Secondhand Stiff
home.”
    What he said made sense. The police would take Renee and Mom’s statements, then release them. They might take Ina in or release her. It was difficult to say, but her questioning would take longer.
    â€œShould we call Seth?” I asked. “He helped me through questioning last time.”
    â€œI’m going to call Seth, but for a referral for an experienced criminal lawyer. Something tells me this might need more legal muscle. Find out if Ina has a lawyer. If not, we can use the referral.”
    â€œOh, crap!” I said into the phone, remembering something. “Seth and Zee are still out of town.” Their daughter, Hannah, had recently moved with her husband to Chicago. Seth and Zee had taken off for a couple of weeks to spend Thanksgiving with them and then see friends who lived in the Midwest.
    â€œI can still call him,” said Greg. “If I don’t reach him, I’ll call Steele.”
    I groaned. Mike Steele was my obnoxious boss. He had a sick love for my stumbling in and out of trouble, but he was a kick-ass attorney, though not in the field of criminal law. “But call Seth first,” I insisted. “We could even call Clark, who could ask Willie. I’m sure Willie knows lots of experienced criminal attorneys. Or even Dev, though I’m not sure I want Dev knowing I stumbled upon another body.”
    â€œAll good ideas, sweetheart. One way or another, we’ll find Ina an excellent lawyer.”
    I held the phone like a lifeline, worried about my next question. “Greg, do you think Ina might have had something to do with Tom’s death? She did seem genuinely shocked when she saw the body, but you never know.”
    â€œIna’s no angel, and she and Tom have always had problems, but I can’t imagine her killing anyone.”
    I’m sure the families of most killers thought that. I did not voice my thoughts to Greg.
    â€œBut either way,” he continued, “she’ll need competent legal help to get through this. If she and Tom were having problems and Tom was cheating, the cops will see it as motive. I sure hope she has a good alibi.” There was a pause, but it wasn’t followed by swearing. “For once, I’m glad you were there when a body was found. I’d hate to think of Ina going through this on her own.”
    I tapped the phone to make sure I’d heard correctly. “So you’re not going to tell me to keep my nose out of it?”
    â€œI think this is the perfect time for both of us to stick our noses into something.” He cleared his throat. “Of course, only if Ina is implicated.”
    Yeah, right. I know my husband. Even if Ina is totally cleared as a suspect, Greg will want to get to the bottom of who killed Tom Bruce. He may not have liked Tom, but the killing was too close to home for him to stay out of it.
    I glanced back at the locker to find the police moving everyone out of the area. The group of bystanders, including Ina, Renee, and Mom, was being herded once again, but this time toward the front of the storage compound.
    â€œHoney, I have to go. They’re clearing the area.”
    â€œI’ll be there as soon as I can. Stick close to Ina. The moms will probably be okay, but who knows what might come out of Ina’s mouth under the circumstances.”
    â€œAye, aye, captain.” I love it when my hubby exerts his take-charge personality—well, I love it when it doesn’t collide with my own pig-headed streak.

four
    When I caught up to the crowd, they were being held in an area just inside the front gate of Elite Storage. The police were methodically working through everyone, taking names, contact information, and short statements. It looked like we might be here a good long time. Kim Pawlak sensed the same thing and disappeared into the office, returning with two folding chairs for Renee and Mom, for which I thanked her.
    Ina was off to the side. With

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