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)
“Abigail’s actions speak of extended familiarity. Did she have a key to Jacob’s home and let herself in? Or did he help her hide her vehicle from prying eyes?”
“I believe he let her in and yes, to hide her vehicle. Christopher also said he was gathering his stuff while Ms. Johnson slept because he decided to break up with her in the morning, and that’s when he discovered the manuscript.”
Okay, so maybe Christopher was innocent of murder and only guilty of being a fickle boyfriend. “I was right all along. Abigail was involved from the beginning.” But. “Why didn’t you mention the manuscript immediately? And why not arrest Abigail and Maggie?” And why did Jane have a niggle? Even though her suspicions were being substantiated right before her eyes.
“I wanted to surprise you. And both women can prove they weren’t at the Treasure Room during Hannah’s murder. Christopher provided an alibi for Ms. Johnson at the time of Thacker’s death, and I’m unsure when Miss Waynes-Kirkland departed from Thacker’s home. On top of that, I don’t yet know if the mayor’s son killed Hannah or if he—they—hired someone else. I need to speak with Lucy before I slap cuffs on the pair.”
“I like how you’re warming up to my hitman angle.” So he had a few strings to tie before he made any arrests. Got it. “Are you certain the ladies spearheaded this whole thing?”
“Yes.” He heaved a sigh. “And no.”
Yeah. Her shoulders rolled in. “I agree. I haven’t shed the feeling we’re missing something.”
“As far as cat-and-mouse games go, this one is lacking.”
“Or it’s more nuanced than we realize, because we aren’t seeing all the pieces.” She heaved a sigh, too. “Why did they try to kill you?” To stop his investigation? Instead, they invigorated Jane’s.
“For all they knew, someone in a mask would open the card. Deputy Poteet shouldn’t have released the card on site. The goal could’ve been a simple desire to aim our focus in another direction by pretending to want to add to the body count.”
A knock interrupted the conversation. Conrad smiled and stood, saying, “Fiona called me earlier and alerted me that she’d arranged for you and the rest of your wedding party to spend the day at the spa of my choice.” He opened the door, revealing Fiona, Tiffany, June and Beau. “Go relax with your friends and enjoy being pampered.”
Jane pressed a hand over her now thumping heart. “I like you as much as I love you,” she said, rushing over to hug her fiancé, certain of a startling fact. The real family curse was being too afraid to give yourself wholeheartedly to the one you loved. But the curse had lost its hold on her big time.
“I love and like you, too.” He pressed the sweetest kiss into her lips.
“We love and like you both,” Fiona said, grinning the world’s biggest and most wonderful grin. “I’m so glad you two found each other.”
The others nodded their agreement.
“Considering I’m your maid of honor, I obviously love and like you more than most.” Beau’s dry tone drew a snicker from Conrad.
“What about me?” her fiancé asked with an exaggerated pout. “Where’s my declaration?”
Beau hiked his shoulders. “You’re okay, I guess.”
Conrad acted as if he’d received a first-place ribbon at the county fair pie-eating contest, and Jane chuckled. Their bromance was so special.
June sniffled and dabbed at her eyes. “This is so beautiful. You’re all so kind to each other, so thoughtful, while I don’t have any friends, and I’m so cranky sometimes, Momma calls it Honey Badger June, and right now I’m hungry for waffles and I want a cuddle and to be left alone all at the same time.”
Conrad snickered behind his hand. Even Jane had to hide a smile, rolling her lips between her teeth.
She gave the love of her life one more kiss before leaving with her wedding party. And oh, wow, she’d never thought to use those two words in conjunction with herself, but here she was, engaged to the most perfect man ever born.
Beau drove the entire group in Trick’s SUV. A quick trip. Jane tried to participate in the chatter, she really did, but her mind continually strayed to the case. What was she missing?
They parked at the Gilded Scissors, exited and made their way to the door. She stopped with her hand on the knob, looked over her shoulder, and focused on the closed down Treasure Room. A piece of yellow crime scene tape billowed in the wind. Her gaze glided over the other shops. At the end of the street was the Golden Food Market, where Christopher had first spotted Abigail.
Had Abigail played the role of Treasure Room lookout from here and signaled the killer at the perfect time to strike?
What if Abigail had worked with Christopher? Was he the missing ingredient? He certainly fit Lucy’s description. Again, if Lucy’s description was accurate. But how could he be in two places at once?