Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Fear did make people do foolish things.
“I can tell your mind is racing in a million different directions,” Beau said. “Let’s talk again tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” she echoed, and they hung up. What did Conrad think of all this?
Her gaze flipped up. He and Hightower hadn’t yet entered the restaurant. They stood together, discussing something.
Jane waved when the female agent glanced over, but she was ignored. Still irritated because a cemetery owner had solved the last two cases? Yeah, that tracked.
Finally the agents headed inside. With Beau’s info front and center, she grew desperate to listen to Belfry’s informal—formal?—questioning. What if the chef worked to frame Fiona and Beau even now? How could Jane not listen?
Staring at the entrance, she ran through her options. Call in a to-go order on the off chance she’d overhear their conversation in the background? No. The likelihood of success was too low. But there was only one other route to choose…
Guilt pooled in Jane’s stomach as she opened a specific app on her phone. The one she and Conrad had downloaded during the second murder investigation…the one he and Beau had used to listen to her conversations at the party. It allowed them to activate her cell’s microphone…and Jane to activate theirs.
Beau had probably already uninstalled it. But Jane hadn’t. And she’d bet Conrad hadn’t, either. Taking advantage…
Wait. He was a smart, observant man. If he hadn’t expected her to listen to this interrogation, he would’ve taken measures to stop her, right? Honestly, it was almost like he wanted her to do it.
After only a slight hesitation, she tapped the proper button.
“–get you fired,” Hightower was muttering.
Bingo!
“She’s not up for discussion,” he all but growled.
She. As in Jane? A heavy weight fell over her. Would she get Conrad fired?
The two agents went quiet as the sound of clanging pots and pans intensified. Then someone shouted, “If I had a better sous chef, I’d have customers!”
“Reggie Belfry?” Hightower announced. “I’m Special Agent Hightower, and this is Special Agent Ryan. We’d like to ask you a few questions regarding the death of Anthony Miller.” She paused. “No, don’t run. It’ll only make things worse for you.” A weary sigh crackled from the phone. “And he’s running.”
More banging pots and pans. Pounding footsteps. Shuffling and rustling. Grunts. Clinking metal. “Reggie Belfry, you are under arrest.”
Oh, wow. Conrad had chased him down and was now cuffing him!
“What for?” Reggie demanded. “I was taking a stroll. A man is allowed to walk.”
“You fled the scene to evade an officer of the law. You also obstructed justice by knowingly hindering an investigation. Shall I go on?” Hightower asked.
Conrad began a very familiar spiel. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything–”
“I didn’t kill him,” the chef shouted.
“–you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”
“I wasn’t even gonna attend that stupid party until I found out Emma was going with her ex,” Reggie spat.
Stupid? How dare he!
More shuffling and grunts. Minutes later, Hightower, Conrad and the shackled Belfry were striding out of the building. As Conrad ensured the suspect was secured inside Hightower’s vehicle, Jane closed the app and stored her phone. The two agents spoke before he returned to the car.
The second he was seated behind the wheel, the guilt overwhelmed her and she blurted out, “I did it! I used the phone app to listen in. And honestly, it wasn’t even worth it because you didn’t have a chance to interrogate the suspect.”
He peered at her, silent for a long while, before shaking his head. “I can’t believe anyone ever suspected you of murder. You would make the worst criminal.”
Wait. That was it? That was all he had to say? “Conrad, I betrayed your trust in the most heinous way. Yell at me. Break up with me. Something!“
“Jane,” he said, putting the car in reverse. “Stop being adorable. We have an hour-long drive ahead of us, and I’m determined to remain a gentleman.”
Adorable? So he had expected her to do it? Because he’d wanted their first date to be special for her, and he just couldn’t admit it?
Great! Her guilt worsened ten thousand degrees. What if she truly did get him fired?
Wringing her hands, wondering if she should end things now, before she caused any more problems, she asked, “Does this mean we aren’t following Hightower and listening in as she grills Belfry for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?”
He snorted. “We most certainly are not doing that. And I told you to stop being adorable.”
Won’t fall for a city boy.
Once again, he reached over to link his fingers with hers.
Nope, I won’t do it.
They didn’t speak again until he escorted her to the cottage door. The porch light glowed all around them.