12. Nikoli

Detective Cross sitsacross from Willow and me. Rosie"s colleague, Levi Dodge, is also here. Turns out Cross and Dodge are former partners.

I"d been looking forward to seeing Willow at the arena, but that never happened after all hell broke loose at Evergreen. My grandmother was having a good time with the young men in uniform, reminding me that she wasn"t dead or blind.

Willow"s hand trembles in mine as we wait to hear what the detective has to say or ask. Willow hadn"t been there when the old man was killed. But they still needed a full statement from her.

"Do you recognize this?" Cross asks Willow, holding out his phone with a picture of a paperweight.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

Willow takes a closer look. "It looks like a paperweight. I"ve never owned one. I don"t remember seeing one around Evergreen." She tilts her head to the side and stares at Cross. "Is this the murder weapon?"

"We think so. It"s being tested."

"I wasn"t there when he was killed."

Cross says, "I didn"t tell you when it was."

I narrow my eyes at the man. "What does that mean?"

Willow squeezes my hand and says, "Evergreen is a home for those who can no longer care for themselves, as well as those who need specialized care, such as those with Alzheimer"s and dementia. The staff has a duty of care. I left Evergreen yesterday morning with Nikoli. I returned this morning with Rosie and Levi after poor Harold David was discovered. There is no way he was not checked several times while I was off the premises." Pause. "I saw Sandra and Julie sneaking around his room one night."

"Tell me what you saw." Cross sits forward.

"Julie was in Mr. David"s room while Sandra was watching out in the hallway. That"s how it looked to me. Julie came out, said something to Sandra, and they both took off. Not long after that I ran into Susan Wilcox. She"s one of the managers. It was really bizarre."

Cross takes a moment to sift through his thoughts before saying, "That"s something to look into. I think you should know that the culprit tried to pin it on you."

My eyes widen in surprise and Willow"s head snaps up.

Cross continues, "The paperweight was found just inside your room, on top of the wooden dresser by the door. It could easily have been slipped inside in a matter of seconds. The person who did it wouldn"t have had to enter your room. I don"t think you"re stupid enough to leave a bloody murder weapon out in the open."

Willow shakes her head. "I don"t understand why anyone would try to frame me. I haven"t done anything to anyone. I get along with the staff and the residents. It makes no sense."

"What about your family?"

Willow shakes against me. "I don"t?—"

"Can you leave them out of this?" I ask.

Cross doesn"t look so happy, although he"s softening. "I"m sorry for the loss of your father, Willow. But I need to ask you about his death. Could the death of Harold David be connected? Is your brother the killer?"

"What!" She gasps. "No way in hell is Gabe responsible for anyone"s death. Wait!" A long pause. "Why would Mr. David"s death have anything to do with my father? Why would you even suggest that my brother is the killer? I feel like I"m missing a lot of pieces with what you just said, Detective."

"All my cards on the table. Your brother is wanted in connection with your father"s death. Harold David worked for your father until he retired fifteen years ago. He came to live at Evergreen eight years ago. Five years ago, Evergreen changed ownership and became a place for patients who could no longer care for themselves. Harold David was allowed to stay because he needed by then."

Willow stares at Cross, her complexion turning pale. "My brother didn"t kill anyone, Detective Cross. You are looking in the wrong place if you think he did."

"No one has seen or heard from him since your father was shot. He needs to come forward and give his side of things."

"Have you considered that something might have happened to him?" I offer. I can"t decide whether to tell Cross everything we know or leave it alone and talk to Dodge later. I really don"t want to screw anything up, but I know we need help and a detective"s help would keep us all out of jail.

"I really don"t know anything about Mr. David"s death." Willow sighs. "If I did, I would tell you. I had no idea he worked for my father. I mean, fifteen years ago I would have been about nine." Willow glances in my direction before turning back to Cross. "As for my father"s death, I"d look at another branch of the family tree."

Cross narrows his eyes and searches Willow"s face. "Really?"

"Yes." Willow lets go of my hand and rubs hers together before resting them on her thighs. "Since I"ve been working at Evergreen, I haven"t slept anywhere else. I"ve always been there. Whoever set me up wouldn"t know I wasn"t there. It"s not like I tell anybody what I do. My free time is mine and mine alone."

Cross nods. "I met your grandmother, Nikoli." He grins. "She"s a warrior, Martha Southern. Wouldn"t want to be on the wrong side of her."

I grin. "I bet she put you in your place."

"Oh, she did. Told me what she"d do to me if I didn"t get the idea out of my head that Willow was the killer." He chuckles. "She"s got an eye for the uniform, too."

I snort. "She keeps telling me she"s not dead or blind."

"Hmph." Cross covers his mouth, which I"m sure hides a smirk. The detective liked my grandmother. That"s good to know. "I"ll go." He stands. "Just remember, I"m not the enemy here. I don"t think you had anything to do with David"s death, Willow." Pause. "If you want to talk about anything else, call me." He hands a business card to Willow, who takes it.

"I will."

Cross hovers, then turns to Dodge, who leads him out of the apartment.

"You know what doesn"t make sense? That the police think my brother killed my father. It hasn"t been in the news. I assumed Gabriel was dead. I wonder why Marcus didn"t pretend it was me who pulled the trigger. That would have gotten me back home quicker."

"Because you would have told the cops the truth. With your brother possibly being held against his will and you on the run, there was no one around to dispute your uncle"s claims." He shrugged. "I"m not sure what"s going on at Evergreen, though."

"I don"t think it has anything to do with my family." Willow lifts her worried gaze to me, and all I want to do is hold her close and tell her that everything will be all right. But none of us know. My head is spinning with everything that is going on. "We need to focus," I say. "We need to concentrate on finding Willow"s brother. Once we have him, Gabe and Willow can talk to the police together."