Read Online Killer Closet Case: a Danger Cove B&B Mystery (Danger Cove Mysteries Book 6) by Elizabeth Ashby, T. Sue VerSteeg - Free Book Online
Authors: Elizabeth Ashby, T. Sue VerSteeg
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receipts and things with his signature on them? I made a folder, so it's no problem." I waved a hand toward the back area and shifted to the edge of the cushion to stand.
He blocked my way with a sturdy hand. "I don't think we'll need them, but thank you. He admits to signing off on those receipts, but he also claims he was in New York the whole time. He had someone else in charge of construction work here. Says the guy mailed the invoices for him to sign. He seems to have a pretty solid alibi for the time-of-death window that our ME set, which just so happens to land around the time your parents took possession of this place." His gaze shifted from lofted-haughty to lowered-suspicious as he looked at me though his lashes, producing a few extra chins. "Speaking of whom, have you heard anything from them?"
I shook my head emphatically. "No, sir. I told you I'd call in if that modern-day miracle happened. I swear." I placed my hand over my heart. "They just do this. They always have. I'm sure you've run a background check on them and have seen all of the addresses they've had over the years."
He nodded, still in suspicious-triple-chin mode.
"Then what could you possibly need with them when you have a known Mafia thug as a suspect?" It was my turn to do the haughty chin tilt.
"The Mafia ties have never actually been proven." His glare morphed into an almost-sincere smile. "Your parents need to come in and give their statements so we can clear them. Until then, unfortunately, they're on our list of suspects, but they also aren't the only ones we have. Mr. James lawyered up immediately and named the local contractor to whom he'd subbed out the Renauds' work."
It all seemed pretty simple to me, you know, being a born private investigator and all. "Then why are you wasting your time with me?"
He scoffed, smirking at me. "Because we thought you might know where he is, since he's currently finishing up your family's renovations. Have you seen Malcolm O'Connell today?"
Ego bubble burst. A stiff breeze through the screen door could've knocked me off the couch.
I stared, slack-jawed and stunned, at the detective. "Seriously? He said he had nothing to do with construction around here until Mom hired him to finish the job."
"It appears he may have lied to you, ma'am."
I felt my lashes flutter nervously as I processed the information. "He mentioned fixing something at Old Lady Winstead's when he stopped by earlier."
"Sophia must be visiting. There always seems to be some sort of landscaping emergency when her granddaughter is there so Thelma can pull out her matchmaking skills, rusty as they may be." He stood, nodded in my direction, and stated, "Thank you for your help. If he comes by here, please have him call." He flipped out a business card and laid it on the table in front of me. "Also, if you hear from your parents about where they may be headed, please call."
I nodded, still in shock, as I watched him leave. I was even nodding a few minutes later when Cris joined me on the couch.
"If you want, I can stick around until this all gets sorted out," she murmured as she brushed my bangs from my face, offering me an encouraging smile. "I even saw ice cream in the freezer. Maybe later we can have some. I know that always makes you feel better."
"Thank you so much. That would mean a lot to me."
"We need to go for a jog now though. That's some harsh info Five-O just dumped in our laps," she whispered as she threaded an arm through mine. She'd obviously been eavesdropping on the conversation.
"Yeah, we do."
I ducked into the back living room and quickly pulled on a pair of sweatpants. We walked out onto the porch to find a brown sedan at the curb. Looking around the front yard, there was no one to be found. Cris and I walked around toward the garage to find a very tall blond man ascending the stairs to the apartment over the garage, where the body had been found.
"Can we help you?" I bellowed across the drive.
The man stopped
He blocked my way with a sturdy hand. "I don't think we'll need them, but thank you. He admits to signing off on those receipts, but he also claims he was in New York the whole time. He had someone else in charge of construction work here. Says the guy mailed the invoices for him to sign. He seems to have a pretty solid alibi for the time-of-death window that our ME set, which just so happens to land around the time your parents took possession of this place." His gaze shifted from lofted-haughty to lowered-suspicious as he looked at me though his lashes, producing a few extra chins. "Speaking of whom, have you heard anything from them?"
I shook my head emphatically. "No, sir. I told you I'd call in if that modern-day miracle happened. I swear." I placed my hand over my heart. "They just do this. They always have. I'm sure you've run a background check on them and have seen all of the addresses they've had over the years."
He nodded, still in suspicious-triple-chin mode.
"Then what could you possibly need with them when you have a known Mafia thug as a suspect?" It was my turn to do the haughty chin tilt.
"The Mafia ties have never actually been proven." His glare morphed into an almost-sincere smile. "Your parents need to come in and give their statements so we can clear them. Until then, unfortunately, they're on our list of suspects, but they also aren't the only ones we have. Mr. James lawyered up immediately and named the local contractor to whom he'd subbed out the Renauds' work."
It all seemed pretty simple to me, you know, being a born private investigator and all. "Then why are you wasting your time with me?"
He scoffed, smirking at me. "Because we thought you might know where he is, since he's currently finishing up your family's renovations. Have you seen Malcolm O'Connell today?"
Ego bubble burst. A stiff breeze through the screen door could've knocked me off the couch.
I stared, slack-jawed and stunned, at the detective. "Seriously? He said he had nothing to do with construction around here until Mom hired him to finish the job."
"It appears he may have lied to you, ma'am."
I felt my lashes flutter nervously as I processed the information. "He mentioned fixing something at Old Lady Winstead's when he stopped by earlier."
"Sophia must be visiting. There always seems to be some sort of landscaping emergency when her granddaughter is there so Thelma can pull out her matchmaking skills, rusty as they may be." He stood, nodded in my direction, and stated, "Thank you for your help. If he comes by here, please have him call." He flipped out a business card and laid it on the table in front of me. "Also, if you hear from your parents about where they may be headed, please call."
I nodded, still in shock, as I watched him leave. I was even nodding a few minutes later when Cris joined me on the couch.
"If you want, I can stick around until this all gets sorted out," she murmured as she brushed my bangs from my face, offering me an encouraging smile. "I even saw ice cream in the freezer. Maybe later we can have some. I know that always makes you feel better."
"Thank you so much. That would mean a lot to me."
"We need to go for a jog now though. That's some harsh info Five-O just dumped in our laps," she whispered as she threaded an arm through mine. She'd obviously been eavesdropping on the conversation.
"Yeah, we do."
I ducked into the back living room and quickly pulled on a pair of sweatpants. We walked out onto the porch to find a brown sedan at the curb. Looking around the front yard, there was no one to be found. Cris and I walked around toward the garage to find a very tall blond man ascending the stairs to the apartment over the garage, where the body had been found.
"Can we help you?" I bellowed across the drive.
The man stopped
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