Lost Souls by J. Bishop (the giving tree read aloud txt) 📗

another one of her strange phobias, if that’s what you’d call it. She won’t be in any of the pictures. People suspected that’s another reason why she didn’t drive.”

Trick scratched his head. “Why’s that?”

“Because she didn’t want her photo taken, you know, for a driver’s license.” Lydia huffed as if it was obvious.

“Well, that’s a new one,” said Trick.

“Let’s add it to the list,” said Mason. He put his phone away and considered his next question. “What about the day Chad died? He stayed home in the middle of the week. Did he say why?”

Daphne’s face paled. “I hate thinking about that day.” Tears welled up again and spilled over her lashes. “He just called and said he’d be out of the office. He didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t ask. I just assumed he wasn’t feeling well.” Her breath caught. “Maybe if I had…”

“It’s okay,” said Mason. “There’s nothing you could have done, Daphne.”

Daphne wiped her tears, and Trick handed her another tissue from a box on the table. “Did you ever hear Chad and Cissy argue other than the time Cissy showed up unexpectedly at the office and the picnic?”

“I wouldn’t call them arguments. They weren’t yelling, but I sensed the tension between them.” Daphne played with her frayed tissues, and another tear slipped down her face. “I feel like I’m betraying Chad.”

Trick patted her hand. “You’re not. He’d want us to know the truth. And he certainly wouldn’t want his wife to go to jail for a crime she didn’t commit.”

Daphne sniffed. “I just feel so bad. I mean I keep wondering if I should have known something, or could have prevented this in some way. Maybe if I’d talked to Chad, especially after I overheard that terrible fight…” She dabbed her cheeks.

Mason held back a groan, and Trick took a deep breath. “Fight?” asked Trick. “I thought you said you didn’t see either Lydia or Cissy arguing with Chad.”

“I didn’t see anything,” said Daphne. “I heard it.” She blew her nose and took another tissue. “I told those detectives about it, and now I feel bad. Maybe I should have kept it to myself.”

“What happened?” asked Mason, keeping his voice light. “What did you hear?”

Taking a moment, Daphne pressed the tissue to her lips. “It was just before Lydia’s death. I’d been working late with Chad one night, and I had just left. Chad said he’d be right behind me, but when I got to the car, I realized I’d forgotten my wallet. I’d left it in my drawer, so I went back to get it. When I got to my desk, I saw Chad’s office door was closed and so were the blinds, which was strange because they were always left open. I almost knocked when I heard yelling. It was Chad and a woman. I couldn’t make out most of it, but I caught a few things.”

“Like what?” asked Trick.

Daphne nibbled her bottom lip. “I heard the woman call him a liar. Then she said things like ‘you should have told me,’ ‘you must think I’m stupid,’ and ‘she’s not worth it.’ Chad yelled too, but not as much. I heard him say ‘you’re wrong’ and ‘that’s not what I meant,’ but then she yelled back that he’d be sorry, and he’d duped the wrong woman.” Daphne let go of a weary sigh. “I felt like an intruder, and I got out of there. I didn’t want Chad to know that I’d overheard. He’d have been so embarrassed.” Her breath caught again and she wiped a tear that had slid down to her jaw. “Lydia was dead a few days later.”

“You don’t know who the woman was that Chad was arguing with?” asked Mason.

“No, I don’t,” said Daphne. “The voices were muffled, and I couldn’t see anything. It was hard to be sure. It could have been Cissy, and I suppose I assumed it was, but now, based on what you’re telling me, it could have been Lydia.” She put her hands over her eyes. “I think I told the police it was Cissy. Oh, dear. What have I done?” She dropped her hands. “Have I accused the wrong person? Do they think she did it because of me?”

Trick, his face solemn, sat back. “There’s no way to know, Daphne, but I suspect there’s more to it than that.” He sipped some coffee and put the cup back on the table. “The problem is, Lydia died before Chad, so she couldn’t have killed him. So, if Cissy didn’t kill Chad, then who did?”

“It does give us something else to consider, though,” said Mason.

“What’s that?” asked Daphne, her eyes wide.

Trick groaned, and Mason suspected Trick knew what Mason was about to say. “What if Chad killed Lydia?”

Daphne sucked in a breath, dropped her jaw and burst into tears.

Chapter Thirteen

Mikey opened the paper bag and pulled out the food she’d picked up on the way to Mason’s. “Your noodles.” She handed a box to Mason. “And here’s your Chow Mein.” She gave a box to Trick. “And here’s mine.” She pulled out a carton, took off her jacket, and sat. “I’m starving.”

“Thanks, Mikey,” said Trick.

Sitting at the table, Mason took the food, put it in front of him, and held the bridge of his nose. “Thanks.”

Mikey noticed. “I’ll get you some aspirin.” She stood and eyed Mason, feeling that familiar constriction. “Did you do a reading today? You’re not usually this beat.” She grimaced. “I can feel your tension.”

“I’m okay,” said Mason. “But I’d love that aspirin.”

“He did a hell of a reading for Tony, Chad’s boss,” said Trick, opening his food and grabbing his chopsticks. “Blew Tony’s mind. Even let Tony’s mom speak through him. It was an eye-opener.”

Mikey put a hand on her hip. “What? Why the hell are you doing readings for Chad’s boss, much less letting spirits channel through you? You know what that does to you.”

Mason glared. “Thanks, Trick.”

Trick dug through his Chow Mein with his chopsticks. “Any time.”

“You should