Chapter Three

Secrets

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters you recognize from Cold Case.

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They went back to Jessie's house. Scotty knocked, and Jessie's grandmother opened it. She invited Scotty and Lilly into the house and had them sit down on a couch. She bundled about in a room to the right, presumably the kitchen, and returned moments later with a plate of cookies.

"They're chocolate chip," she said. She set them down on a little coffee table before she sat down. Lilly glanced over at Scotty and then back at the old woman before them. Scotty was staring at the wall to his right, it was covered in pictures.

"Can you tell us what you remember about the night that your son, husband, and daughter in law died?" Lilly asked. The woman shrugged and took one of the cookies. She sat back, not eating and not speaking.

"You can go and look at them, if you like. They're mostly of Jessie and her friend. Jojo, I think," she finally said. She then took a bite out of the cookie and watched as Scotty stood up and looked at the pictures.

"Mrs. Amaria?" Lilly said.

"Oh, dear, please call me Benita," was the shocked response.

"Well, can you tell us what you remember?" Scotty said, still looking at the pictures.

"I gave my statement then, young man, and I don't feel a need to give it again."

That was the end of it. Scotty and Lilly left with the same information they'd had when they arrived, plus a picture.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"What've we got?" Lilly asked, mostly to herself. She and Scotty had returned to the office to run through some things, and talk to Stillman.

"We have to talk to Stillman, and find some way to get the grandmother to talk," Scotty said. Lilly nodded and flipped through the case file.

"Her statement supports Jessie's, that she came to give a present. She then went home to bake cookies," Lilly said. Scotty gave a slight laugh and Lilly glanced up at him. To anyone else, it would've seemed like it was just good natured amusement. But, since Elisa's death, Lilly never knew what to expect from her partner. The laugh sounded forced.

"Pretty bad alibi," Scotty said, quickly. He took the file from his partner and began to glance through it. He jumped as a hand settled on his shoulder.

"Can I talk to you?" Nick Vera said. Scotty nodded and stood up. He followed Vera to the corner of the office.

"What is it?" Scotty asked.

"You still with Lil's sis?" Vera asked. Scotty sighed and glanced over his shoulder at his partner. Lilly was reading the case file.

"No. I took your advice," Scotty wasn't the best liar, but if Vera caught the bluff, he wasn't showing it.

"I hope so," Vera left. Scotty walked back to his desk and sat down.

"You okay?" Lilly asked. Scotty nodded and stood up.

"I'm gonna head out for the night, see Elisa's family. You think you can handle Stillman?" Scotty asked. Lilly nodded. Scotty left, scowling inwardly. He hated lying to Lil, she was his partner. But, if he told her truth, he'd be in bigger trouble.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Hey, Lil. Where's Scotty?" Stillman asked. Lilly looked up and let the case file slip out of her hands.

"You knew the vics?" she asked. Stillman sighed. He'd wondered when they'd figure it out.

"Yeah."

"What case were they working on?"

"The Metora Twins. Two ex-cops. Pretty bad eggs, if you ask me," Stillman said. Lilly nodded and jotted down a few words on her notebook.

"Either of them named Jojo?" Lilly asked. Stillman nodded.

"Jojo and Rodrigo Metora."

"We may come back to you," Lilly said. Stillman nodded and walked into his office. "Hey, Vera, you wanna find this kid for me? Jojo Metora."

"Yeah, sure Lil."

"Get Will to help you."

"I will, see you tomorrow."

Vera watched as Lilly left. He jotted down the name and grabbed his own coat, he'd find this guy tomorrow.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Thanks," Scotty said and Christina Rush placed his drink in front of him.