The Tessa Randolph Collection, Books 1-3 by Paula Lester (best ereader for comics .txt) 📗

Lark. Was that a name Mrs. Cross had mentioned? No, she’d mentioned another, a woman named Sky who’d taken over as chef when Mrs. Cross moved to the work with the horses. The name was so unusual Tessa remembered it clearly. But she also mentioned that Sky’s daughter now worked in her place.

The crying woman had to be her.

Lark cried harder, making all kinds of snorting and huffing noises.

“Nathaniel.” The woman, who looked vaguely familiar to Tessa, though she couldn’t place her, stepped forward, putting a hand on the man’s arm. For a second, Tessa thought she would council the man to let up on Lark but, instead, she addressed the chef. “We’re going to call the police either way, but if you want to avoid trespassing charges on top of the other trouble coming your way, you should probably leave our property now.”

“But . . .” Lark’s eyes shifted between the pair pleadingly.

“What did my father say about ifs, ands, or buts?” The woman brushed something off her long, black skirt. She was tall and elegant, with the air of someone used to living comfortably.

“That they’re useless in negotiations,” Nathaniel said.

Tessa knew Nathaniel’s name too. He was Mr. Green’s son-in-law. Mrs. Cross hadn’t had good things to say about him either.

The two hovered over Lark like vultures.

Then the mansion’s front door swung open, and an elderly woman, bent and leaning heavily on a cane, hobbled out. The woman hurried over to give her his arm.

“What’s going on?” the older woman croaked, and then her gaze fell on the sobbing Lark. She looked confused, dazed even.

“Mother,” the woman at her arm straightened, “we talked about this. Remember? We know for a fact Lark, here, is a murderess. She killed Father.”

Lark wailed louder, turning her focus to the elderly woman. “Mrs. Green, I swear I didn’t kill your husband. I . . . I loved him. He was always kind to me. And Hannah, you remember when we used to play as girls? I used to come to your holiday parties . . .”

“I remember.” Hannah, whom Tessa had realized was Mr. Green’s daughter and Nathaniel’s wife, looked unsure for a moment. Then she leaned closer to Lark. “I remember it all too well. You were a liar then, and you’re just as bold of one now.”

“I’m not lying! I don’t know why that cleaner was in the kitchen. I made Mr. Green’s cereal and served it to him like always. Then I went up to tidy the bedroom.” She ended on a sob, putting her face in her hands. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”

Hannah studied the chef. For a second, it looked almost like she did believe her. “Maybe we shouldn’t tell the police about this until after Dad’s funeral.”

“No!” Nathaniel boomed. “She killed him. She needs to be put away.”

“But the police arrested someone else. And if we make it public knowledge that Dad was killed by a member of his own staff, won’t he look stupid?” Hannah glanced at Lark. “It isn’t like she’s going to be able to disappear into thin air or anything. We can talk to the police later. After the press loses interest.”

Nathaniel was shaking his head almost violently, but Mrs. Green tipped her head. “You may be right, dear. I have no desire to see your father’s poor judgement splashed across the newspapers, tarnishing his memory.”

“It wouldn’t tarnish his memory because I didn’t do it. I’ll take a lie detector. Whatever it takes.”

Hannah set her jaw. “You’re not welcome here. Get off our property and don’t you ever come back.”

Lark sobbed even harder, but she didn’t argue anymore. She stumbled across the porch and down the stairs.

Tessa and Gloria had to dance out of her way as she hurtled past them.

The three on the porch watched the chef get into a rusty Ford sedan and drive away.

“There,” Hannah said. “It’s done.”

Mrs. Green nodded solemnly. “I need to rest before the funeral director arrives. Will you help me upstairs?”

“Of course, Mom. Let’s get you to your chair.” Hannah helped the old woman back into the house.

Nathaniel stayed on the porch, staring up the driveway where Lark had disappeared. He frowned.

Gloria tugged on Tessa’s arm, and they headed away from the house too.

Tessa let her mind wander while Gloria led the way.

It made sense that the chef would have great access to Mr. Green’s food. But why would she poison him if she depended so much on the job? It seemed like she wasn’t well-liked by anyone else in the family and the old man had been the only reason Lark stayed employed there.

Still, it was more likely to have been the chef than Silas. At least Tessa had somewhere to start her investigation.

Chapter 9

"WELL, HERE WE ARE. Back where we began." Gloria put the car in park. They'd spent the rest of the day on three additional reaps, with Gloria giving Tessa tips now and then.

Tessa hadn't needed to use her special badge—the reaps had all been in private homes or outside where no one else was around. She’d made a mental note to figure out a good spot to keep the lanyard when she wasn’t working. She could easily imagine herself losing the thing and then having to frantically search everywhere for it.

She hopped out of Gloria's car and then stuck her head back through the doorway. "Thanks for everything today. You're a great boss!"

Gloria chuckled and made a shooing motion. "Go on. I'm having dinner with Ella, and I don't want to be late."

"Have fun. Hey, ask her about that Thai food, will ya?"

Gloria drove off in a hurry. Good thing Linda fired right up with no problem. But before Tessa could put the car into reverse, already thinking about Silas and what she may be able to do next for him, her phone buzzed. She pulled it out to see a text from her mom: Care to come over for dinner at