Read Before he Kills (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 1) for Free Online

any
information we can get and then social services will come to make sure your
aunt Jennifer is suitable to care for you while final arrangements are made for
your mom.”
    “She’s cool most of the time,” Kevin
said, looking over to Jennifer. “But her and Mom were really tight. Like best
friends.”
    “Sisters can be like that,” Mackenzie
said, having no idea if it was true or not. “But for now, I need to see if you
can focus on my questions. Can you do that?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Good. Now, I hate to ask you this, but
it’s sort of necessary. Do you know what your mom did for work?”
    Kevin nodded as his eyes dropped to the
floor.
    “Yeah,” he said. “And I don’t know how,
but kids at school know about it, too. Someone’s horny dad probably went to the
club and saw her and recognized her from a school function or something. It
sucks. I got ribbed about it all the time.”
    Mackenzie couldn’t imagine that kind of
torment but it also made her respect Hailey Lizbrook a hell of a lot more.
Sure, she stripped for money at night but during the day she was apparently a
mother who was involved with her kids.
    “Okay,” Mackenzie said. “So, knowing
about her job, you can imagine the kind of men that go to those places, right?”
    Kevin nodded, and Mackenzie saw the
first tear slide down his left cheek. She almost reached out and took his hand
as a sign of comfort but she didn’t want to antagonize him.
    “I need you to think about whether or
not your mom ever came home really upset or mad about something. I need you to
also think about any men that might have…well, any men that might have come
home with her.”
    “No one ever came home with her,” he
said. “And I hardly ever saw Mom angry or upset about anything. The only time I
ever saw her mad was when she was dealing with the lawyers last year.”
    “Lawyers?” Mackenzie asked. “Do you know
why she was speaking with lawyers?”
    “Sort of. I know that something happened
at work one night and it made her end up talking to some lawyers. I heard bits
and pieces of it when she was on the phone. I’m pretty sure she was talking to
them about a restraining order.”
    “And you think this was in regards to
where she worked?”
    “I don’t know for sure,” Kevin said. He
seemed to have brightened a bit once it seemed that he had said something that
might be of assistance. “But I think so.”
    “That’s a huge help, Kevin,” Mackenzie
said. “Is there anything else you can think of?”
    He shook his head slowly and then looked
into Mackenzie’s eyes. He was trying to remain strong but there was so much
sadness in the boy’s eyes that Mackenzie had no idea how he hadn’t broken down
yet.
    “Mom was ashamed of it, you know?” Kevin
said. “She worked from home some during the day. She was this sort of technical
writer, doing websites and stuff. But I don’t think she was making much money.
She did the other thing to make more money because our dad…well, he split a
long time ago. He never sends money anymore. So Mom…she had to take this other
job. She did it for me and Dalton and…”
    “I know,” Mackenzie said, and this time
she did reach out to him. She placed her hand on his shoulder and he seemed to
be grateful. She could also tell that he wanted to cry quite badly but probably
wasn’t going to allow himself to do it in front of strangers.
    “Detective Porter,” Mackenzie said, and
he emerged from the other room, glaring at her. “Did you have any further
questions?” She shook her head subtly as she asked this, hoping he’d pick up on
it.
    “No, I think we’re good here,” Porter
said.
    “Okay,” Mackenzie said. “Again, guys,
thank you so much for your time.”
    “Yes, thanks,” Porter said, joining Mackenzie
in the living room. “Jennifer, you have my number so if you can think of
anything that might help us, don’t hesitate to call. Even the smallest detail
could prove helpful.”
    Jennifer nodded and let