Fractured Memories (Badge of Honor #1)

Chapter 8

EIGHT

Shock rippled through Felicity. She held her tongue, letting Kurtis lead the way for the time being. She sensed this realization was a calculated move on his part and wanted to see where it was going. From the way Noah sat quietly, he was thinking the same thing.

“There was a handyman Brooke occasionally used for repairs around her house.” Kurtis selected a glass of sparkling water from the tray on the coffee table and sat back in the winged chair. He took a sip. “Jeremy Lara. Back then, he was living with his parents, a few houses down from her. Jeremy had… problems. Mentally. I warned Brooke several times about hiring him, but I think she felt sorry for him.” He stared down at his glass of water. “That was Brooke. She always saw the best in people.”

Noah glanced at Felicity, and she gave a subtle shake of her head. The name Jeremy Lara wasn’t familiar to her, but from the faint crease in his brow, Noah knew the man. He focused back on Kurtis. “Did Jeremy ever threaten Brooke?”

“Not that I know of, but he was mentally unstable. Honestly, I feel bad even mentioning his name to you now. The last thing I want to do is get the man in trouble, but her murder has always weighed on me. She didn’t have an enemy in the world, and I can’t think of anyone else who’d want to hurt her. Everyone loved Brooke. She was quiet and sensitive.”

“It’s clear you cared for her deeply. How long did you and Brooke date?”

“On and off for about two years.” Kurtis lifted a shoulder. “I was in my late-twenties back then and not concerned with settling down. Brooke wanted to get married. Every once in a while, she’d pressure me about the direction of our relationship, we’d break up, and then a few months later get back together.” His gaze grew distant. “I loved her, otherwise I wouldn't have kept going back, but grew tired of our constant merry-go-round. The last time we broke up, it was for good. I made that crystal clear.”

Interesting. Kurtis was doing his best to put some distance between himself and Brooke. Once again, Felicity felt like she was being manipulated. The more the man talked, the less she believed him. She kept her tone casual. “Can you remember the last time you spoke to Brooke?”

“On the day of her murder, I went to her house to collect some things I’d left there while we were dating.” He leaned forward, resting his elbow on the arm of the chair. “Jeremy was there, repairing Brooke’s gutters. I felt very uncomfortable leaving her alone with him, so we chatted and watched some television until he was done. Once Jeremy left, I did too.”

The scenario sounded plausible, but it would be hard to verify. Fifteen years had passed. Neighbors likely wouldn’t remember the comings and goings at Brooke’s house, especially earlier in the day before her murder. Kurtis also could’ve come by Brooke’s house twice—once to collect his things and another time to murder her.

What was clear is that Brooke wasn’t afraid of him. She let him into the house, at least in the afternoon. It was likely she would have again. In fact, it would’ve been easy for Kurtis to gain access to Brooke’s home by claiming he’d left something behind.

Felicity weighed her options and decided to dig for more information. “Brooke’s brother says that she was dating someone new. Did she tell you about it?”

Kurtis tilted his head as his gaze turned flint hard. “No. She never mentioned that.”

Okay. That question touched a nerve. “Would it have bothered you if she was dating someone else?”

“Not at all. In fact, it would have been ideal. I’d already moved on and was seeing someone new. My wife, Melanie. It would’ve been better for everyone if Brooke was also happy and in love.”

“When did she find out you and Melanie were dating?”

“I told her right before I left her house.” He set his water glass on the tray with a click. “Melanie and I had discussed it beforehand and wanted to make sure we were serious before breaking the news to Brooke. We kept our relationship secret, but we’d been dating for months at that point, and…” He cleared his throat. “Brooke expressed a desire to get back together with me when I came by to pick up my stuff. I didn’t feel right about leading her on.”

“How did she take the news?”

“She was understandably shocked.”

“Just shocked?” Felicity learned forward. “Frankly, sir, if my ex and my best friend started dating, I’d feel betrayed. It would be worse if they kept it a secret from me for months. Surely you must’ve argued.”

“The conversation was… tense.” He met Felicity’s gaze. “Despite our relationship struggles, I cared deeply for Brooke. It was never my intention to hurt her. The relationship with Melanie was unexpected. For us both. One day, we were just friends and then…” A smile played on his lips. “All of a sudden we were more. It was like a puzzle piece that was missing snapped into place and everything became clear.”

