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)
“Hey, it’s okay. I’m good, and I’m grateful.” Jane bit back a smile because man, oh man, was Holden gonna be mad she’d found the former bank employee first. “Why are you here in Aurelian Hills? Returning to the scene of the crime is dangerous.” The fact that she’d stolen fifty thousand dollars of Emma Miller’s money hadn’t changed.
Lucy stopped pacing, glancing from an employee parking lot to a delivery truck parked at the rear entrance. Anywhere but Jane. “Being on the road was tough. The money ran out quickly and–”
“Whoa! You spent that much cash in less than six months?” Jane demanded.
Her friend resumed pacing. “The money wasn’t for me. I just…I needed a friend, so I came home. And besides, Cartier really misses Rolex.”
“Well, Rolex misses Cartier too.” Was Hannah the friend?
Lucy flinched, as if the news was too much to bear.
“You gotta give me more info,” Jane said. “Who or what did you need the money for?” Only one scenario made sense. “Is Cartier okay?”
Another flinch. “Cartier is fine. I desperately required the cash for a person I loved. I’ll explain some other time.”
Loved, past tense. Meaning that person had died? Jane’s chest squeezed.
Lucy glanced toward the parking lot again. Already planning her escape? “We don’t have a lot of time. Here’s what I know. I was living in the secret room at the Treasure Room. Hannah invited me.”
“Why would she do that?”
“We were friends. Mostly.” The muscles of her throat worked, her swallow audible. “Plus, I helped her with financing when no one else would. When I returned, I promised to take care of her taxes in exchange for secret room and board. The store was locked up, and we were tidying the shop in preparation for the book club. I’d gone to the back to grab specific jars of tea leaves. I heard a man’s voice in the secret room as I returned.”
Jane’s spine straightened. A male murderer then, not a female. Which meant the mayor, his son, the ex-husband, a hitman, or someone she hadn’t yet considered had done the deed. Or someone she had considered, then forgotten. Maybe someone new to town. Someone off like that Donnie guy. “Did you recognize anything about him?”
The other woman shook her head. “I snuck inside just in time to witness her death.” Tears streaked down Lucy’s cheeks. “As he rearranged the room, I stayed hidden. Then you showed up, and he hid. I didn’t know what to do. Didn’t expect you to enter… When I saw him sneak up on you, I reacted. When you went down, I ran, hoping to draw him away and find help. I knew I couldn’t overpower him.”
Jane’s blood flashed cold. “What can you tell me about him?”
“He’s tall. Fit, I guess. On the lean side. He wore gloves, so I didn’t get a look at his hands. Every inch of him was covered up.”
Tall and lean described both the mayor, his son, Mason and yep, Donnie too. “You didn’t recognize his voice?”
“He used some kind of vocal disguiser.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I’m scared, Jane. Whoever he is, I think he’s after me. I feel like I’m being watched all the time.”
“You need to come in and talk with Conrad,” Jane told her. “He’ll keep you safe.”
“Safe? Hardly. Conrad will lock me up for taking that money,” she cried.
“Jane!” Beau’s frantic cry reached her ears, and her breath hitched.
Lucy went still and croaked, “Please hurry and solve this. Lives depend on it.” She bolted, vanishing in the distant shadows as if she were the ghost Fiona recommended Jane weave into her story.
Beau caught her by the arm and pulled her behind him. He looked left, right. “What happened? Talk to me.”
Jane took a moment to breathe. “The mayor followed Conrad and me. Our wonderful sheriff gave chase. I made my way to you and found Lucy. Well, she found me. She witnessed the murder. I just learned the killer is male and built like the mayor, Jacob Thacker, Mason Thorton and Donnie the fireman. So? What are we waiting for? Let’s go rescue our mansel in distress.”
“There’s no need.”
Conrad’s rich baritone reached her ears, and she gasped, spinning. There he stood, in the entrance of the alley, his expression grim.
She raced over and threw her arms around him, repeating Beau’s words. “What happened? Talk to me!”
“Someone followed the mayor in a car. The son, I’m guessing. As soon as the mayor realized I had spotted him, he hopped in and the two drove off. I noted the vehicle’s make and model, but they made sure I couldn’t see the plate number. Which isn’t a crime, but I’ll still be hauling in Mr. Mayor for questioning. Not that it’ll do much good. He’ll lawyer up and say nothing.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “The investigation needs Lucy’s testimony on the record.’”