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)
He frowned. “Yeah. They aren’t published yet, but I’m sure they would give you pointers if you’re interested. I spoke at one of their meetings.” Pride lifted his chin. “Got to share my knowledge of firefighting. That’s how I met Maggie, in fact.”
Wow. The coincidences were piling up. Perhaps Maggie and her friend Abigail had co-written a horribly executed reverse cozy mystery centering around the slaying of Hannah and Chris’s ex. Then the pair turned fantasy into reality. Hello publicity stunt! Abigail could have spied on her phone across the street while Maggie did the deed.
Well, well. Looked like Jane had a new theory and another suspect. Not to mention Mr. Skin. He’d stepped away from the others and watched her unabashedly from a corner.
“Pointers,” she said, forcing herself to focus on Christopher. “From the girls. Because yes.” She nodded for emphasis. “I’m writing a book. A pre-best-selling novel detailing my experiences. For reference, because I’ll be attending the next writer meeting, what is Abigail’s last name?” Jane asked as casually as she was able. “Maybe I know her.”
“Waynes-Kirkland.”
Cha-ching. “What a surprising and unexpected piece of information.” Do not grin. Do not.
“Will you excuse us, Christopher? After you tell me who the guy in the corner is. Without looking.”
Of course, Christopher looked. So did Beau.
Christopher sighed. “That’s Donnie Eggerson, the new guy. Don’t pay him any mind. He’s the most socially awkward person I’ve ever met. Creeps everyone out. Especially pretty girls.”
So it wasn’t only Jane. Sensing they discussed him, Donnie finally stopped “smiling” at her and skulked behind a wall. “Good to know,” she said. “But as I mentioned before, I just realized there’s something I absolutely must do, and it can’t wait a moment longer. We’ll talk again soon, I promise. Okay bye.”
She shuffled Beau away. Did this line of thought seem too easy? Yes. Entirely. But Jane’s gut shouted, Maggie and Abigail are involved. Somehow! As if to emphasize her point, the clock tower in the town square chimed.
“Hey, Jane,” Christopher called good-naturedly. “Did you know pelicans can weigh thirty pounds?”
She raised her hand, waving goodbye. “I didn’t, but I do now. Bye, Christopher.” Once, she’d found those random tidbits so charming. Now? She had a wee bit too much on her mind to care.
Outside, she once again hunted for any sign of Cartier. Was the poor darling running loose, or had Lucy gone back and rescued her from the Treasure Room?
Hmm. Yeah. Jane would bet the loan officer had discovered a way to regain custody of her baby. “Take me to Conrad,” she told Beau. “I think I’m about to break this case wide open.”
It took every ounce of Jane’s willpower not to waltz into the lobby of the Aurelian Hills police station singing, “I solved a murder! I solved a murder! And no one can pin it on me!”
Instead, she approached the reception desk in silence, gliding across the durable, tile floor that had covered the concrete subfloor since the early 1950s. The new receptionist was currently handling a phone call, so Jane gazed around.
Conrad hadn’t changed the waiting area after taking over as sheriff. Same nondescript pale-colored walls blanketed with safety tips and a wooden bulletin board that showcased community events. Though, granted, several large potted plants had been added.
Was Conrad a plant person? She hadn’t noticed any greenery in his condo in Atlanta and none had moved in with him when he’d taken up residence here in Aurelian Hills.
The man deserved a plant!
Her phone dinged as she slid it from her purse to add “visit Gold Harvest nursery” to her list of to-dos, and she glanced at the screen. A new text from Ashley Katz.
NewsKatz: Come by my office. I’m ready to prove my innocence and tell you what I discovered re: Hannah. Mostly, I’m eager to hear what YOU have to say to ME!
Oooh! What had the reporter learned of the recently murdered tea specialist? Er, teaist? Even though Jane felt pretty confident she had a handle on the case, she must learn what the other woman knew.
Jane: I’ll be in touch.
A cool, calm response. Excellent.
The receptionist shifted in her chair, and Jane glanced up from the screen. The younger gal mouthed, “Hold, please,” while pointing to the phone pressed to her ear; she flashed a sympathetic look.
Jane used the time to fire off a text to the Team Truth chat rather than collect her thoughts.
Any Lucy sightings, Holden? Beau, I need you to teach the class Maggie Johnson 101. I’ll be your first and only student.
Beau’s phone dinged. He checked the screen and blinked at Jane. “You couldn’t tell me in person since I’m standing right next to you?”
“I could have, yes, but I preferred to have the request in writing in case you take too long, and I need to shame you to the group.”