Read Online Devil's Food Cake by Josi S. Kilpack - Free Book Online Page B

ago,” Sadie said, getting back to the point. “Why?”
    Jane shrugged. “You’re the only person I know in Garrison. I thought I’d ask about Thom Mortenson and whether you knew him when he lived here. Did you, by the way?”
    “Not very well,” she said carefully. “But I thought you were meeting with Mr. Ogreski, not Thom?”
    “News travels fast,” Jane said, dropping her chin so she was looking down on Sadie in a way that made her want to fix her hair or adjust her dress. “I was going to meet with Mr. Ogreski, and now I’m trying to figure out who kept him from our appointment.” Jane looked at Sadie intently. “How did you know I was meeting with Mr. Ogreski? I didn’t think he’d told anyone, not even Thom.”
    Why did Sadie feel like she was being set up for something and needed to defend herself? “I heard some police officers talking,” she said simply. “You know Mr. Ogreski’s dead, right?”
    Jane gave a dismissive wave to the comment, her blue fingernail polish catching what little light there was. The flash of color was unexpected, like tiny bolts of blue lightning. Jane fixed Sadie with a piercing look. “Were you actually in there when Mr. Ogreski was shot?”
    Sadie felt a shiver run through her at the directness of Jane’s questions. “I was there,” she finally said. “Did you really have a meeting scheduled with him?”
    “At nine-thirty,” Jane said with a nod and a frown. “I arrived early and thought I’d catch the end of the lecture. I made it into the parking lot before the police closed it off, but imagine my surprise when I learned my contact had been killed. Blasted cops wouldn’t let me inside the building.”
    “I believe they were comparing reporters to piranhas.” She hoped to put off Jane without taking the blame for it.
    Instead of defending herself, Jane snapped her teeth together twice and smiled even wider. She looked past Sadie toward the door behind her. “Is that the kitchen? Is the door unlocked?”
    Sadie looked over her shoulder to verify they were talking about the same door. Then she turned back to Jane. “What are you doing out here?” Sadie asked, cutting to the chase. “Why find me?”
    “You’re Sadie Hoffmiller,” Jane said evenly. “I read about what happened in England, and I know from talking to you before that you have an eye for detail. I’ve got to find another way to get the information I need for my story. You could help me.”
    Sadie wasn’t sure whether to feel offended or flattered to be seen as a source of help and information. Maybe a little of both was appropriate. There had been some articles here and there about the events in Devonshire, but it had been two months ago and wasn’t big news in America like it had been in the United Kingdom. People didn’t talk about it much anymore, which was fine by Sadie. She didn’t want bad things to happen around her. She didn’t like the idea of people getting hurt or murdered.
    “Well, you’re welcome to come to my house and talk with me in about half an hour,” Sadie offered, curious enough about Jane to be willing to put up with her a little longer, but on her terms, not Jane’s. “I’m just leaving.”
    “I was hoping you could help me get inside,” Jane said with a conspiratorial smile.
    Sadie shook her head before Jane finished. “You know I can’t do that,” she said, looking up at the reporter—a reporter who knew the rules about things like this. “It’s a crime scene. No one in or out without permission from the police.” Except Sadie, it seemed. Pete had planned to write her a note for her to leave the hotel, but he’d never given it to her. Besides, there wasn’t a cop at the back door to check for permission anyway.
    “I only want to look around and get a visual for the article I need to write. Have they arrested anyone or made noises about who they think would do something like this?”
    Sadie shook her head. “No.”
    Jane glanced at the back