Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
The handsome vet was in the process of stalking a visitor. Who happened to be a ninety-four-year-old widower who’d come by the Garden every October for the past thirteen years to speak with his deceased wife. She lived in plot 238.
Not exactly a danger to the cemetery or Jane herself, but Holden definitely got an A for effort. The guys at Peach State Security took their job seriously.
There’d been no vehicle swap. One, she didn’t know Holden well enough to trade cars. And two, she’d already worked up another plan. Park across the street and walk to Mr. Hagger’s building. And that’s exactly what she did.
Wind blustered, and the sky darkened with a coming storm. Still, she waited at the curb next to the lawyer’s sleek black Mercedes. The second she detected his thumping footsteps, she popped up and blocked his path to the driver-side door.
Eyes narrowing, he came to an abrupt halt. “I have nothing to say to you, Miss Ladling.”
With a leather briefcase in hand—a possible club—he appeared more intimidating than before. Not that she was intimidated by him or anyone. She was dating Conrad Ryan, for goodness’ sake, despite the certainty of the Ladling curse. Had anyone ever done anything braver?
“Answer a single question for me,” she said, “and I’ll go. You’ll never, ever have to see me again…until the next time you see me.” A scowl contorted his features, and she hurried on. “Why did you visit Reggie Belfry at the hospital the day of his injury?”
Hagger ran his tongue over his teeth. “That’s privileged information.”
“That’s not an answer.” Or was it? “Was he already your client? Or perhaps he is your client even now?” Mental note: Ask Conrad. “Maybe he’s your partner in crime. Did you pay him to murder Tony?”
“And that’s a second, third and fourth question.” With menace in every step, Hagger strode forward once again, closing in on her. Where had the unfazed barrister gone? “Your snooping is gonna get you into trouble. You keep at it, and you may not like what you find. Or who finds you.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s a truth.”
When Jane remained in place, refusing to flee, he ran his tongue over his teeth. Okay then. Point made. She offered him a sunny smile. “You have a temper, Mr. Hagger. The murderer did too, considering he beat Tony with a bag of rocks. I guess we’ll be seeing each other again, after all.” With a little finger wave, she turned, and all but skipped toward her hearse.
“Come near me again,” he called, “and I’ll file a restraining order against you.”
“That only makes you seem guiltier,” she called back, without glancing over her shoulder.
Rather than drive home, she opted to take a stroll through town and clear her head before the storm broke. Maybe she’d spy Beau again, since he’d sent Holden to the Garden in his place. This time, she’d do better about remaining in the shadows. Except, it wasn’t Beau she found, but Tiffany Hotchkins and Abigail Waynes-Kirkland. The duo exited Pay Dirt Pawn, laughing.
The wealthy widow and elegant brunette spotted Jane, glowered, and moved into her path. Okay, so, maybe she might be reaping this awful reward for ambushing Hagger.
“Hello, ladies,” she offered politely. “Dig up any graves lately?”
A flush darkened Abigail’s cheeks. “How are Fiona and Beau? Arrested for murder yet?”
Tiffany smirked at Jane. “Rumor is, you’re the one who did the deed. All to make some extra cash.”
Oh! That danged Ashley Katz! She’s for sure my next stop. “I have another theory. You claim you were on vacation the night of my party, yes?” Jane whipped out Truth Be Told and a pen. “What if you two secretly remained in town to kill Tony, knowing I’d be desperate to exonerate my accused friends? An act of cold-blooded revenge.” On that note, these ladies could have hired Ashley Katz to cast blame on Jane. In fact, that might be the reason they’d visited a pawn shop—they needed more money to meet the reporter’s increasing demands. “Where did you say you went? Do you happen to have receipts?”
In unison, the pair paled. They shared a panicked look. Abigail muttered, “We didn’t do it!”
“You’re not pinning this on us,” Tiffany barked.
They bolted, skirting around her. Well. That was suspicious. Up the suspect list they went.
Jane composed a mental note to speak with the pair soon, after she’d dealt with Ms. Katz and smoothed out her theories involving Belfry and Hagger.
All right. Enough meandering about town. The head clearing had failed. She made her way back to the hearse, mind whirling. Had Belfry and Hagger worked together to take out Tony? Because this scenario had lots more pizazz than Belfry taking care of matters on his own. And what of Emma? What if the three of them had worked together?