Read Online The Branson Beauty by Claire Booth - Free Book Online

out?”
    Ryan looked at him like he was stupid. Good.
    â€œObviously not. You were there, right?”
    Hank nodded. And waited. Ryan eventually filled the silence.
    â€œI left after she and Kelly went to bed. Mom’s pretty old-fashioned, so we were in separate bedrooms. Kelly didn’t know I’d left, either.”
    Maybe Mrs. Nelson is a better mother than I gave her credit for, Hank thought.
    â€œWhat stuff?”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œWhat stuff where you thinking about … up at the high school?”
    â€œOh, right. I don’t know. School. Kelly. It’s all pretty stressful. A lot more stressful than I thought it’d be.”
    â€œHow so?”
    He shrugged again. “It’s so much work. And Mom’s calling all the time. Always telling me I’d better be getting her money’s worth up there. Having all kinds of experiences and taking all kinds of classes. But then she wants me to come home all the time, too. She can … well, she can be a pain.”
    Hank could only imagine.
    â€œWhen was the last time you were home—before this weekend?” Hank asked.
    â€œChristmas break,” he said. “I knew I’d be coming back this weekend for Gran’s birthday. That’s not something you miss.”
    â€œAnd this is your second semester at St. Louis University?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAnd is that where you met Kelly?”
    â€œYeah. We had our University 101 orientation together. She’s in a sorority.” He grinned.
    â€œHow long have you been seeing her?”
    â€œOh, about a month or two. Since right after—” He stopped. He’d figured out they were circling around to Mandy.
    â€œRight after what?”
    â€œRight after Christmas break,” he said slowly.
    â€œAnd when, exactly, did you and Mandy break up?”
    Ryan fidgeted in his seat. Hank waited.
    â€œRight around then…” he said eventually.
    Hank’s eyebrow went up. “Right around when, exactly?”
    Ryan yanked at the lock of hair that kept falling into his eyes. He looked out the window. He chewed his lip. Then he pushed at the hair again.
    â€œShe … we … it’s complicated.”
    Hank almost snorted. If this kid thought life with two living girlfriends was complicated, wait until he had to deal with the reality of one who had been murdered and one who knew she’d been two-timed. Add to that the fact that he was currently Hank’s top suspect, and Ryan the Boyfriend’s life was not looking simple.
    Ryan got a grip on himself. He straightened in his chair and cleared his throat. “We broke up two weeks ago. It was a mutual decision.”
    â€œThen can you explain to me why she was five hours away from her university, without her parents knowing, and in the same place where your family was having a large celebration?”
    â€œNo,” Ryan said flatly. “I can’t.”
    Hank leaned forward and put his arms on the desk in front of him.
    â€œDid you know she was on the boat?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDid you know she was in Branson at all?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhen was the last time you saw her?”
    â€œChristmas break.”
    â€œWhen was the last time you talked to her?”
    â€œTwo weeks ago.”
    â€œWas that when you broke up?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWho broke up with whom?”
    â€œ Whom ? Really?” He paused and gritted his teeth. “I said it was mutual.”
    â€œBut you didn’t tell your mother.”
    â€œYes, I did.”
    â€œNot when it happened.”
    â€œWell, I guess not. I was … I was getting over it.”
    â€œWith Kelly?”
    Ryan shoved his hair out of his face again.
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell your mother?”
    â€œI didn’t want to, okay? You’ve met her. I didn’t want a lecture.”
    â€œAnd she would have lectured you?”
    â€œNo. But she