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

Linc. He gave me a weird look, then said, "Becky's husband was cheating with Missy? I had no idea."

"Yup." Crystal's face broke into a smug smile. What was it with people being the first to hand out gossip around here? It was like verbal currency or something.

"But that was months ago. Why would it trigger a reaction now?" Linc asked.

Crystal shrugged. "There are plenty of people who aren't losing sleep over Missy Vandenburg being dead." And with that statement, she shimmied her skirt down her thighs and stalked out.

Lincoln stood beside me to watch Crystal leave. "If your eyebrows go any higher, they're going to blend right into your hairline," he whispered.

I lowered them. "That was interesting. From start to finish." I turned to him. "She volunteers here? What does she do?" I certainly couldn’t picture her wearing the firefighter gear. Nor could I picture anyone effectively fighting fires in a tube dress and stilettos.

"She helps in the office sometimes," Linc said absently. "And rides the truck in the parades."

I raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like an amazing contribution."

"We take what we can get," Linc said.

We farewelled the humane society lady and the pups before resuming our conversation.

"Do you believe her?" he asked as he closed the bay door.

"About being with Mike the afternoon of the murder?" Linc nodded. I shrugged. "I don't know. If she is telling the truth, then both Mike and Crystal are off our suspect list."

"It's such a bold thing to lie about. Does she honestly believe people don't notice a flashy sports car like Mike's parked in front of her house? Not many people drive that kind of car in Piney Ridge. I mean, I noticed," Linc said.

"Cheaters stay in a constant state of denial. They think they’re so discreet. Some cheaters even deny it when you catch them red-handed. Then they gaslight you into believing you didn't actually see what you saw. They build on the fact that you don't want it to be true," I said, my voice rising with each sentence.

"Why do I get the feeling we aren't necessarily talking about Mike and Crystal any longer?" Linc asked.

I shook my head and attempted a smile. "Sorry. I had a bad experience right before coming back home. It's still a little raw."

"You caught your boyfriend cheating?" Linc asked quietly as we walked toward the door to the office. He propped it open so Fang could run between the two areas.

"Ex-boyfriend. Very ex. And yes. He cheated with a younger colleague at his magazine. A younger colleague with much bigger breasts and much less travel-weary wrinkles than I have." I waved a hand to clear the entire room of the memory. "But I'm over it. Or at least mostly so."

"I'm sorry," Linc said.

I shrugged. "It happens. I'm more angry at myself for denying it for so long. There were definite signs before I actually caught them. But I believed his excuses."

"So, you think Missy and Mike knew about each other’s affairs?" Linc asked, bringing the conversation back to the present. I appreciated him for changing the subject before the tears of humiliation, anger, and hurt welling unbidden in my eyes spilled over. I'd shed enough tears for Wreck-It Rick, I didn't want to spend any more emotional energy on him. I brought myself back to the present too.

"In a town as small as this, I don't see how they didn't." Remembering Crystal's comment about Missy's affair, I asked, "Do you know Becky? Could we talk to her?"

"She'll be in later this week for her calendar shoot. We could approach her similarly to Crystal today," Linc suggested.

I nodded. "That could work. Even if Crystal is lying about their alibi, Becky and her husband could both be suspects. Think we could get the husband—what's his name?"

"Danny," Linc supplied.

"Think we could get Danny to come consult on a few shots? Be a second shooter? Not for Becky's turn, of course," I suggested.

"Oh no. We told him, in no uncertain terms, that he was no longer welcome on the premises."

"No exceptions? Even to clear me of murder?" I asked, trying to nail the puppy dog eyes.

"No exceptions. I think Chief Duncan and I scared him so bad, he has PTSD even driving past the place."

"Fine."

I dropped into a chair in the office. Linc automatically brought me a stool to prop my ankle on, then went to fetch me a bag of ice. I mulled over how I could weasel my way into talking to Danny. Honestly, Becky was the stronger suspect—a woman scorned and all that. But Danny could have blamed Missy for the end of his marriage. I needed to learn more about Becky and Danny's relationship prior to their breakup. The best place to do that would be to follow my mother to one of her many clubs. The mere thought gave me hives, but I'd suck it up. Especially if prison was the other option.

Linc came back with the ice.

I smiled up at him. "Thanks."

I reached for the bag, but he knelt down beside my leg. He rolled my sock down to look at the bruise, still blue, but fading to green around the edges. Linc ran his fingertips lightly around my ankle before braceleting it neatly between his thumb and middle finger. He chuckled lightly and gave it a little squeeze, replacing his fingers with the ice. He'd always been fascinated by my petite frame. I could never understand why—it's just genetics.

When he looked at me, his expression was guarded, but dark. Serious.

"Whoever cheated on you, Alex, is the stupidest man alive."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 17

 

 

 

On Saturday morning, I looked out at the clear blue sky dotted with cotton-ball clouds drifting in the slight spring breeze and frowned. I'd secretly hoped