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Authors: Lorraine Bartlett
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be in Gilda’s wedding. Just because Heather is dead and can no longer experience joy doesn’t mean others should be miserable. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You were thinking that Heather was cheated out of a beautiful wedding day, and the joys of motherhood, and maybe a wonderful career—everything her parents and
you
had wished for her. I don’t think that’s too hard to understand.”
Rose nodded and looked back down at Jeremy’s photograph, worry creasing her already lined face. “What if the security people at that press conference tomorrow won’t let us in?”
Katie picked up a steno pad from the table, handing it to Rose. “We’ll pretend to be reporters. If you put a pencil behind your ear, the disguise will be complete.”
“What about you?” Rose asked.
“With Chad’s Nikon camera slung around my neck, I’ll look just like any other press photographer.”
Rose picked up the newspaper, folding it carefully. “I’m sure Jeremy knows something about Heather’s death. He’s just got to!”
Katie studied her friend’s face. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you about the other news article. Can you ever forgive me?”
“I’m still angry—but not at you.”
Katie let out a breath. Thank goodness.
Rose’s mouth settled into a determined straight line. “In fact, I’m so angry at Detective Davenport, I’m going to call a lawyer.”
“I want to sue!” Rose declared, and paced two steps and back in the confines of Katie’s tiny office.
“Now, Rose, please be reasonable,” said Seth Landers, McKinlay Mill’s only lawyer. He’d taken a position on the edge of Katie’s desk, as far away from Rose and the door as he could get.
“I’m tired of being reasonable,” Rose ranted. “I want an apology from Detective Davenport—in writing—and I want damages. Lots of them. Punitive, monetary, and any others you can think of. I don’t care what it costs.”
Katie shrugged as Seth’s handsome face collapsed into a frown. At Rose’s insistence, Katie had called the small-town attorney, knowing he’d give Rose his best counsel.
“Why would Detective Davenport lie to me about Heather?” Rose said for at least the tenth time. “Why?”
“Perhaps to spare your feelings?” Seth suggested, giving Katie a sidelong glance.
“Yes, but he had to know she’d find out the truth eventually,” Katie said. “It’s extremely unprofessional behavior on his part. Can’t Rose at least complain to his superior officer?”
Seth sighed. “I’ll tell you what; tomorrow morning I’ll make a couple of calls and see what I can find out. It may just be that the detective is drowning in casework and was simply having a bad day. It happens.”
“I don’t trust that man,” Rose said. “He wasn’t that motivated to solve Ezra’s murder, and I’m afraid he’ll show the same lack of interest in Heather’s case. I can’t have that. She was like my own child. I have to make sure that the person or persons who killed Heather are brought to justice.”
Seth let out another sigh. “I’ll do what I can. In the meantime, how would you ladies like to accompany me to Del’s Diner for dinner? There are no two people I’d rather be with tonight.” When Rose gave no answer, he added in his most sincere voice, “The special tonight is chicken and biscuits.”
Rose glanced at Katie, her expression one of defeat. “All right. I’ll get my coat.” Rose exited the room, leaving Katie and Seth alone.
Katie strained to look around the door to make sure Rose was out of earshot before speaking. “You’re a peach, Seth.”
“Hey, I gotta eat, too,” he said, rising. “And why shouldn’t I have the company of the two prettiest women in town?”
Katie raised an eyebrow. “Do all lawyers lie as sweetly as you?”
“Only the good ones,” Seth admitted, smiling.
Ahh, that gorgeous smile. Months before, Katie had nearly fallen for Seth. His good looks, his kindness, and his
“You were thinking that Heather was cheated out of a beautiful wedding day, and the joys of motherhood, and maybe a wonderful career—everything her parents and
you
had wished for her. I don’t think that’s too hard to understand.”
Rose nodded and looked back down at Jeremy’s photograph, worry creasing her already lined face. “What if the security people at that press conference tomorrow won’t let us in?”
Katie picked up a steno pad from the table, handing it to Rose. “We’ll pretend to be reporters. If you put a pencil behind your ear, the disguise will be complete.”
“What about you?” Rose asked.
“With Chad’s Nikon camera slung around my neck, I’ll look just like any other press photographer.”
Rose picked up the newspaper, folding it carefully. “I’m sure Jeremy knows something about Heather’s death. He’s just got to!”
Katie studied her friend’s face. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you about the other news article. Can you ever forgive me?”
“I’m still angry—but not at you.”
Katie let out a breath. Thank goodness.
Rose’s mouth settled into a determined straight line. “In fact, I’m so angry at Detective Davenport, I’m going to call a lawyer.”
“I want to sue!” Rose declared, and paced two steps and back in the confines of Katie’s tiny office.
“Now, Rose, please be reasonable,” said Seth Landers, McKinlay Mill’s only lawyer. He’d taken a position on the edge of Katie’s desk, as far away from Rose and the door as he could get.
“I’m tired of being reasonable,” Rose ranted. “I want an apology from Detective Davenport—in writing—and I want damages. Lots of them. Punitive, monetary, and any others you can think of. I don’t care what it costs.”
Katie shrugged as Seth’s handsome face collapsed into a frown. At Rose’s insistence, Katie had called the small-town attorney, knowing he’d give Rose his best counsel.
“Why would Detective Davenport lie to me about Heather?” Rose said for at least the tenth time. “Why?”
“Perhaps to spare your feelings?” Seth suggested, giving Katie a sidelong glance.
“Yes, but he had to know she’d find out the truth eventually,” Katie said. “It’s extremely unprofessional behavior on his part. Can’t Rose at least complain to his superior officer?”
Seth sighed. “I’ll tell you what; tomorrow morning I’ll make a couple of calls and see what I can find out. It may just be that the detective is drowning in casework and was simply having a bad day. It happens.”
“I don’t trust that man,” Rose said. “He wasn’t that motivated to solve Ezra’s murder, and I’m afraid he’ll show the same lack of interest in Heather’s case. I can’t have that. She was like my own child. I have to make sure that the person or persons who killed Heather are brought to justice.”
Seth let out another sigh. “I’ll do what I can. In the meantime, how would you ladies like to accompany me to Del’s Diner for dinner? There are no two people I’d rather be with tonight.” When Rose gave no answer, he added in his most sincere voice, “The special tonight is chicken and biscuits.”
Rose glanced at Katie, her expression one of defeat. “All right. I’ll get my coat.” Rose exited the room, leaving Katie and Seth alone.
Katie strained to look around the door to make sure Rose was out of earshot before speaking. “You’re a peach, Seth.”
“Hey, I gotta eat, too,” he said, rising. “And why shouldn’t I have the company of the two prettiest women in town?”
Katie raised an eyebrow. “Do all lawyers lie as sweetly as you?”
“Only the good ones,” Seth admitted, smiling.
Ahh, that gorgeous smile. Months before, Katie had nearly fallen for Seth. His good looks, his kindness, and his
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