was more than willing to forget the past when the present and future seemed so bright.
SEVEN
C offee was a little bit of heaven on earth.
Gabby sniffed deeply, then savored the strong flavor. Nothing started her day like coffee. Especially when her day started earlier than normal. But sleep had eluded her after her show, teasing her until she’d finally fallen into a restless slumber.
Until ten-thirty.
Unheard of for her to be up at such an hour after working until six. But something had jerked her from her fragmented dream state. So she sat at the kitchen table sipping coffee, about to read the morning paper. She took another sip of coffee and unfolded the newsprint.
Her heart clutched as she read the headline.
Former Radio Station Owner Accused of Murdering Employee.
The coffee soured in her stomach as Gabby read the article, which went on to imply there was a divorce looming for the Ellisons, putting a dark slant on the argument between Robert and Howard in Ms. Minnie’s café and casting suspicion upon the recent sale of KLUV to Mr. McKay.
How dare the reporter print such unfounded claims? “According to a source close to Robert and Amber Ellison, a divorce sits on the horizon.” What kind of hogwash was that? She’d just seen Amber, who hadn’t even hinted at an impending divorce.And Robert hadn’t indicated anything of the sort. Talk about unethical reporting.
“Robert Ellison and Howard Alspeed argued publicly about the sale of KLUV, multiple eyewitnesses claim.” Gabby tightened her grip on the newsprint. It crinkled in response. Even the mildest of disagreements in the café would sound like a war after the gossips finished their tale. “Multiple witnesses”—Gabby had learned back in college that eyewitness accounts were the most unreliable. How irresponsible of the reporter, not to mention the editor, to give them such credence.
And that the article all but implied Robert had murdered Howard because they’d argued about Mr. McKay buying the station. That was just ludicrous.
Even worse, the article cited the forensic evidence. Like Robert’s fingerprints on the gun left at the scene. The gun that ballistics affirmed had been used to fire the killing shot. How had Robert’s fingerprints gotten on the firearm? Was Sheldon right—could he have wrestled with the killer for the gun?
But the evidence also posed more questions. If Robert shot Howard, how did Robert get hurt? The newspaper article implied he and Howard had struggled for the gun, and after Robert shot Howard, he fell backward, hitting his head and knocking him unconscious. Gabby couldn’t buy that. While both men were physically fit for their age, Howard was clearly the stronger man.
What, exactly, had really happened?
Gabby slung the newspaper across the kitchen table and shoved to her feet. She’d get to the truth. She’d prove Robert innocent. And then she’d take the reporter, and his editor, to task for such sloppy reporting.
She gathered her purse and headed to the grocery store. Maybe if she got enough pints of ice cream, it’d cool her temper.
Then again, maybe not.
Steaming mad, Gabby stormed through her grocery shopping with the force of a class-4 hurricane, hoping her friends and neighbors who she passed as she shopped would have the good sense to keep their distance. For the most part, they did. Right up until she sped around a standing display of Tony Chachere’s and smacked right into Clark McKay.
“I take it you read the article,” Clark said.
Gabby’s face turned a brighter shade of red and the muscles in her jaw twitched and jumped. “It’s disgraceful. The paper all but convicted him without even waiting to hear his side!”
He bet she didn’t have a clue how cute she was when flustered. Clark studied the flames flickering in her eyes. Probably wouldn’t be the smartest move to comment on that Gabbyism right now. “One thing I’m curious about. They mentioned Mr. Ellison’s
SEVEN
C offee was a little bit of heaven on earth.
Gabby sniffed deeply, then savored the strong flavor. Nothing started her day like coffee. Especially when her day started earlier than normal. But sleep had eluded her after her show, teasing her until she’d finally fallen into a restless slumber.
Until ten-thirty.
Unheard of for her to be up at such an hour after working until six. But something had jerked her from her fragmented dream state. So she sat at the kitchen table sipping coffee, about to read the morning paper. She took another sip of coffee and unfolded the newsprint.
Her heart clutched as she read the headline.
Former Radio Station Owner Accused of Murdering Employee.
The coffee soured in her stomach as Gabby read the article, which went on to imply there was a divorce looming for the Ellisons, putting a dark slant on the argument between Robert and Howard in Ms. Minnie’s café and casting suspicion upon the recent sale of KLUV to Mr. McKay.
How dare the reporter print such unfounded claims? “According to a source close to Robert and Amber Ellison, a divorce sits on the horizon.” What kind of hogwash was that? She’d just seen Amber, who hadn’t even hinted at an impending divorce.And Robert hadn’t indicated anything of the sort. Talk about unethical reporting.
“Robert Ellison and Howard Alspeed argued publicly about the sale of KLUV, multiple eyewitnesses claim.” Gabby tightened her grip on the newsprint. It crinkled in response. Even the mildest of disagreements in the café would sound like a war after the gossips finished their tale. “Multiple witnesses”—Gabby had learned back in college that eyewitness accounts were the most unreliable. How irresponsible of the reporter, not to mention the editor, to give them such credence.
And that the article all but implied Robert had murdered Howard because they’d argued about Mr. McKay buying the station. That was just ludicrous.
Even worse, the article cited the forensic evidence. Like Robert’s fingerprints on the gun left at the scene. The gun that ballistics affirmed had been used to fire the killing shot. How had Robert’s fingerprints gotten on the firearm? Was Sheldon right—could he have wrestled with the killer for the gun?
But the evidence also posed more questions. If Robert shot Howard, how did Robert get hurt? The newspaper article implied he and Howard had struggled for the gun, and after Robert shot Howard, he fell backward, hitting his head and knocking him unconscious. Gabby couldn’t buy that. While both men were physically fit for their age, Howard was clearly the stronger man.
What, exactly, had really happened?
Gabby slung the newspaper across the kitchen table and shoved to her feet. She’d get to the truth. She’d prove Robert innocent. And then she’d take the reporter, and his editor, to task for such sloppy reporting.
She gathered her purse and headed to the grocery store. Maybe if she got enough pints of ice cream, it’d cool her temper.
Then again, maybe not.
Steaming mad, Gabby stormed through her grocery shopping with the force of a class-4 hurricane, hoping her friends and neighbors who she passed as she shopped would have the good sense to keep their distance. For the most part, they did. Right up until she sped around a standing display of Tony Chachere’s and smacked right into Clark McKay.
“I take it you read the article,” Clark said.
Gabby’s face turned a brighter shade of red and the muscles in her jaw twitched and jumped. “It’s disgraceful. The paper all but convicted him without even waiting to hear his side!”
He bet she didn’t have a clue how cute she was when flustered. Clark studied the flames flickering in her eyes. Probably wouldn’t be the smartest move to comment on that Gabbyism right now. “One thing I’m curious about. They mentioned Mr. Ellison’s
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