Reed Family Box Set

by Tyora Moody

  Was Candie pretending to be grief-stricken about her boss?

  The more Asia observed the woman, the more questions she had. Though Candie appeared genuinely torn-up about Adam’s death, something was off. Asia wondered if either of the detectives had noticed.

  Asia stared at Coleman who seemed deep in thought. He looked at Candie for a moment before asking, “You mentioned before you left that Mr. Locklear was intense about his work. Are you sure he was looking at his laptop?”

  Candie shook her head. “Yes. He took that laptop everywhere. I wouldn’t touch his desk. He placed his paperwork in nice neat piles and whatever he was working on, he liked it to stay exactly as he left it.”

  Coleman stood. “Thank you for coming in, Ms. Parker. If you have anything else, please reach out to us.”

  Candie looked shell-shocked, as if she was surprised the interview was over.

  Asia stepped out of the room where she’d observed the interview and watched as Candie walked out in the opposite direction.

  Asia walked over to Coleman. “So the interview established Adam had a pattern of working late, but it varied by case. Based on Candie’s response, Adam was deep into what he was working on, but not so much, because he did respond to her good night. She was in a hurry, so locking the door wasn’t on her mind. Plus, she was aware Adam had a female that liked to visit after hours. That female being a colleague Brooke Cannon. Did you notice her reaction?”

  “That pretty much sums up the conversation. And, yes, I noticed her reaction.” He smiled. “Adam didn’t make it easy on the ladies. Anyway, I will check her alibi with her mom and see if I can talk to her son or any of his friends.”

  “Good. What was that last question about when you were asking about the laptop?”

  Coleman took a deep breath. “It occurred to me while Ms. Parker was talking that whatever Mr. Locklear was working on was missing.”

  Asia frowned. She thought back to last night trying to remember Adam’s desk. She’d hope to bury the only image that came to mind. “I can’t say I noticed much other than Adam.”

  “I know, and I wouldn’t expect you to remember. His desk was clean. The laptop was gone. If he had any papers on his desk, the killer swiped them. There was no phone on him. His killer took the time to gather what they needed.”

  Asia crossed her arms as if a chill ran over her. “So whatever he was pouring his energy over on the laptop could have been what he wanted to share with me.”

  Coleman crossed his arms. “I’m pretty sure it was now. Why else would someone take it? There had to be something incriminating that someone desperately didn’t want found. Probably precious evidence that’s been destroyed by now.”

  Evidence.

  Her next thought sickened Asia.

  Coleman looked concerned, “What are you thinking?”

  “You said his phone was gone. So someone has a history of his calls. Like a call to the DA’s office.” She crossed her arms, but she was feeling chilled by the moment. “You know when I was leaving the hospital last night, I kind of didn’t want to leave my family. I mean who can resist being around a newborn? But, I keep thinking. What if I had showed up earlier?”

  “You could’ve been killed too.”

  Asia held her arms out like she could physically push the thought way. “I was creeped out last night even before I reached Adam’s office. I wish I’d seen something so we weren’t completely in the dark. Adam was so intent on not talking on the phone. I should’ve made him tell me.”

  “I’m sure he thought he was being discreet and that he was safe in his own office. Just don’t beat yourself up. You never know, something may come to you later. You know what? I’ll get you the video from the garage, maybe something will jog your memory.”

  Asia shook her head, “Okay, I’ll take a look. I was moving so fast to get up to Adam’s office. I don’t know how much help I can be. What else?”

  Coleman looked at the board. “I’m going to start talking to Adam’s clients. We have forensics at his home. I spoke to his ex-wife, and she’ll be flying in from Florida soon.”

  “You have your work cut out for you. Keep me posted.” Asia walked away feeling drained, but pondering her next move. She needed to know what Adam had to tell her. Now that she knew someone nabbed Adam’s laptop and phone, every bone in her body screamed it was why he was murdered.

  Chapter 8

  Thursday, November 17 at 10:15 p.m.

