Page 115 of Hell Hath No Fury

Emma reached for her phone and turned it toward him, revealing Eric’s name and number on the screen.

Matthias stifled the urge to swear.

She answered with a slightly annoyed, “What is it?” Her expression dissolved into a scowl. “No, I haven’t seen the news. Why?” Annoyance returned. “Can’t you just tell me? Okay, fine.” She dropped into the chair, set down the phone, and opened her laptop.

Matthias watched as she typedWashington County PA Newsinto the search bar. She hesitated, then clicked on the first result. He read over her shoulder.

BREAKING NEWS

Local woman found dead. Police report Tina Neidermeyer, assistant to the late Greyson Jones of North Star Developing, has been found dead at her home, allegedly of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This story is still developing. Check back for the latest updates.

That explained the havoc in the background of Fergusson’s phone call.

“Tina killed herself?” Emma said.

Matthias hadn’t realized she’d put the call on speaker until Eric replied, “That’s what the news is reporting, but I can’t believe it. She wasn’t the type.”

“She lost her boss and her job,” Matthias said. “It might’ve been enough to push her over the edge.”

“No way,” Eric said emphatically. “I’ve known her a long time. I’d sooner peg her for murdering Sonny than killing herself.”

Emma shot a look at Matthias before asking Eric, “Where’s Nell?”

Matthias understood her anxiety. Suicide wasn’t a subject Emma would want to discuss in front of her sister.

“She’s down in physical therapy,” Eric said. “You two need to look into this. I know Tina. She would never take her own life.”

“The online report doesn’t give any details,” Matthias said. “What’s the television news saying?”

“Not much. They reported it as a developing story with a reporter headed to the scene.”

Matthias paced toward the hotel room’s window. Two suspects in Jones’s homicide were now dead. That left Fran. He wasn’t sure if that made her a target or the likely killer of one, two, or three other people.

“What’s going on there?” Eric asked over the phone.

Matthias faced Emma but directed his question to Eric. “Do you have Tina’s address?”

* * *

Despite Emma’s insistent pleading that she go with him, Matthias dropped her at the hospital to be with Nell and Eric instead.

Tina Neidermeyer’s address was a single-story brick home on a thickly wooded corner lot. Both streets were blocked by police vehicles and a couple of news trucks. Matthias found a parking spot within easy walking distance. Before he could step out of his Jeep, his phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen and answered. “Hey, Cassie. What’ve you got?”

“I heard from my contact in Ohio. He spoke with one of the Dyson brothers. Not Levi. Apparently the entire family blames Emma’s sister for Zeke’s death, but according to the brother, not enough to, quote, ‘waste their time or energy on the bitch.’”

“Did he mention where Levi was?”

“The brother says Levi hasn’t left Cleveland at all this week and drives a Ford F-150 pickup. He’s currently at work at one of the yacht clubs over there. My contact plans to confirm the work part of the statement. I’ll let you know once he gets back to me.”

“It’s pretty easy to check,” Matthias said. “If it was a lie, you’d think he’d make it harder.”

“I agree.”

He thanked her, ended the call and turned his attention to Neidermeyer’s residence.

Crime scene tape surrounded the perimeter, and a uniformed officer stopped Matthias from crossing it. Unlike some of the people he’d encountered in recent days, this cop wasn’t falling for his Erie Bureau of Police credentials.

“Is Trooper Fergusson around?” Matthias asked.