.” Benson shifted in his seat. “It will be
exactly
what has already been found out. Trust me.”

“We’d love to trust you,” Sean said.

Sara
jerked her head in his direction—the underlying sarcasm in his tone was venomous.

“You can view things how you like, but I did my job. I can only go by the evidence and the findings of the coroner.”

“I appreciate that.”

“What is it you want to know?”

“Robert West, he was Cindy’s husband, but she never took on his name?”

Benson shook his head.
“No. From what West told me, she wanted to keep her family name. She took the key back for her place the moment she kicked him out too.”

“When did they divorce?”

“It was final one month before her death.”

“Hmm, that’s coincidental,” Sara said. “He could have killed her because he couldn’t have her.”

Benson lifted his cup for a quick sip.
“That’s what I thought. I grilled the guy, but with the cleared alibi, there’s nothing I could hold him on.”

“Anyone benefit from her death?”

“Only her father. He got everything.”

Sara turned to Sean.
“So, Robert didn’t kill her to get her money.”

“I should tell you that there was one thing that really stood out to me at the time,” Benson began. “Robert and Cindy stood to inherit money from her father’s death.”

“Oh my God, Sean, he killed her to get Quinn’s inheritance.”
Her attention went from her husband to the detective.

“It makes one wonder, but like I said everything was investigated. West had a solid alibi. He would have also had to take out two members of the family to get a dime. Complex, but not impossible.”

“He could have hired someone to kill her.”

“Again, we didn’t find any evidence of that. If you need anything further, don’t hesitate.”

“We won’t. Thank you.”

Benson nodded and stood.
“If you’d excuse me, I better get home to the wife and dinner.”

“Understandable. Thank you again,” Sara said.

With him gone, Sara turned to Sean.
“We better get back to the condo and go over everything. There’s something that’s being overlooked here.”

“I agree. Benson’s adamant that he did his job.”

“Maybe he did. He mentioned the results from the autopsy also factoring in. Maybe we should visit the coroner tomorrow?”

“It might not be a bad idea, but it might be tricky for us to get answers, seeing as we don’t carry a badge anymore. Let’s see where this information gets us first, and we also need to go to Cindy’s flat and take a look around.”

“Sounds good, but first, darling, can we have a nice dinner someplace?” She smiled at him and he returned it.

“Whatever you wish, my dear.”

The mauve hue to Sara’s cheeks told Sean all he needed to know—it was time to call it a night.

“It’s just the wine.” She smiled lazily and leaned against his shoulder.

They were walking back to their condo, having opted for a restaurant nearby. They ate a gourmet meal and sipped on fine red wine, talking about everything, except for Cindy Quinn. The conversation about her started the minute they hit the sidewalk.

Sean angled his head to rest on hers.
“I think we should head over to her flat tomorrow. You look exhausted.”

“You might be right.” She exhaled a deep breath of defeat. “I won’t argue with you on that point, but we need to look over the reports.”

“She’s been dead for six months already, what is one more—”

“What sort of thing is that to say? Mr. Quinn left you, us, everything he had. We owe it to him to look into—” A yawn encompassed her face.

“That is my point, darling. It doesn’t do anyone any good if you get yourself run down and sick.”

“I suppose.” She yanked on his arm. “But first thing in the morning, with a pot of coffee.”

“First thing, but you don’t need coffee.”

She stopped walking.
“Do you really want to meet the Sara who doesn’t have coffee in her system?” She shook her head and laughed. “Trust me, you don’t.”

“Fine, we’ll do it your way, this time.”

He savored the closeness of his wife and drifted back to a couple months ago when their relationship seemed doomed to remain platonic. How things had changed for the better.