Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57502 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57502 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
“One of my deputies spoke with Ms. Waynes-Kirkland,” Conrad said. “She was at the grocery store, then a nail appointment.”
Jane tsked again. “I should ticket you for withholding evidence. Obviously, you’re scrolling too fast for someone suffering from a head injury.”
“My apologies. I’ll go slower.”
“Thank you.” A new text came in outside the Team Truth chat.
Jane exited the group exchange to open the individual message.
NewsKatz: Give me the scoop! What happened in that teashop??????
Jane had expected Ashley Katz to reach out sooner. They had an on and off, like-dislike relationship and sometimes helped each other unearth information.
Jane: Prove you aren’t the killer and I’ll give you a quote.
NewsKatz: You are nothing if not predictable. I’m already working on my “innocent of murder” presentation for you. There’s even graphs!
Good.
Jane: You can score bonus points if you tell me who won the lottery.
NewsKatz: That story is hogwash.
Was it really? “What if Abigail pretended to be at the grocery store and killed Hannah, struck me, then chased Lucy, who might have, possibly, witnessed the murder, and that’s the reason Abigail didn’t stick around to make sure I was dead?” Jane asked Conrad. “Then, when Abigail’s search for Lucy proved unfruitful, or fruitful for all we know, she raced back to join the crowd of onlookers, thereby attempting to give herself an alibi and blame the entire thing on the former bank employee.”
“It’s possible,” he replied, “but not probable. I’ll be checking security footage from the street cams, as well as any surrounding buildings.”
“I’ll expect a full report, Agent Inspector Detective Sheriff Ryan.” One of her nicknames for him.
“You’ll get it.” He bent his head to kiss the tip of her nose. “Maybe.”
“Ugh. Stop being preemptive and cute. They’re two of your most annoying qualities.”
He snorted.
Jane read the last message in the text chain.
Beaudyguard: Took some work, but I learned Mason Thorton is the lottery winner everyone is discussing. Only he didn’t win the lottery. He was given a substantial inheritance from his grandfather.
Oooh. Was this what Ashley meant by hogwash?
So. Hannah’s ex recently received a surprise windfall of cash. Finances weren’t a motive for him. Unless they were. He might not have needed to take over or sell the Treasure Room, but what if Hannah had a legal right to a cut of his new funds and he’d feared losing everything? Or maybe Mr. Thorton did the dirty deed for nothing but revenge. Who better to use as a distraction than the best detective in town and her incredibly handsome fiancé?
"When were you planning to share the inheritance info?” Conrad teased, proving he was reading her messages, too. “Seconds have passed, yet you’ve remained silent.”
“Funny man.” But Jane did recall that she hadn’t divulged what she’d uncovered of Hannah and Mason’s kids, so she corrected the mistake and added, “What if Mason blamed his ex for a strained relationship with his sons? Eliminating me as well as Hannah was his only way of ensuring he never got caught?” She reserved the right to change her mind about the kids when she learned who inherited the Treasure Room—wills could be changed, and sibling rivalry could be deadly. And dang it, she tried not to pout because her friends were getting all the juicy details while she was forced to recover.
“It’s possible,” Conrad repeated, but he didn’t sound convinced. “If so, I’ll find out. I’m interviewing Mr. Thorton tomorrow morning.”
“That’s good. We can tag team him. You get him tomorrow, I get him the next day.”
The love of her life pinched the bridge of his nose and heaved a sigh. “I guess I’m hiring you as a consultant now?”
“I thought that was an understood fact, considering we’re exchanging information. I’m even giving you a friends and family discount. Two murders for the price of three.” Oh! New Team Truth text!
Fionality: Well, this is getting interesting. No wonder Abigail Waynes-Kirkland is dating that old coot, Mason.
What! Another bombshell! Jane jolted upright, startling Cheddar. The abrupt movement compounded the ache in her head, and she winced. When a wave of dizziness struck, she took a moment to breathe with Conrad’s help.
“Focus on your surroundings,” he instructed.
She did, eyeing the powdered cornflower color on the walls. This adorable craftsman bungalow had seen better days when they’d first toured it with the realtor. Since moving in, Conrad had made the place shine. Even the once scratched and scuffed hardwood floors gleamed. She constantly marveled at how well the furniture from his condo in Atlanta meshed with his new life in Aurelian Hills. But what struck her fancy most was the three-tiered cat tree, framed within the large bay window overlooking the front yard. All so Rolex could watch the birds and squirrels.
But she wasn’t going to moon over Conrad’s thoughtfulness right now. Back to the case.
For years, posters on the Headliner had regaled the town with stories of Abigail’s on and off again relationship with her ex-husband. How did he feel about her new man? Angry enough to seek revenge with a frame-job?