Read Online English Trifle by Josi S. Kilpack - Free Book Online Page B

to tell him in my place.”
    “Of course not,” Sadie said, offended that Breanna would think Sadie would share her personal thoughts. She’d only do something like that if she felt she had to. “I just wondered if he knew.”
    “I wasn’t sure I knew until this trip. How ironic is that? I come here and simultaneously determine I am in love with a man I can’t share a life with.”
    Sadie felt her own throat thicken with emotion to hear Breanna say such things, but she knew her emotion would only make it harder for Breanna. She thought back to the earlier comment Breanna had made about being glad Sadie had come so as to spare them both the ongoing pain of facing such a sad turn of events.
    “Well, I’d have never forgiven you if you’d have left me behind,” Sadie teased, trying to lighten the mood. “And though I’m sad things didn’t work out differently between you and Liam, I’m glad we came. I mean, the English trifle alone was worth the trip. Do you think I could sweet-talk Mrs. Land into making it for us again? There ought to be some perks to staying a couple more days, right?”
    “English trifle,” Breanna repeated, not taking the opportunity to change the subject as she looked back at the window. “Maybe that’s all this has been for me—trifling with something foreign.”
    Sadie didn’t like any negativity associated with English trifle—it was too delicious for that—so she threw in her own symbolism. “But just like trifle, life comes in layers. This happens to be one of yours and so long as you learn the important things that ensure the next layer is just a little sweeter—well, then it’s not wasted.”
    Breanna gave her a look that showed she wasn’t buying it, but then she let out a breath. “Well, this layer has us caught in the middle of a murder mystery without a body.”
    “Which no one believes we really saw,” Sadie added, disappointed that Breanna didn’t appreciate her analogy.
    “And without a Big Mac in sight to help us cope.”
    Sadie was poised to offer up another lecture on the wonderful aspects of English cuisine when the door to the library opened. Austin entered with a thin, gangly looking teenager following behind him. The young man looked as though he were wearing his father’s clothes, as they all appeared too big for him. Sadie was trying to determine who he could possibly be when Austin introduced them to him.
    “Breanna and Sadie Hoffmiller,” he said formally. His eyes rested on Breanna for a moment and he looked concerned, something Sadie wouldn’t have expected he was capable of. Sadie wondered if he could tell she’d been crying. Breanna’s whole face didn’t get blotchy like Sadie’s did, but her eyes were still a little red. Breanna looked away from his gaze and after a moment, Austin continued. “This is Inspector Colin Dilree with the Police Authority of Exeter. He’s here to take your statements.”

Chapter 8
    ~ ~ ~
    Inspector Dilree? Sadie thought, looking over the man in hopes of finding even the smallest sign of authority she expected from a homicide inspector. She saw none. Instead, he looked as though he’d dressed up as a detective for Halloween.
    The inspector smiled, showing a slight gap between his two front teeth which made him look even younger. He hurried forward and held out his soft little hand. He wasn’t much taller than Sadie, which meant Breanna had several inches on the man. “Pleased to meet you,” he said, shaking Sadie’s hand quickly before letting go. He seemed very excited to be here, which worried Sadie at least as much as his adolescent appearance. “Pleased to meet you,” he repeated as he shook Breanna’s hand as well.
    He held a briefcase in his other hand and as soon as he finished his greetings, he moved around the desk and set his case on the floor. He began clearing everything to the upper left-hand corner of the desktop. Sadie watched as he stacked papers perfectly, squaring up the corners after