  Asia stared at her living room wall. Thanks to having an artistic younger sister, her house walls were lined with a unique artwork series. Toni had painted a series of African American women drawn in different poses with elaborate big hair and pouty red lips. Gifted to Asia on her thirty-eighth birthday, Toni called it the Diva series. The paintings made Asia laugh out loud with joy when she first saw them. Her baby sister had captured her essence in each woman. Some nights, Asia looked at those fellow divas with pride.

  Tonight, she wasn’t feeling the camaraderie. A mixture of apprehension had pooled in her stomach. Her mind couldn’t turn away from her last memory of Adam. The emptiness of his eyes. She’d seen crime scenes in photos, but not one up-close.

  She knew him.

  Asia wanted to remember him in a different way so she tried to draw on images of a time when she enjoyed being around him. That was hard because for so long she had stuffed those memories away.

  Her wine glass was empty. Tonight, she’d gulped down two glasses of Moscato. To avoid taking work home, she’d stayed at the office as long as she could. When she left, her intentions were to leave her work there.

  As she processed Candie Parker’s interview, clearly that wasn’t happening. Asia couldn’t help but think simply securing the door may have helped Adam. Maybe even saved his life…or not. A bullet could have shattered the glass doors. That would have made it messier for the killer.

  Then there was Brooke Cannon coming by two nights ago. Maybe she came by frequently.

  Was Adam involved with Brooke? If so, were they close enough that Adam felt secure sharing information with her.

  She shouldn’t have been surprised. Adam liked to date other lawyers. He often told her he felt like lawyers understood each other. In many ways, Brooke was a good fit for Adam.

  Better than her.

  Maybe she was too close to this one. The phone shrilled, jostling her out of her muddled thoughts. She moved slower than she intended and squinted at the caller ID. Asia let out a soft sigh.

  That maternal radar must be on full alert tonight.

  Asia answered the phone, “Why are you still up, Mom? I have my excuses.”

  “To check on you, of course. I saw the news about Adam, honey. Are you okay?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be? It wasn’t like Adam was the love of my life. I fooled around with him during a moment of temporary insanity.”

  “Okay, well you’re in a mood tonight. Not often do you share your love life with me.”

  Asia giggled. As fast as the giggle escaped, she felt tears sprang to her eyes. “I’ve enjoyed a glass of wine. Or two. Maybe I had too much.”

  “Mmmm. It’s probably good to put the bottle away now. Sounds like you’re mourning. Adam’s not the first man you’ve lost your mind over, but you seemed to cross paths with him all the time. I would say you’d made your peace with him.”

  “I kind of had no choice.” She added. “We were on opposite sides and one of us had to win the case. I decided I always had to win.”

  Her mother laughed. “Well, that’s my girl.”

  “Though, I guess you’re right. I accepted Adam for who he was, and we had a quirky friendship. Did you know he was always trying to convince me I would do better coming to his side?”

  “Defending criminals? I don’t know, Asia. Not to speak bad of the dead, but Adam’s clients were not your everyday people. On a lighter note, Jo should be home tomorrow. You should check in with her. It will do you good to be around your niece.”

  “Mmmm. Have yo
u wondered if I would ever give you a grandchild?”

  “I hoped you would find someone you loved and settle down first. You’re probably the most driven of my children, and I know you’ve done important things in your career.”

  Asia thought about Danye Lester’s mother from the press conference.

  “Am I reaping what I sow? I pursued my career and not marriage and motherhood. Now I want it and think about it all the time. I feel stuck and alone. I’m mean I’m kind of mourning a man who wasn’t even worth my time.”

  “Asia, I don’t know the last time you had a talk with God, but He knows the desires of your heart. You need to trust God for a change. As far as Adam, he was a person, maybe not the most likeable person, but he deserves to be mourned. Though he wasn’t relationship material, he was a part of your life. Just be patient. You will have your day. We push ourselves with our own deadlines, but God has His own timing. He won’t disappoint. Get some sleep. You need to sleep that wine off. Glad I called.”

