Blood Ties by Josephine Barly

a promise like that can be easily broken, but with all due respect Captain Nicholson, you didn’t know Susie. You have absolutely no idea how determined she was; whatever she set out to do, she’d follow through, and a promise like the one she’d made was easily kept.”
    “I see what you mean, Miss Pearson. That’ll certainly help with clearing suspects and throughout the investigation. Have you received any written or oral threats since the package, besides the incident with the car?”
    “Nothing. But it’s only been a few days and I’m always with Jared, working or at home. There were no weird phone calls or anything of sorts.”
    “Okay. Different ways you are connected to Susan and Sandra?”
    “Susie and I have been best friends since forever. She represented my sister throughout her divorce. I met Sandy through Susie; otherwise, I’m not really sure we would have met. That’s it, Captain Nicholson. I honestly do not know what other piece of information I can give you regarding Susie or Sandy.”
    “Very well, Miss Pearson. I want to thank you for what you’ve told me,” he said as he stood up, and I did the same. “Please, wait here while I call Aidan and Jared. I’ll talk to them but they’ll be here in ten minutes, okay?”
    “Sure thing, Captain Nicholson,” I replied as I extended my hand and he shook it.
    I remained seated, looking around.
    One of the desks had some photographs, but none were Aidan’s. If he had an actual desk in the room, it was impossible to tell.
    My cell phone rang and I checked the caller ID. It was an unknown number. I accepted the call and put the phone next to my ear.
    “Hello?” I said.
    “Is this Miss Samantha Pearson?”
    “Yes, who’s speaking?”
    “Hello Miss Pearson, I’m William Morris, the executioner of Miss Susan Andrews’ will. Is this a good time for you, or would you prefer that I call at a later time?”
    “Now is fine, M r. Morris. How can I help you?”
    “Miss Andrews left some objects for you. I need you to come to my office to sign some documents and to arrange the delivery of said items.”
    “Sure, will tomorrow at around seven in the afternoon do?”
    “Unfortunately, it’ll have to be earlier.”
    “Mmm…four?”
    “Yes, that works wonderfully. I’m sorry if it’s an imposition, but I’ve got pressing commitments later.”
    “That’s perfectly fine, Mr. Morris,” I replied as I grabbed a pen from my bag and a post-it from the desk; I asked for his address and, after writing it down, hung up.
    I waited some more and Aidan and Jared came in. Jared looked like a boy who’d been reprimanded and was ashamed. Captain Nicholson must have given him a huge piece of his mind, because Jared didn’t crack a smile when I looked at him and grinned expectantly. Aidan rolled his eyes, grabbed his jacket from behind the chair, curtly said goodbye and took off.
    “That bad?” I asked Jared, trying to repress a smile.
    He looked at me dryly but eventually his mouth broke into a sheepish grin. He nodded and I smiled. Jared looked just like a kid. A handsome, hot man-child.
    “Shall we leave or do you have any pending conversations?” I enquired.
    “Let’s go,” Jared replied as he gently placed his arm behind me and led me out of the room, through the station and into my car.
    We made a pit stop at a fast food diner and bought food to go; I didn’t really feel like cooking, and Jared said I shouldn’t trust his culinary productions, so I took his word for it and decided to take my chances with junk food.
    We got home, ate as we watched the evening news, and then went to sleep.
    Maggie greeted me at my office on Friday morning. Jared had dropped me off and had gone to Aidan’s for a brief meeting they had set up earlier. They couldn’t risk being seen chatting amicably in my workplace if Jared was supposed to be my boyfriend and Aidan an unfamiliar detective investigating a murder.
    “Would you like me to pass Jared’s