Secrets in a Still Life by Kari Ganske (mobi ebook reader .txt) 📕

And he was successful more times than not, from what I hear."

"Order up!" a voice called from the kitchen. Peggy Sue excused herself to grab the order.

"Crystal, huh?" I said. "Is that the woman from tonight?"

Linc pressed his lips together and shook his head.

"Come on, Linc," Colleen said. "We're just gonna look it up online. You're merely delaying the inevitable."

"Fine. Her name is Crystal Coyne. And yes, she's my neighbor. She also volunteers at the fire department. And, her affair with a married man notwithstanding, she's a very nice woman."

"I didn't say she wasn't," I said defensively. "But sometimes love makes people do things they normally wouldn't do."

"Yeah, like trying Thai food or jumping out of an airplane. Not murder," Linc shot back.

"But someone did murder her, Linc," I said, gentling my voice. "I realize I don't know these people as well as you two do, so I'm sorry for suspecting them. But someone did murder her."

Linc sighed and took a sip of his coffee. "I know. I just can't imagine anyone in Piney Ridge doing it."

"Listen, Linc," Colleen said. "I don't want it to be anyone I know either. But we overheard Crystal say something about an ultimatum."

"Yeah," I added. "She also implied that she and Mike could be together when the—and I quote—'crazy cow' was out of the way."

Peggy Sue interrupted us to bring our food.

"I'll give you a dollar if you eat all of that," Colleen said, pointing at the stacked plates in front of me.

"Just watch me."

"Where do you put it all?" Linc asked, astonished. "You're like the size of my little finger."

"Mostly in my hips," I said around a mouthful of chicken. "Help yourself to some fries."

Linc picked up the conversation while I ate. "If what you said is true, then Mike is definitely on the suspect list."

"Duh," Colleen said, dipping a fry in some ketchup. "He'd be on the list regardless of the conversation. The people closest to her always are."

Linc was quiet for a moment. He watched me eat with his half smirk. I tried to ignore him; his constant scrutiny made it hard to swallow.

"What?" I finally asked, wiping my mouth with a napkin. "You never see anyone eat before?"

"You never cease to amaze me," he said, shaking his head. He reached across to grab a piece of bacon, but I slapped his hand away.

"I said you could have some fries. But touch the bacon and you may lose a finger."

His smirk turned to a full-on smile as he wrapped his hands back around his coffee mug. "Are you going to be well enough to come back to the firehouse tomorrow?" he asked me. "If you can roll out of bed after all this food, that is."

"Sure. What grunt work do you have for me to do?"

"I thought we could get started on the calendar. It's Crystal's day to volunteer. I can tell her to come prepared."

"And we can question her!" I said, almost knocking over my milkshake in my excitement.

Linc glowered at me. "We can have a conversation. A light, non-accusatory conversation."

"Sure, sure, sure," I said. "This'll be great."

"I'll draft a list of questions tonight," Colleen said. "And then call me immediately when you finish. Man, I wish I could be there."

Linc groaned. "I have a bad feeling about this."

I shot him a wide smile. This could be the break I needed to completely wipe my name off Chief Duncan's suspect list. I went to grab another fry, then realized they were gone. I sucked down the last bit of my milkshake and held out my hand to Colleen.

"Do you want a high five?" she asked.

"No, you owe me a dollar."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 15

 

 

 

Armed with a list of questions from Colleen and a welcoming smile, I tottered my way into the firehouse the next morning. Nana K had graciously agreed to be my chauffeur in the mornings. I'd have to rely on my parents or Linc for the way home. At least for this week. When I moved to the loft, I'd be out of everyone's way. I made a mental note to call about the safe-driving class later.  Even though I'd lasted months without driving in New York, I'd had umpteen number of taxis at my immediate disposal. I would bet Lash that Piney Ridge didn't even have rideshares, much less a taxi service. And I was really attached to my fish.

But those were worries for another day. Today I needed to focus on what to say to Crystal.

I contemplated my approach. The conversational "I'm new to town" schtick worked fairly well with Peggy Sue. I could definitely do that again, although Crystal was younger and might see through the innocent act, so I could try a more direct approach to catch her off guard.

Wrapped up in my thoughts, I ran right into someone in the lobby of the firehouse. Too soft to be Linc, too broad to be Crystal.

"Still running into things, I see."

"Chief Duncan," I said, taking a step back away from him. My good mood faltered a little.

"I thought I told you to stay out of trouble," he said. I tried to move around him, but he blocked my path to the engine bay where the photoshoot would happen.

"I am. I'm here to do my court-ordered community service."

"Mike Vandenburg mentioned a green VW bug followed him last night. Know anything about that?" The chief put his ruddy hands on his hips and puffed out his chest. Well, tried to puff out his chest. Instead, his large belly mushroomed even larger. I took another step back to avoid being knocked over by his moving girth.

"Nope. Colleen and I were out and about. We ended up at