Fatal Mercy by Dan Padavona (freenovel24 .TXT) 📗

crossed the parking lot to his vehicle, Gray sat on the edge of his desk.

“What do you make of Duncan Bond?”

“He’s arrogant and domineering,” Thomas said. “I can picture Duncan losing control.”

“And striking his wife?”

“I wouldn’t put it past him. That bandage on his cheek. Pretty convenient he cut himself shaving after his wife ended up dead in a river.”

“Hours after they argued,” Gray added. “Perhaps Cecilia fought back when he attacked her.”

“He doesn’t have an alibi. Fowler didn’t see Duncan arrive.”

Gray narrowed his eyes.

“Speaking of Father Fowler, what’s his alibi?”

Thomas stared at Gray. No one could convince the sheriff Fowler hadn’t run Lana off the road. But accusing the man of murder seemed far-fetched.

“You’re not suggesting Fowler killed Cecilia Bond. Where’s the evidence?”

“Father Fowler was close with the Ramsey family, and Lincoln ended up dead. Duncan Bond prayed for Cecilia beside Fowler, and she’s dead too. Maybe Father Fowler enjoys playing God.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Thursday, July 16th

10:10 a.m.

 

“You’ll ruin our appetites,” Raven said, setting her feet upon her desk.

Inside Wolf Lake Consulting, the wall-mounted television played a talk show while Chelsey puttered around in the kitchen. The converted house felt more like a home every day. They’d stocked the refrigerator, the cupboards held enough snacks for them to survive the zombie apocalypse, and potted plants sat in every corner. Even the bedroom at the end of the hall, formerly a storage room, contained a twin bed with blackout curtains over the windows. If work kept Chelsey or Raven late, they had a place to crash.

Raven grabbed the remote and flipped the channel, scanned the sports scores, the news, the movie channels, then gave up. Two hundred channels and nothing worth her time. Chelsey carried a bowl of chips into the office and set the food on an empty desk. The desk was ostensibly for the next investigator, if Chelsey got around to hiring help. Chelsey ran back to the kitchen and returned with a jar of salsa.

“Dig in,” Chelsey said, munching on a chip.

Raven resisted at first. She couldn’t stomach junk food after the greasy binge outside Benson’s Barbells. But chips and salsa almost qualified as healthy, right? Raven spooned the salsa with a chip and popped it into her mouth. Spicy. After she swallowed, she dunked another chip and glanced at Chelsey.

“What did Sadie Moreno have to say?”

Sadie had phoned Chelsey a half-hour ago while Raven researched Damian Ramos, searching for a crack in his armor.

“She asked for an update on the investigation.”

Raven crunched a chip and brushed the crumbs off her hands.

“What did you tell her?”

“That Damian made a pass at you yesterday.”

“Oh, wonderful. That won’t be the least bit uncomfortable when she stops by.”

“She deserves the truth, and she’s aware Damian flirts behind her back. Hopefully that will be enough for Sadie to call off the engagement.”

“Did you tell her about the blonde girl at the gym?”

“Not yet. We can’t prove Damian is having an affair. And since you were outside, shooting through the windows, we don’t know what they were talking about. Based on what you told me, it’s a safe bet Damian flirted with the girl. But I can’t jump to conclusions.”

“I’ll drive over to the gym this afternoon and…” Raven palmed her face. “Oh, snap.”

“What?”

“The cookout. I completely forgot it’s at five o’clock. What do you want me to do? If I drive to Kane Grove, would you do me a solid and pick up LeVar? I’m sure Darren and Deputy Shepherd wouldn’t mind if you took my place at the cookout.”

“Oh, no. I’ll drive to Benson’s. Go to the party and have a good time. And I see what you’re trying to do.”

Raven swept her braids over her shoulder.

“What’s that?”

“You want me to attend this cookout and hit it off with Deputy Shepherd. I’m on to your trickery, girlfriend.”

“It wouldn’t hurt for you to get out of the house. The Mourning family will be there.” Chelsey bit her lip. “What’s that look about?”

“What?”

“I mentioned Deputy Shepherd’s neighbors, and you turned ice cold.”

“I didn’t.”

“You’re worried Thomas will hook up with Naomi Mourning. That’s what’s bugging you.”

“What gave you that idea? Deputy Shepherd and I are ancient history. I moved on. And you should drop the conspiracy theories. This isn’t a cheesy sitcom where two long-lost lovers reunite.”

“You’re impossible.”

“Tell me again about the contents of Damian’s trunk.”

Raven shook her head as Chelsey dodged the issue. Grabbing her phone, she paged through the images. The picture she’d snapped when Damian opened the trunk came out blurry. Also, Damian had shifted his body and blocked her view.

“The trunk was spotless, except for ropes and duct tape. And his briefcase.”

“That’s not proof he’s a kidnapper.”

“No, but if he’s after Sadie’s money, Plan B might be abduction.”

“So Sadie calls off the marriage, and he kidnaps her and holds her for ransom.”

“Not much of a theory, is it?”

Chelsey sat in a rolling chair with a handful of chips, dunking one at a time as she spoke.

“There’s one issue I can’t wrap my head around.”

“What’s that?”

“Why is Damian going after Sadie Moreno’s money? He’s a market analyst for a successful trading firm, and from your pictures, I can see he dresses for success. Those aren’t bargain rack suits. The man has money.”

“It makes no sense to me, either,” Raven said, pushing the bowl aside so she didn’t gorge herself before lunch.

“Unless he’s greedy. The world is full of wealthy people who got into trouble after seeking more. Some people are never satisfied until they own everything.” Chelsey’s eyes smiled at Raven. “So the boy toy made a pass at you. I want the deets.”

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Did you bat your eyelashes and show a little leg?”

“Oh, here we go.”

“Seriously, what happened?”

Raven set an elbow on the desk and rested her head on her palm.

“I followed him to a food truck a block from the trading firm. He noticed me on the corner.”

“I can’t believe he recognized you from the gym.”

“I can’t, either. When I went through the pictures,