LIVING ON THE EDGE

CHAPTER: 40

"I wish you the best," Sharon said, and even though she had only just met Amy, she meant it, with all her heart.

"Okay, so here is my concern about your investigation. Adriana and Nicholas were not on good terms most of the time, and there are some red flags you will probably come across," Amy said.

"Like what?" Sharon asked.

"Like the fact that there was a fight at Thanksgiving three years ago about my father-in-law's last will," Amy told Sharon.

"What can you tell me about  the argument?"

"He wanted to add Adriana back into his will. I have no idea why my mother-in-law decided to announce it at Thanksgiving dinner, but she did. Nicholas was very angry because up to that point, he stood to inherit everything his parents had," Amy said.

"Do the Davies have a fair amount of money?" Sharon asked.

"Oh, yes. They live modestly, but they have several real estate investments. My mother-in-law loves to travel, so they have stayed in the Sweetwater house because it has allowed them to purchase a few vacation homes, and to travel to Europe regularly. Real estate is their thing," Amy revealed to Sharon.

"They are actively maintaining properties at this time? Or are they just buying personal properties?" Sharon asked.

"Both. Back in the early 1980s, when the prices of homes in Maury County plunged, they started buying low-cost homes and renting them. They have since sold most of them, but they still have a few that bring in a monthly income. My father-in-law is a great businessman and money manager. That, on top of the freelance work he does, has made them wealthy," Amy revealed.

Real estate in Maury County. Sarah wondered where those properties were located. "Do the Davies' own house near Marshall Street?" Sharon asked.

"Uh, I am not too familiar with the area where they own houses, but I can tell you it is on the other side of DaCosta Street." The odds of Amy knowing what and where Marshall Street was were slim.

"Nicholas was not happy with the idea that Adriana would be added back into the will? Any reason in particular for that?" Sharon asked.

"Oh, it is nothing like you think. I just told you that because you are going to hear about it and I don't want you to think it has any weight, you know? He was just mad, but that is just natural, you know? When you talk to my in-laws, I know they are going to blame my husband. I just want you to know going in..."

Strange. Why would Nicholas's parents try to implicate him in a murder, especially the murder of his sister? Not to mention, they had not actually done that. In fact, the parents had painted Nicholas as a good child.

"Is there anything else you would like to tell me about Adriana, Nicholas, or the murder?" Sharon asked her.

Amy looked around the quiet, still apartment as if someone else was there. "Well, there is one more thing. I think Adriana may have been having an affair," Amy said.

Shocked, but interested to learn why she thought that, Sharon leaned in close and waited for more.

"Adriana told me there was someone she wanted me to meet. Begged me not to tell anyone. This, someone, was special, she said. I asked questions, but she would not answer them. Just told me to wait until she introduced us," Amy told Sharon.

It was good to know that Adriana had felt close enough to Amy to confide in her. Finally, there was a lead that might explain why someone felt strongly enough about Adriana to take her life. This was a breakthrough! Sharon thought.

"Okay, I need you to tell me everything you know about this man. Anything she told you might be helpful," Sharon told Amy. 

This was the first indication that Adriana may have been having an affair, and it was coming from someone who genuinely cared about her. This might be a credible source for the infidelity angle, so Sharon wanted to get as much detail as possible. 

"She did not give many specifics; just that he was from her past, and that he was upset about how they had broken up. Well, let me try to remember how she said it. I think she said; 'He is mad because I never said goodbye. I just left.' She said she just wanted to make things right. I told her not to play with fire. Nicholas had told me that she once liked the wrong type of guys. I thought she might be talking about one of them, and that it could be dangerous. Besides, she was happily married. I was confused about why she felt she owed this guy anything?" Amy told Sharon.

"Did she mention how long ago this relationship took place?" Sharon asked.

"No, but it had to have been before she returned to her parents' house, so that would have been in. Let us see. I am going to estimate that it was the year 2000 because Nicholas and I had been married for a few years, and I already had my child. We got married in 1997 and had my child later that year. My daughter was our happy little mistake, but we were already engaged, so no harm or mistake," Amy shared with Sharon.

"Why don't you think it was someone she met after returning to her parent's home?" Sharon asked her.

Amy sighed and waited a moment before speaking. "You have not been to the Davies house yet, have you?" 

"I was there yesterday," Sharon said.

"How did that go?" Amy asked.

Sharon thought about the strange visit. "Okay. I see what you mean. Mrs. Davies would have interfered."

"Right. Adriana could not have met anyone treacherous after her return. My mother-in-law is very controlling, she knew Adriana's every move. Chase was a happy accident, and the only reason Mrs. Davies did not control that relationship was that he worked in a hospital, and she could not gain access to spy on him," Amy told Sharon.