  “I’m glad you called too. Goodnight, Mom.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  Asia placed the phone back on the receiver. She stared at the bottle of wine and the wine glass. Asia and her mom did not always see eye to eye, but that woman was her life. If it wasn’t for her family, Asia would’ve made worse decisions in her life.

  She grabbed the bottle of wine and the glass. She returned the bottle to fridge; her mind returned to earlier thoughts.

  Candie claimed to be oblivious to a lot even though she worked as Adam’s assistant. In some ways that seemed strange. Why would Adam not keep Candie in the loop? She wasn’t just some ordinary secretary and from what little Asia knew about her, Candie was a paralegal. She had some intelligence and knew her way around laws.

  I like intelligent women. They challenge me. That was the line Adam threw at her years ago.

  Asia headed back towards her bedroom, pondering again how much information Adam shared with his new lady love, Brooke Cannon.

  She slipped under her covers and drifted into the coolness of the sheets. Her mind was slightly woozy from the wine. She could feel sleep ready to pull her in. As she closed her eyes, she pictured Adam’s face. A few times, behind the arrogance and irresistible charm, she had seen sadness. She really didn’t know Adam.

  Do you ever really know anyone?

  Chapter 9

  Friday, November 18 at 10:09 a.m.

  Despite her slow start this morning, Asia was determined to conquer a priority on her to do list. She gulped the black coffee; the bitter hot liquid traveled down her throat. It was a cold morning for the south. She’d turned the car engine off about two minutes ago and could already see her breath in front of her. She thought one more time about calling Detective Coleman. No. This time she wanted to be able to ask the questions.

  Woman to woman.

  Asia had more in common with Brooke Cannon than she cared to admit. They both were really good attorneys, though she wasn’t sure she liked being included as another one of Adam’s conquests alongside Brooke and Candie. Adam pursuing her was a surprise. What was more of a shock was she enjoyed her time with him until he screwed it all up.

  She sat her coffee cup in her car’s cup holder and stepped out into the almost freezing weather. Asia was glad she grabbed her trench coat to cover her legs. She was a pantsuit person, preferring only to bare her legs for the most formal occasions. Today, she pulled out a navy pantsuit from the closet and paired it with a cream-colored short sleeve sweater and a red silk scarf. Asia was tall, acquiring her height from her dad, and she didn’t go a day without wearing three-inch heels. Today was no exception.

  Asia strutted across the parking lot towards Brooke Cannon’s office, her long ponytail blowing in the wind. Brooke’s office was located in the northern, elite part of Charlotte, known for its classy restaurants and boutique shops. In fact, one of her friends, Lenora Freeman, owned a bridal shop only two doors down.

  Asia pulled out her phone to check the time. It was a little after 10:00 am, the time Cannon Law Firm opened. She pushed open the door and welcomed the warmth by unbuttoning her trench coat.

  Brooke’s secretary, an older woman with upswept gray hair, looked up. Her gold-rimmed glasses sat on her nose. The woman had deep wrinkles around her eyes and almost appeared gaunt, yet her blue eyes were clear and sharp. “May I help you?”

  “Hello, I’m Asia Reed with the District Attorney’s office. I was wondering if Ms. Cannon had an opening this morning.”

  “So you don’t have an appointment?” the woman replied sharply.

  Asia glanced down at the name sign on the desk. Francis Bishop. “No, Ms. Bishop, I’m here to talk to her about a mutual friend of ours.”

  “Well…” The secretary stuttered a response, but was interrupted by the appearance of Brooke from the office door behind her.

  They were approximately ten feet away from each other, yet Asia felt like she towered over Brooke Cannon. Brooke was a brunette who wore her hair in a stylish pixie cut. Barely five feet, Brooke’s small voice and stature was often undermined in the courtroom. Despite her pretty features, she was the bulldog defense attorney no prosecutor wanted to deal with. She rarely smiled.

  Right now, her colleague beamed as she stepped forward. “Asia? This is really a surprise. I know you can’t be here for my services.”

