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)
An ambulance with flashing lights pulled into the lot, saving her from having to form a reply. It passed Conrad’s haphazardly parked SUV, named Jel. Oh, wow. He’d been so concerned, so intent on reaching her, he’d left his precious vulnerable to theft. Yes, he was totally worth taking on the curse.
Near to the curb waited the fire truck, its lights still flashing. Firefighters controlled traffic and directed any new spectators to stay back. Was the killer among them? Anyone who killed a woman sipping tea was probably the type of person who’d hang around the crime scene to witness the aftermath.
Jane scanned the faces, memorizing as many details as possible. Only a handful of people she didn’t recognize stood in the gathering. Ashley Katz, a reporter at the Headliner who happened to be one of Jane’s favorite nemeses, waved emphatically, trying to get her attention. Had the curious woman listened to the police scanner, as she’d done in the past, or had she created a story to boost newspaper sales?
“What did you see?” Ashely repeated.
Jane pretended not to hear and continued her search. Well, well, well. There was her least favorite nemesis, socialite Abigail Waynes-Kirkland, Tiffany’s former best friend and a literal grave digger. Like many town members, Abigail believed a prior Garden of Memories caretaker had buried gold with certain bodies. The reason she’d snuck over with a shovel to find it.
Had Abigail murdered Hannah in a robbery gone bad? Because that made more sense than anything.
“I know who’s first on my suspect list,” Jane announced, fishing out her phone to take discreet photos of the crowd, intending to study them later, when her head no longer throbbed. Wait. Hadn’t she dropped her cell when she’d fallen? How had it gotten in her purse? “Did you retrieve my phone for me?” she asked Christopher.
“No. I didn’t see it.” His brow wrinkled. “Why?”
“Just because.” Had the killer done it? But why go to the trouble? Why not leave the device behind or nab it and run?
Christopher gestured to the paramedics as they disembarked from their vehicle.
As the techs wheeled over a stretcher, Abigail noticed Jane’s photo taking endeavors and made an obscene gesture, which she captured, thank you very much.
Her companion observed the exchange and shook his head as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. “I’d heard you were working with the police to solve murders, but I considered it a rumor until now.”
“Why did you doubt?” she asked, genuinely curious.
“You’re…you.”
What did that mean?
“What are we dealing with?” the taller paramedic called.
Her ex explained the situation, and the two medics helped her settle on a stretcher she didn’t need but wasn’t going to waste time protesting. For the case. They wheeled her to the vehicle, Christopher keeping pace at her side.
“I hope this isn’t the last time we speak,” he said.
Maybe he’d meant the words as a token farewell. Maybe he truly wished to stay in touch. Either way, he’d just given her the perfect opener. “I accept your invitation. I’ll come by the firehouse tomorrow. If you’ll be working?” She had questions about what he’d seen when he found her.
He rapid blinked, as if she’d thrown him for a loop. “I will, yes, but–”
“Great. I’ll bring you a dessert to thank you for your help today.”
To her immense relief, he wasn’t given a chance to protest. The ambulance doors were shut in his face, only for them to reopen a split second later and Beau to hop inside the vehicle. After viewing his fierce expression, no one asked him to leave. In a matter of seconds, Jane and company were on the road.
“You got here fast,” she praised, so glad to have him with her.
“I came the moment I heard your name on my radio. I was already en route when Conrad called.”
Beau’s loyalty almost made her forget the pain in her head. Almost. Didn’t help that the paramedic insisted she lay down on the gurney, and she bumped her knot on the mat.
“What do we know about Hannah?” Might as well kick off a Team Truth session, even if they were the only members present.
Beau folded his arms against his chest, his biceps straining the cuffs of his Peach State Security polo. “Nope. I share nothing until you’re fully checked out.”
Jane proceeded as if she hadn’t heard him. “Recently divorced, so of course the ex is automatically a suspect.”
True to his word, Beau remained silent.
No matter. Jane continued her speculations throughout the rest of the drive. Even as the paramedics wheeled her through the corridors of Pinetum Regional Hospital. “Mother of three adult sons. Hmm. I wonder who inherited the Treasure Room. Perhaps one or more of those boys was in debt and hoped to sell the cherished tea house.”
Still Beau kept quiet. When they stopped in a curtained off room, Jane finally quieted, but only after the nurse who attempted to read her vitals huffed.