“Dinnae worry yourself. I learned to drive this way.”
“I’d crash in the first five minutes.”
They bought some dry-erase markers and a small, portable whiteboard that folded and just managed to fit in the back, stopping at a florist shop along the way so Elizabeth could buy flowers for Ava. Then they made the drive to Jack and Ava’s house, going over everything Quinn knew about the murder once again.
“Tell me about Ava.”
Quinn shared what he knew. Ava was English. She and Jack had met when she was assigned to him as his physical therapist after he injured his shoulder in combat. They’d gotten together when they ran into each other two years later and had been together since. She had an older sister, who was caring for their ailing mother. Both she and Jack had wanted children, so Olivia and Isla had come along quickly.
“Somehow, she brought Jack back to earth, brought him home from the battlefield. He stopped drinkin’ so much and became a family man.” Quinn glanced over at Elizabeth, who seemed to be taking all of this in, a thoughtful frown on her face. “Have you ruled her out as a suspect?”
Elizabeth shot him a look. “You bampot. The more I understand about her, the more I’ll be able to see this through her eyes.”
Quinn turned onto Jack and Ava’s street. “She’s devastated, she is. Jack loved her wi’ all of his heart, and she loved him. She told me she disnae know how she’s goin’ to live the rest of her life wi’out him. She wants answers. She wants justice.”
“Those answers might not bring her the peace she wants.”
Even as he understood Elizabeth’s meaning, Quinn rejected that thought. “I know what it looks like wi’ him lyin’ to her about his mobile, but I cannae believe he’d sell or use drugs.”
Would you bet your life on that?
Aye, so help him God, he would.
“Dinnae you say a word about that phone to Ava, aye?”
“I promise.”
They arrived at the house to find Ava and Hannah already there, Ava standing in her kitchen, looking overwhelmed, while Hannah made tea.
Quinn introduced Elizabeth, who gave Ava the flowers.
“I’m so very sorry for your loss—and for this latest upheaval in your life.”
“Thank you. These are lovely.” Ava took the flowers, sniffed them, and handed them to Hannah, who rummaged under the sink for a vase. “You work with Quinn?”
“I used to be a counterterrorism analyst with the CIA. I’ve come to help him see if he can unravel what happened to your husband.”
“The CIA?” Ava stared at her. “I’m so grateful. Quinn has always been such a good friend.”
“Would you mind if I asked you some questions?”
“Anything to get justice for Jack.”
While Quinn and Hannah cleaned up in the kitchen, Elizabeth sat down with Ava, taking notes as Ava answered her questions.
“Was she really wi’ the CIA?” Hannah whispered.
“Aye, she was. She’s one of the cleverest people I know.”
“I’m happy she’s on our side.”
So was Quinn.
* * *
Ava satacross from Elizabeth on the sofa. “I hope you’re not going to ask me whether my husband was dealing drugs. I know what they said on the news last night. I’ve had a half-dozenfriendscall to tell me about it and ask how I’m coping. Jack and I didn’t keep secrets from each other.”
Elizabeth hurt for Ava, knowing that this wasn’t true. “I’m so sorry—and, no, I wasn’t going to ask you any of that.”