No One Left to Tell Read Online Free PDF

on the open door to the parlor, near the front entry. A young woman sat on the divan by the hearth. Her shoulder-length, jet-black hair reflected an aura of crimson with the fire crackling behind her. Even in profile, the young detective was most attractive. A dark-skinned man in khaki pants and brown sport coat paced in front of her, adjusting his tie and collar with a finger. At the base of the staircase, she raised her chin and drew back her shoulders, donning the persona of her public life.
    "To what do I owe this pleasure, Detectives?" Fiona breezed into the room.
    "Good morning, Mrs. Dunhill. I'm Detective Tony Rodriguez and this is Detective Raven Mackenzie." Both held their badges for her inspection. "We're investigating—"
    "Before we get started, may I offer you coffee or tea?" she interrupted, with a casual smile. Without waiting for a reply, she turned toward her attendant standing inside the door. "Benjamin. Please bring in a coffee service and some pastry for our guests. I'll have my usual Earl Grey tea. Thank you."
    When the manservant left the room, Fiona seated herself in a brocade wingback chair and adjusted her dress hem over her knees. Detective Rodriguez relaxed enough to sit next to his partner on the davenport. The warm glow of the fire flickered on their expectant faces.
    "Sorry to interrupt. Please continue."
    The male detective spoke. "I'm afraid I've got some disturbing news. We're investigating a murder. And the victim was one of your security people, Mickey Blair. His body was found last night at St. Sebastian's, a local church in downtown Chicago."
    She fought to keep the look of shock from her face, but she was certain she failed. She would have to do better.
    "Mickey Blair, you say? In security?" Her voice cracked. She cleared her throat to disguise her mistake. "I'm not sure I recall the name, but I have a large number of people under my employ at Dunhill Corporation." As she suspected, her past had come calling, not a welcome visitor.
    "We'll need access to Mr. Blair's duties and his personnel records, anything to give us a clear picture of him. Who can help with that type of information?" he asked, flipping open a notepad.
    Detective Rodriguez commandeered the conversation, but the young female detective captured her interest. Raven Mackenzie sat, her eyes fixed on Fiona's every move. Even returning her stare, she couldn't shake the young woman's dark eyes. They hadn't faltered for an instant—unnerving. But intimidation would turn the tables.
    "Dunhill records are confidential, and as for his duties, that is certainly off-limits."
    For the first time, the young female detective spoke. "Why would you fight us on a murder investigation of one of your employees? Especially if you aren't familiar with the man or his duties, as you say."
    Detective Mackenzie was too clever for her own good. Rigid in her chair, Fiona clenched her jaw and took a breath before speaking. A potential solution came to mind.
    "Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. Certainly I would like to get to the bottom of this. But unless I can be assured you're working with one of my own people in this investigation, without limitation, then my full cooperation shall never be granted."
    Turning two detectives loose to pry into her dealings with Mickey Blair was unthinkable. Without question, she trusted only one person to look out for her interests. Yet she couldn't picture him working with the police, under any circumstances. She'd have to do some pretty fast talking to convince him to do her bidding. And he'd have to set aside his animosity for law enforcement. But she knew he would be her only hope.
    "A court order would be required, making your efforts an uphill battle. And the head of my security would conduct his own private investigation, completely autonomous to your endeavor." She kept her face stoic, a payoff from living a life in charge. "And I may not be in the mood to share."
    An awkward void in conversation filled