Felicity was looking at Kurtis, but she was increasingly aware of Noah seated on the love seat beside her. His thigh was touching hers. Their relationship was rooted in friendship. Based on Kurtis’s description, it was possible to know someone for a long time and then suddenly one day see them in a new way. Was that what was happening to her? Maybe this slow-burning attraction she’d been fighting for Noah was more real than she’d initially thought.

She shoved those considerations aside and focused back on Kurtis. “After learning about your relationship with Melanie, did Brooke speak to her?”

His expression once again turned calculated. He was quiet for a long moment. “Unfortunately, they didn’t. Brooke was murdered before Melanie had a chance to discuss it with her.” The faint click of heels against marble filtered into the room. Kurtis’s jaw hardened and his steady gaze flickered back and forth between Felicity and Noah. “I know you both have a job to do, and I’m sure you’ll want to speak to my wife, but I request that you keep it brief. Melanie holds a lot of guilt about the way Brooke found out about us. She was quite angry with me for telling her on my own.”

Before they could respond, a woman breezed into the room. Melanie. She was tall and slender with shoulder-length blond hair that fell in gentle waves around her sweetheart face. Ruby red lipstick coated her full lips. Felicity and Noah rose to greet her, as did Kurtis.

Melanie drew up short and studied Felicity for a long moment. Shock and then recognition zipped across her features. “Felicity Capshaw? Oh my goodness, look at you.”

She crossed the room to embrace Felicity in a gentle hug. Melanie’s perfume was sickly sweet, and up close, it was obvious the older woman had used plastic surgery and Botox to ward off aging. Her forehead didn’t have a wrinkle on it and her lips were plumper than in her youth.

“I heard a rumor you were in town, but didn’t know if it was true.” Melanie’s gaze drifted to Noah and then Kurtis. The stillness of her facial expression made it difficult to read her internal emotions. She could’ve been shocked, confused, or playing dumb. “Kurtis, honey, what’s going on?”

“Detective Hodge and Ranger Capshaw are here to discuss Brooke’s murder. The Knoxville PD is reopening the case.” His forehead creased as he waved a hand between Felicity and his wife. “Although, I suppose introductions aren’t needed between you two. How do you know each other?”

“Felicity was the little girl that Brooke used to babysit,” Melanie said. “Don’t you remember?”

Kurtis locked eyes with Felicity and something flashed in the depths of those blue orbs, but before Felicity could determine what, it was gone. He laughed lightly. “Of course. Forgive me, Ranger Capshaw. I’m not good with names or faces.”

“That’s quite all right.” Felicity kept her tone light. “We never officially met when I was younger.”

Melanie drifted to her husband’s side. She wore an expensive linen suit that played off her bronzed skin. Her diamond necklace and wedding band sparkled in the sunlight. She absently wrapped an arm around Kurtis’s waist. “I’m sorry to intrude, but we have plans this afternoon. A golf charity game. Have you asked all the questions you need to? ”

Noah stepped forward. “Actually, Mrs. Ferguson, since you were Brooke’s best friend, we’d love to ask some additional questions.”

“Of course.” She smiled politely. “Come by the bank tomorrow morning. I’ll be there.”

“Appreciate it, ma’am.” Noah settled his cowboy hat on his head and then paused. “One last thing, and then we’ll get out of your hair. Where were each of you on the night Brooke was murdered?”

Melanie laughed lightly, although her expression held no sign of mirth. “Excuse me, Detective. Are we suspects?”

“It’s a routine question, ma’am.” Noah shot her a charming smile. “They teach us to ask it in detective school.”

The small joke broke the tension in the room. Everyone chuckled.

Kurtis pulled his wife closer. “Melanie and I were together. We had dinner with my mother and then began watching a movie. I’m embarrassed to say we both fell asleep on the couch and didn’t wake up until the next morning.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m so sorry, but we need to get going. If you think of any other questions, feel free to contact me at my office.”

The couple quickly shook Felicity's and Noah’s hands. The maid appeared out of nowhere and escorted them from the home. Felicity waited until they were back inside the Tahoe before opening her mouth. “That was interesting. Did Kurtis ever mention Melanie being with him on the night of Brooke’s murder in his initial statement?”

“No. You think he’s trying to shore up his alibi?”

“Possibly.” She cast a glance back at the house. “Or maybe he’s trying to shore up hers.”