Read Online Fillet of Murder by Linda Reilly - Free Book Online Page B

and tugged it away from her. Talia flashed an innocent smile. “You’re very lucky.”
    Jill stared at it again, her eyes filling with tears. It was in that moment Talia wondered if Carly was Turnbull’s biological child. Yet another secret Jill was keeping from her husband?
    Jill blotted both eyes with the tip of a manicured finger. “I guess we should go, but I want to tell you that I really appreciate your help tonight. And I’m sorry I pointed a gun at you.”
    â€œYeah, I meant to ask you about that. Why
did
you have a gun?” Talia swallowed the last mouthful of her tea.
    â€œI carry it for protection,” Jill said tightly. “Don’t worry, it’s registered, and Carly never has access to it. She doesn’t even know I carry it.”
    Talia nodded as if it made perfect sense, but she’d always had somewhat of an aversion to firearms. Why was Jill so concerned about her safety? Did she think her husband was a potential threat?
    Jill collected their empty teacups and walked them over to the counter. Talia picked up the teapot and followed her.
    â€œThanks.” Jill took the pot from her and set it down on a shelf beneath the cash register. “I’ll wash these in the morning. No biggie. But before you go, I want to give you something.”
    Jill scurried over to an oak display shelf that lined one of the walls. She snagged a tall rectangular box off the shelf and went back to the counter with it. “This is a tea starter kit. It has everything you’ll need to brew the perfect cup of tea. I’m also going to give you a tin of my strawberry-orange blend. Somehow I think it suits your personality. After you’ve tried it, be sure to let me know how you like it.”
    Talia studied the box, which contained a glass tea maker and all sorts of tea accessories. “Jill, I can’t accept this. It looks so expensive. What if you gave me just a few tea bags to try out?”
    At the words “tea bags,” Jill feigned a spell. “Talia, no tea connoisseur would ever use anything except loose tealeaves, and they have to be brewed properly in order to be enjoyed. Trust me.”
    Talia smiled, but she couldn’t help wondering if Jill’s gift was a bribe of sorts. Still, it would be fun to experiment with brewing loose tea. It was something she could do with her mom and Rachel some lazy Sunday afternoon. “This is really sweet of you, Jill. Thank you.”
    â€œI’m thrilled to do it,” Jill said with a sly wink. “And I guarantee, once you sample some of my luscious blends, you’ll be begging for more. You’ll probably end up being my best customer.”
    Before they left the tea shop, Jill gave Talia a quick hug. Talia waved to her as she strode across the cobblestone arcade toward Main Street, where her Fiat was parked. The temperature had dropped into the high forties, and a shiver boogied up her arms.
    As she tossed her purse and her goody bags onto the passenger seat of her car, Talia thought over everything she’d learned. The tidbits she’d gleaned about Phil Turnbull had been nothing short of startling.
    Not the least of which was the astonishing revelation that he’d loved Jill Follansbee.

7

    At six twenty-five Friday morning, Talia’s internal clock poked her awake. She hobbled out of bed, scrubbed her face, and headed for the kitchen. The long, relaxing soak in a pumpkin-and-spice scented bath the night before had gone a long way toward soothing her tattered nerves. She had to hand it to Suzy—the bath oil blend she’d created was delectable.
    After a fast breakfast of wheat toast and orange juice, Talia threw on a pair of navy slacks, topping them with a mushroom-colored sweater. Around her neck she tied a square of sheer purple rayon. She fluffed the ends out to one side a la Audrey Hepburn, then threw on her flared jacket.
    The morning air felt icy, despite the bright