Read Online craftfield 01 - secrets untold by brooklyn shivers - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: brooklyn shivers
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Ever since her mom’s death, she’d been worried about them. What if something had happened to them?
“No.” He frowned, reservation filling his voice. “Are you sure they went to the Bahamas?”
“Yes. Well, that’s what they told us, and where they go every year.”
“Have you ever not been able to get ahold of them during one of their trips? How long do they stay gone?”
She bit her lip, thinking. Had her or her mom ever spoken with them while they were on vacation? She hadn’t, but she wasn’t sure if her mom had or not. “I’m not sure. There’s never been a time when I needed to contact them until now.” She shook her head. “My mom never mentioned talking with them, but I don’t know that she didn’t. They leave every October and don’t return until February.”
Disbelief and shock radiated across his face before he schooled his features. “Hopefully they’ll check-in soon.” He reached out and touched her hand. His wide palm and long fingers engulfing hers and a pleasure filled her chest. “I know you’re worried about them.”
He’d wanted to meet her because of the case, not her aunts. “Have you found out anything more about my mom’s murder?” She leaned forward, her hands clasped in front of her on the table. Had they discovered who had done this? His face was serious, his brow furrowed. Was it someone she knew, or a complete stranger? Had the murder been one of their regular customers, down on his or her luck?
Clearing his throat, he placed his hand over hers. “I’m sorry, but they’re ruling this as a burglary, saying your mom surprised the thief shortly after he or she took the money.” His tone was sympathetic, but she pulled away.
Her gut wrenched. No, someone had done this. And the idea that it was a thief didn’t make sense. “My mom would’ve given the guy the money. She wouldn’t have fought him.”
“Are you sure?” He frowned. “What if the guy surprised her, or vice versa, and she stumbled, falling into the glass display?”
Maybe. Her gut squeezed. “I-I just can’t believe that. I don’t know why. What about Camie?” Surely that woman was guilty of more than just being a bitch.
“She was getting a manicure and pedicure at the time of the murder. The salon owner and workers confirmed her story.”
“Or she paid them to.” The woman had enough money, she guessed.
He shook his head. “No, we checked the security cameras in the area. It shows her walking into the building before her appointment and not leaving for over an hour afterward.”
“Is there a back alley? Maybe she ducked out, ran down the street, killed my mom and returned.”
“It’ll take time to process.”
“You’re just giving up?” Her fingernails dug into her palms.
“Listen,” his voice full of concern, “I know this is hard, but that’s what all the evidence points too.”
“What about your promise? You said you’d find who killed her.” She knew she was being dramatic, but she couldn’t stop herself.
He winced as if she slapped him. “I know. I’m still looking, but I’m trying to find an invisible straw in a haystack.”
“What about searching the traffic light cameras? Find everyone who drove by that day. Question them.”
“This is hard to accept. Maybe you could talk to your college counselor, or a private practice. Talk about your feelings. Grieve and heal.”
She swallowed against the lump in her throat, unease settling in her gut. She’d never be able to accept this. Ever. Her mom had been a good person. Caring, hard-working. It wasn’t fair, and Lily would find whoever did this and somehow get retribution.
***
So if Camie was innocent, which still didn’t mean that Lily would strike her name off her guilty list anytime soon, what about Mr. Griffin? He was right next door. It wouldn’t have taken him much time to sneak over, kill her mom, make it look like a robbery, and dash back. Right now, she pictured everyone as a suspect.
“No.” He frowned, reservation filling his voice. “Are you sure they went to the Bahamas?”
“Yes. Well, that’s what they told us, and where they go every year.”
“Have you ever not been able to get ahold of them during one of their trips? How long do they stay gone?”
She bit her lip, thinking. Had her or her mom ever spoken with them while they were on vacation? She hadn’t, but she wasn’t sure if her mom had or not. “I’m not sure. There’s never been a time when I needed to contact them until now.” She shook her head. “My mom never mentioned talking with them, but I don’t know that she didn’t. They leave every October and don’t return until February.”
Disbelief and shock radiated across his face before he schooled his features. “Hopefully they’ll check-in soon.” He reached out and touched her hand. His wide palm and long fingers engulfing hers and a pleasure filled her chest. “I know you’re worried about them.”
He’d wanted to meet her because of the case, not her aunts. “Have you found out anything more about my mom’s murder?” She leaned forward, her hands clasped in front of her on the table. Had they discovered who had done this? His face was serious, his brow furrowed. Was it someone she knew, or a complete stranger? Had the murder been one of their regular customers, down on his or her luck?
Clearing his throat, he placed his hand over hers. “I’m sorry, but they’re ruling this as a burglary, saying your mom surprised the thief shortly after he or she took the money.” His tone was sympathetic, but she pulled away.
Her gut wrenched. No, someone had done this. And the idea that it was a thief didn’t make sense. “My mom would’ve given the guy the money. She wouldn’t have fought him.”
“Are you sure?” He frowned. “What if the guy surprised her, or vice versa, and she stumbled, falling into the glass display?”
Maybe. Her gut squeezed. “I-I just can’t believe that. I don’t know why. What about Camie?” Surely that woman was guilty of more than just being a bitch.
“She was getting a manicure and pedicure at the time of the murder. The salon owner and workers confirmed her story.”
“Or she paid them to.” The woman had enough money, she guessed.
He shook his head. “No, we checked the security cameras in the area. It shows her walking into the building before her appointment and not leaving for over an hour afterward.”
“Is there a back alley? Maybe she ducked out, ran down the street, killed my mom and returned.”
“It’ll take time to process.”
“You’re just giving up?” Her fingernails dug into her palms.
“Listen,” his voice full of concern, “I know this is hard, but that’s what all the evidence points too.”
“What about your promise? You said you’d find who killed her.” She knew she was being dramatic, but she couldn’t stop herself.
He winced as if she slapped him. “I know. I’m still looking, but I’m trying to find an invisible straw in a haystack.”
“What about searching the traffic light cameras? Find everyone who drove by that day. Question them.”
“This is hard to accept. Maybe you could talk to your college counselor, or a private practice. Talk about your feelings. Grieve and heal.”
She swallowed against the lump in her throat, unease settling in her gut. She’d never be able to accept this. Ever. Her mom had been a good person. Caring, hard-working. It wasn’t fair, and Lily would find whoever did this and somehow get retribution.
***
So if Camie was innocent, which still didn’t mean that Lily would strike her name off her guilty list anytime soon, what about Mr. Griffin? He was right next door. It wouldn’t have taken him much time to sneak over, kill her mom, make it look like a robbery, and dash back. Right now, she pictured everyone as a suspect.
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