Read Online Whiskey Rebellion (Romantic Mystery/Comedy) Book 1 (Addison Holmes Mysteries) by Liliana Hart - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Liliana Hart
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doing a favor for a friend of mine,” I said, deciding to be completely honest. “Do you remember Kate?”
“Of course I do. You girls sure did get into a mess of trouble when you were younger,” he said, chuckling. “She’s got that detective agency up near Savannah, doesn’t she?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“And you’re working a case and want my help.” Mr. Mooney’s face was brimming with excitement and it was hard not to get caught up in his enthusiasm.
“Yes, but whatever we discuss needs to stay between you and me.” I knew I was breaking all kinds of clauses in the contract Kate had me sign, but surely she’d understand as long as the end result came out okay.
“Oh, yes, yes, of course. I’m considered somewhat of a confidant in Whiskey Bayou. I know all kinds of things about people that I’ve never told a soul. Did you know that Harley Baines uses Viagra?”
“No,” I said, trying to get the portly city councilman out of my head.
“And Maggie Murchison can’t get pregnant because her husband had a vasectomy three years ago,” he went on.
“Oh, poor woman.” There was no way I was keeping that bit of information from my mother. Roger Murchison deserved to be lynched for that act of treachery.
“What about John Hyatt?” I asked.
“Ahh, yes. I should have known he was your target. I hear he’s decided to let Veronica Wade buy that house he promised you.” Victor clucked his tongue in disappointment. “I have a good mind to go down to the bank and withdraw all my money. I’d rather keep it in a shoebox under the bed than deal with a dishonest banker.”
“Does Mr. Hyatt have people in and out of his house frequently?” I asked.
“Oh, yes. It’s like a circus over there all the time. There are always cars in and out.”
“How can you see the cars in the driveway if the garage is on the other side of the house?”
“I can see almost the whole street from my third floor balcony,” he said sheepishly. “The white van belongs to Maria Vasquez. She cleans his house and does the laundry three days a week. And on Mondays the lawn service comes out and tends to the mowing and weeding. And on Friday mornings a man comes to clean the pool. It’s all very scheduled, like clockwork.”
“What about Monday and Thursday nights?” I asked, thinking of Fanny’s statement that those were the only two nights she was allowed to stay over.
“Oh, he goes to pick up his fiancé around six-thirty. Sometimes they go out to dinner, but they’re usually back by eight or so. Those are the only nights she sleeps over. He takes her back home around seven-thirty the next morning.”
“Do you ever see any other women at the house?”
He stopped and looked at me, and for the first time I wondered if he was going to lie to me and cover for John Hyatt. He finally sighed and shook his head. “I don’t understand why a man who has a beautiful woman at his side would go out looking for something else,” he said with disapproval. “There is another woman, and it seems like she practically lives there. I don’t know her name, but she’s got long blonde hair and a large chest. She parks a white Lexus in the garage and sneaks in and out at all hours. I wish I could give you a better description, but the only time I ever see her is if I catch a glimpse through one of the upstairs windows.”
“That’s all right, Mr. Mooney. You’ve helped me a lot,” I said as I stood to go. “Maybe you could keep watching for me and keep a log of the times you see this woman. If you know what you’re looking for maybe you can get a better description.”
I handed Mr. Mooney a card with my number on it and said goodbye. I knew two facts: Veronica Wade had somehow convinced John Hyatt to give her my house, and Veronica had long blonde hair and a large chest. It was too soon to believe in coincidences, but the evidence so far was pretty damning.
I sped into Savannah casting nervous glances at my
“Of course I do. You girls sure did get into a mess of trouble when you were younger,” he said, chuckling. “She’s got that detective agency up near Savannah, doesn’t she?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“And you’re working a case and want my help.” Mr. Mooney’s face was brimming with excitement and it was hard not to get caught up in his enthusiasm.
“Yes, but whatever we discuss needs to stay between you and me.” I knew I was breaking all kinds of clauses in the contract Kate had me sign, but surely she’d understand as long as the end result came out okay.
“Oh, yes, yes, of course. I’m considered somewhat of a confidant in Whiskey Bayou. I know all kinds of things about people that I’ve never told a soul. Did you know that Harley Baines uses Viagra?”
“No,” I said, trying to get the portly city councilman out of my head.
“And Maggie Murchison can’t get pregnant because her husband had a vasectomy three years ago,” he went on.
“Oh, poor woman.” There was no way I was keeping that bit of information from my mother. Roger Murchison deserved to be lynched for that act of treachery.
“What about John Hyatt?” I asked.
“Ahh, yes. I should have known he was your target. I hear he’s decided to let Veronica Wade buy that house he promised you.” Victor clucked his tongue in disappointment. “I have a good mind to go down to the bank and withdraw all my money. I’d rather keep it in a shoebox under the bed than deal with a dishonest banker.”
“Does Mr. Hyatt have people in and out of his house frequently?” I asked.
“Oh, yes. It’s like a circus over there all the time. There are always cars in and out.”
“How can you see the cars in the driveway if the garage is on the other side of the house?”
“I can see almost the whole street from my third floor balcony,” he said sheepishly. “The white van belongs to Maria Vasquez. She cleans his house and does the laundry three days a week. And on Mondays the lawn service comes out and tends to the mowing and weeding. And on Friday mornings a man comes to clean the pool. It’s all very scheduled, like clockwork.”
“What about Monday and Thursday nights?” I asked, thinking of Fanny’s statement that those were the only two nights she was allowed to stay over.
“Oh, he goes to pick up his fiancé around six-thirty. Sometimes they go out to dinner, but they’re usually back by eight or so. Those are the only nights she sleeps over. He takes her back home around seven-thirty the next morning.”
“Do you ever see any other women at the house?”
He stopped and looked at me, and for the first time I wondered if he was going to lie to me and cover for John Hyatt. He finally sighed and shook his head. “I don’t understand why a man who has a beautiful woman at his side would go out looking for something else,” he said with disapproval. “There is another woman, and it seems like she practically lives there. I don’t know her name, but she’s got long blonde hair and a large chest. She parks a white Lexus in the garage and sneaks in and out at all hours. I wish I could give you a better description, but the only time I ever see her is if I catch a glimpse through one of the upstairs windows.”
“That’s all right, Mr. Mooney. You’ve helped me a lot,” I said as I stood to go. “Maybe you could keep watching for me and keep a log of the times you see this woman. If you know what you’re looking for maybe you can get a better description.”
I handed Mr. Mooney a card with my number on it and said goodbye. I knew two facts: Veronica Wade had somehow convinced John Hyatt to give her my house, and Veronica had long blonde hair and a large chest. It was too soon to believe in coincidences, but the evidence so far was pretty damning.
I sped into Savannah casting nervous glances at my
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