Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Abigail patted her shoulder. “If I knew, I would tell you. I’ll call all the parishioners who still speak to me and see if I can find anything out, dear sister. Do not worry. We will take him down together.”
Laurel didn’t think Abigail would help unless Zeke’s capture served her own self-interest, and right now it definitely didn’t. “He admitted that he didn’t kill Teri Bearing.”
“Is that a fact?” Abigail sat back. “He’s a liar, you know?”
Laurel nodded. “He is a liar, but the crime scene wasn’t the same, and Haylee Johnson saw you in a truck in the vicinity.” Of course, Haylee had thought it was Laurel, but it was actually Abigail. “What I can’t figure out is why you would kill Teri Bearing.”
“I wouldn’t,” Abigail said smoothly. “She was a tepid, silly woman who planned parties all year long. Remember, I was involved in the one for the . . . I don’t know. It was one of those charities.” Abigail knew exactly which charity.
“Why do you do that?”
“Do what?” Abigail asked.
Laurel sniffed. “Act forgetful or as if you’re not as smart as you are. Pretending.”
Abigail shrugged. “Habit, I guess. You do the same.”
Laurel’s chin went up. “I most certainly do not.”
Abigail chuckled. “Yes, you do. You dumb down your language all the time.”
There might be some truth to that. Laurel didn’t think of it as dumbing down, just using more accessible words. “I don’t consider it pretending.”
“I guess it’s a matter of degree, isn’t it?” Abigail asked with a catlike smile on her face.
Laurel had never understood that turn of phrase until she’d met Abigail. Now she saw the perfect illustration of it. “Why would you kill Teri Bearing? I’m in the hospital. There are no recording devices. Just tell me the truth.”
Abigail crossed her legs and tapped her nails on her knee. “I did not kill the mayor’s insipid wife, sister. You are an FBI agent and are perfectly capable of testifying in court as to any conversation you may have, and we both know it, so don’t play me for stupid.”
“I was hoping to play you for being a decent person,” Laurel retorted. Though, as the saying went, that ship had probably sailed a long time ago.
Abigail rolled her eyes. “You think I killed Teri Bearing and also Jason Abbott? Tell me, are you going to pin every unsolvable murder on me? Maybe you’re just not smart enough to solve them. Perhaps you should join your mother’s tea service and just make money.”
Laurel studied her sister’s expression. Abigail’s eyes narrowed and her lips pressed together, revealing classic signs of irritation. Laurel applied more pressure. “I know you killed Abbott. I strongly suspect you of killing Teri Bearing. I know she was dating Pastor John, whom you had dumped a long time ago, but even your ego isn’t that big. Of course, the body was left at the church, which ruined or at least postponed the television show. Are you so petty, Abigail, that you would kill a woman just to mess with your father and stick it to an old flame?” Her heart sank as she realized that, yes, Abigail was exactly that narcissistic. “Did you mean to implicate Huck?”
“I’m finished with this discussion,” Abigail said calmly. “Besides, when Mrs. Bearing’s body was found, nobody knew that the first victim was Huck’s mother, did they?”
Laurel sat back. That was true. So, Abigail could have been just copying the most recent murder. Nausea rolled through her, and she felt chilled. She wasn’t sure her body would ever get warm. “I think you should leave now.”
Abigail stood. “More than likely. Anyway, get better, and we’ll make all sorts of plans for that baby of ours. Maybe Genesis Valley isn’t the right place for all of us to live.”
Laurel blinked and hurt crashed through her again. She cleared her throat. “Abigail, the baby didn’t make it.”
Abigail reared back. “What did you say?”
Laurel plucked at a string on the blanket. “Our father drowned me. I think I died for a few seconds. The baby didn’t survive, Abigail.”
Red lanced across Abigail’s face, and her eyes sparked a wild blue and green. “Is that a fact? I am sorry to hear it, dear sister.” Her voice cracked. She turned and strode out of the room, her boot steps powerful.
Laurel reached out a hand. “Abigail, wait. Wait. Officer, Officer,” she called out.
The young officer leaned inside the doorway. “Yes. Can I help you?”
“Yes. Follow her. You have to follow her,” Laurel said urgently.
The guy shook his head. “Absolutely not. We have orders not to move. We are not leaving you, Agent Snow. I’m sorry.”
“You have to,” she cried out.
He disappeared from sight. “No.”
“Phone. I need a phone,” she yelled out, looking wildly around. She grabbed the hospital phone and started to dial. A buzzing met her ear. “Damn it.” She hit nine and then dialed.