Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“One step at a time. We don’t know that for sure,” Josh said. “Let’s find out before we jump to any conclusions and a DNA sample can see to that.”
“By any chance would you have a picture of your aunt?” I asked.
“Actually, I do,” Kate said with a soft smile as if recalling a pleasant memory. “You may have seen it. It’s in the romance book section on one of the side tables.”
I remembered the photo since it was the day I took a header out the window. “That’s your aunt? I thought it was you in an eighty’s getup for a themed-styled party.”
“Everyone who sees it says the same. My mom claims I could be her twin, that I look so much like her,” Kate said.
It hit me then. “That’s why Stan thought he knew you, but he couldn’t remember from where. It was your aunt he remembered.” I looked to Josh. “Which means Stan knew Deanna and possibly the guy she was seeing at the time.”
Josh grinned, “Who could very well be the murderer.”
23
I turned in the bed to snuggle against Ian only to find him gone. Once I got my eyes partially open, I spotted the note on the nightstand. I reached for it and read it after clearing the blur form my eyes.
Nice snowfall. Need to get some shoots done. Mo with me. Text me when you wake. See you later today. Miss and love you. Good day to try that underwear I brought over last night.
I sent Ian a text, then snuggled beneath the warm blankets thinking he knew me too well. With the underwear right there under my nose, he knew I’d have to try it. After all, if it was good, I’d want to recommend it to my followers.
When he didn’t get back to me right away, I assumed he was in the middle of a photo shoot.
Reluctantly, I slipped out of bed and into my warm, plush purple robe, a decadent gift from Amy that I actually loved. It kept me toasty warm. I smiled, seeing Ian had left the electric kettle on for me and also saw that Roxie slept peacefully on her cat tree which meant Ian had fed her. He really was a gem of a guy.
I made some toast and took it and my tea into the living room to watch the local news and see what was going on with the snowstorm. It had stopped snowing late yesterday afternoon but was expected to start back up later today or early tomorrow.
With an abundance of things to do at home, I welcomed the weather that would keep me indoors and busy. I had gotten many things accomplished during snowstorms through the years, though this time I wouldn’t be alone. I had Ian.
I smiled. I might not get as much done as I thought.
The television caught my attention when morning host Gail Fergus announced, “With interest in the thirty-five-year-old Carson murder case growing, Mayor Barrett was eager to talk with me again. Here is an excerpt from that interview that I will share throughout the show.
“Sheriff Madison has made no progress at all on the Carson case, and I wonder if he is trying to cover up past mistakes he had made. Worse, I fear he may try to disparage my father’s good reputation and years of dedicated service to the community. And I am not surprised his wife chose to run for mayor at the last minute, barely squeaking past the deadline to register as a candidate, so that she could protect her husband from persecution.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. He was setting up my dad to look guilty for something his father had been responsible for, and it angered me. I almost reached for my phone to call the TV station but thought better of it. The best way to handle this was to solve the crime.
My dad was smart in keeping information about the case from the mayor, especially now that the female bones may soon be identified. He had put a rush on the DNA results and hoped to hear about them later today or tomorrow at the latest. In the meantime, he planned on talking with Kate’s mom to find out anything he could about her sister Deanna’s disappearance.
My cell rang and I didn’t have to see who it was… I knew.
“How dare the mayor besmirch your dad’s good name that way,” my mom said. “And to suggest I’m running for mayor to protect my husband? Mayor Barrett is about to learn about respect and manners. I let that TV station know I wanted equal airtime. I am waiting to hear back from Gail Fergus.”
Dad was not going to like this.
“Maybe you should talk with Dad first,” I suggested.
“I do not need your dad’s permission, Pepper,” my mom said, annoyed.