  Asia glanced at Brooke’s secretary before responding. “I’m here to ask you some questions.” She paused. “About Adam Locklear.”

  Brooke’s bright smile drooped. “Of course. I’m still in shock, but I’ve been expecting you.”

  Really? That surprised Asia. “Okay. Can we talk now?”

  “I believe my first appointment isn’t until 11:00. Right, Ms. Bishop?” She turned to the older woman who was looking intently at both of them.

  The woman nodded. “Yes. You have about forty-five minutes.”

  “Good. Come on back, Asia.”

  Asia followed her into the office. Brooke’s office was conservative, but she had a plush couch over in the corner. Asia commented, “That looks comfortable.”

  Brooke smiled. “Oh, it is. That couch has been my bed many nights when I couldn’t get home. Would you like some coffee?”

  “No thanks. I just finished a cup.” Asia looked at the wall behind the couch. The wall was filled with picture frames. In the middle was a portrait of a man that looked familiar. She turned and asked, “Is this your dad, Preston Cannon?”

  Brooke nodded and walked over with a steaming mug. “Please, sit down. Have you met my dad before?”

  Asia sat on a chair opposite Brooke. “No, I’ve never met your dad, but I’ve heard stories about him.”

  Brooke grinned. “I’m sure you have heard stories in the DA’s office.” She looked up at the portrait like she was not sure she liked it on her wall. “That portrait was painted in his younger days. I was still a little girl.” Brooke directed her attention to Asia. “I’ve thought about taking it down. Even though he officially passed this law firm to me five years ago, he still worked in the office across from me years afterward. Thankfully, he plays golf most days now.”

  “I bet you’re relieved. I was sorry to see my dad retire from force. It was good to have him on the same team. Do you have any siblings?”

  Brooke’s smile drooped slightly. “Yes. I have an older brother.”

  “No interest in law, huh?”

  Brooke took a long swig of coffee.

  Asia observed her hands. She could’ve been mistaken, but she sensed a tremor in Brooke’s hand.

  She finally answered, “My brother, or I should say half-brother, didn’t get along with my dad. I think he’s still upset that my dad left his mom for my mother.” She added. “But, we’ve always gotten along. He’s a great guy, just misunderstood.”

  Asia shook her head, reminded of a recent conversation with her mother about her relationship with her own half-brother. “Well, you’re doing a fabulous j
ob running the practice. I’m sure your dad and your brother are proud.”

  “Ms. Bishop was his secretary, but she decided to stay on with me. She says she’s never going to retire. Sometimes I think she’s dad’s spy. He seems to know what I’m working on before I tell him.”

  “Wow. You know Adam always commented I didn’t know what I was missing by not being in private practice.”

  “It’s very challenging work, but of course being in the public sector is admirable work.” Brooke looked at her, “You’ve been assistant district attorney for some time. Surprised you didn’t decide to give your boss a run for his money this past election. You’re probably the kind of district attorney Charlotte needs.”

  Asia shook her head. “I have no interest in politics.”

  Brooke smiled, “Not surprised. You’re good at what you do.”

  “That reminds me. What did you mean by you were expecting me?”

  Brook sat her mug down and clasped her hands together. “Adam had a lot of respect for you.”

  Asia frowned. That didn’t really answer the question. “Are you aware I’m the one who found Adam?”

  Brooke’s skin paled. She placed her hands on her chest. “Oh my goodness. You saw him… like that? I can’t imagine.”

  “It’s still a pretty painful image. He’d called me earlier and asked me to come over.”

  “I know you two were involved at one time.”

  Asia held up her hands. “That was ancient history. Not sure how I fell for him at that time in my life, but this was business. He had some information for me.”

  Brooke frowned, “Oh.”

  “Problem is, I don’t know if I will ever know what he had to tell me.”

  “That’s awful, Asia, but why are you coming to me?”

  “You kind of just told me you were expecting me. Candie Parker mentioned you and Adam were close. I wondered if Adam confided in you about anything recently.”