The Billionaire Boss's Scandal

Getting Better

Amara shifted on her feet as the detectives began questioning Nicole. They asked her most of the same starting questions, although Nicole's answers were vastly different from Amara's.

"Where were you the night your husband died?" Milne asked her.

"I was out. At the bar," Nicole said simply. Her words were like cement bricks, thumping out without any emotion.

"Which bar?" 

Nicole named one of the local hangouts. Amara tilted her head in surprise. She didn't drink much, but even she knew that bar wasn't exactly high class. Actually, it was kind of cheap. She had Nicole pegged as only having the best. So why would she have gone to a cheap bar like that?

"That bar is only a few streets over from your late husband's office," Ramirez pointed out.

Nicole glared at her. If she could, Amara was sure she would have been shooting fire from her eyes. "I know he's my late husband. Thank you."

There was venom in her voice, though Amara couldn't blame her. 

"But you went to the bar by yourself," Milne continued, ignoring the animosity between Nicole and the other detective. "Why wasn't your husband with you?"

Nicole stayed silent. She scowled at both detectives, at the mirror, then at the table in front of her. If she wasn't careful, Amara thought, she'd end up with a permanent frown etched into her face.

"Listen, Mrs. Leonard." Detective Milne leaned forward, obviously playing the role of "good cop". "We all know you're grieving. But if you help us figure out who did this, it would give you a lot of peace."

"I already told you who did it!" Nicole spat.

"Yeah, but, do you have any proof of it?" Ramirez asked.

Nicole slumped back in her chair, arms crossed, with no answer. It was pretty obvious, even to Amara, that, as much as Nicole wanted to blame Joshua's death on Amara, she had nothing to back up her claims. She merely wanted Amara to be responsible.

Ramirez looked at a book on the table. Amara watched as something occurred to the detective. She looked to the mirror, where she knew Amara was watching, and arched a brow. Amara wasn't sure, but it appeared that Ramirez was feeling smug about something.

"Mrs. Leonard," Ramirez began, "Is it true that you inherit half of your husband's company?"

Nicole watched her. "Yes."

"Why half?" Milne asked, peering over at the book.

"Because the other half is still owned by Glenn Houston," Ramirez said. She bored her eyes into Nicole. "Unless you were planning to take out your late husband's partner as well."

"I didn't kill him!" Nicole shouted. "I already told you that!"

"Maybe you didn't, but maybe you hired someone else," Ramirez. "You have the money for that, don't you?"

Nicole sputtered. "I want my lawyer."

Amara was impressed. Ramirez had caught Nicole in a question she couldn't answer. If Nicole said, yes, she did have the money, she could be implicating herself as a "murder for hire" case. If she said, no, she didn't have the money, that would more than likely lead to an investigation of the Leonards' finances. Not to mention, it was pretty obvious that Nicole did, in fact, have that kind of money.

After another minute or two, Milne and Ramirez left he interrogation room. Ramirez walked into the room were Amara was standing. She carried an air of victory with her. A smile was spread across her face.