Page 44 of Steal My Heart

“Well, it wasn’t us,” Kevin said softly. “We would never rob Grandma. Have you seen her when she’s angry? She’s scary as sh…. She’s scary.” They looked at each other and then back at Hilliard.

“Maybe you didn’t. But why should anyone believe you? You made a mess of my car because you thought it was fun, andI’ve seen you in town, racing down streets and riding on the sidewalk, nearly hitting people.” And that was just the past few weeks. “You don’t have the best record of behavior.”

“Grandma, we never—” Kevin started, almost pleading, his expression pained.

“Yeah,” Kendall added. The boys looked about seventeen but sounded a lot younger.

“Okay, boys,” Violet said. “I believe you. But you have to tell Mr. Hilliard here everything you know and answer his questions.” She sat down. “Someone came into my house and took things that were important to me.” She was clearly playing on their emotions, and it was working, because they lowered their heads.

“We know, Grandma. It was really gross.”

“Okay, boys, there’s something you need to know. Whoever robbed your grandmother knew where her things were kept. They came in, took them, and didn’t even have to look. They already knew.” Hilliard watched both boys. “Did your grandmother ever tell you where she kept valuable things?”

He glanced at Violet, who nodded slowly; then he shifted his gaze to the boys, who looked straight ahead and didn’t answer.

“Kevin and Kendall,” Brian said softly, “we are trying to see if we can get your grandmother’s things back. Helping us is going to help your grandma too.”

“Yeah,” Kevin finally said. “I knew where Grandma kept stuff. She showed me once, but I never went in there and took it. Like I want to touch grandma underwear.” Hilliard almost chuckled but held it together. “Kendall knew too.”

“Did you ever tell anyone?” Hilliard asked. Both boys looked at each other like that was a completely foreign thought before they shook their heads. “Do you know who robbed your grandmother?” He got another head shake. “But you think you do.”

Kendall pushed the chair back and stalked out of the room while Kevin stared down at the table, his shoulders shaking. “Dad.”

Violet seemed shocked, but Hilliard shook his head at her. “Why do you think that?” Kevin shrugged, and Hilliard waited. Kendall returned and sat back down. Clearly he’d been listening.

“I saw him with a piece of jewelry. He was putting it in his pocket. But I don’t know if it was Grandma’s.”

Hilliard pulled out his case and withdrew the picture of the necklace that had been found in Brian’s truck. “Is that what you saw?” He showed Kendall the picture, and he nodded. Hilliard also showed the picture to Violet, who got up and left the room, wiping her eyes.

Kevin nodded. “Yeah. Then I never saw it again.”

Violet returned with a shiny wooden box and set it on the table. “That wasn’t with the other items. It was in here.” She sat down.

Hilliard’s head began to spin. “So that wasn’t taken as part of the burglary?” Just when he thought he was coming to the end of this mystery, something else popped up. Tension washed off Brian, and he knew he was feeling the same frustration. Yet Hilliard knew they were getting close. Maybe the puzzle wasn’t as simple as he’d first thought, but the answer was closer. Hilliard squeezed Brian’s leg under the table to try to reassure him.

“It may have been, but why? My husband gave me that when we were on our honeymoon. The stone was big, but it was only agate and not monetarily valuable. I kept it in here.”

Hilliard stilled and then reached into his bag to pull out the police report. He went through it again and swore under his breath before pointing to a line and showing it to Brian. It seemed they had their answer, about that at least. “Tell us againwhere you were when your grandma was robbed.” Hilliard didn’t want to lose momentum.

“We were…,” Kendall began, looking at Kevin. Hilliard instantly knew what they’d said before was a lie.

“Remember, this is to help your grandma.” He wasn’t above twisting the knife.

Kevin nudged Kendall, who seemed to be wavering.

“We know you were lying, so tell us the truth now.” He wasn’t going to let them off, not for a second, and saw their resolve falter right before his eyes.

“We got a six-pack of beer and…,” Kendall said quietly. “Kevin drank most of it.”

“I did not,” Kevin argued, the boys bickering back and forth.

“And it was just the two of you?” Hilliard asked, a clearer picture coming into focus. Both boys nodded, then hung their heads. “And you’re sure you never told anyone where your grandma kept things?” He might as well go for broke. The boys looked at each other, and suddenly neither of them was as sure as they had been earlier. Finally each of them shrugged. Hilliard had been young once and knew how boys liked to brag, and that would be all it took.

“Thank you both,” Hilliard said gently. “I think you’ve been a big help to your grandmother.”

“We can go now?” Kendall asked.

“Yes,” Violet said and held out her hands. The boys hurried over and each gave her a hug. As she held them, the front door opened and slammed closed.