Murder by Page One by Olivia Matthews (good novels to read in english TXT) 📕

will, don’t you? That’d be a breach of attorney-client privilege.”

My stomach growled. It must be noon. I ignored the interruption. “I don’t want the details of Fiona’s will… Well, I wouldn’t mind having the details, but what we need to know is whether she recently changed her will. Willy and Bobby were arguing about it in On A Roll this morning. Willy says Bobby claimed to have been named as the sole beneficiary in Fiona’s will.”

“What?” Spence’s response was satisfyingly similar to my own.

“That was my reaction.” My stomach complained again. I took a drink from my now-cold second cup of coffee. “But Willy says he doesn’t believe Fiona would’ve left her uncle’s property to Bobby.”

“Based on the rumors around town, it’s hard to believe she would’ve left anything to Bobby.” Spence spoke as though deep in thought.

I nodded, then remembered we were having this conversation over the phone. “I agree. Willy said Fiona left that property to him.”

“They must’ve been really good friends.” Spence broke the brief but comfortable silence. “Of course, this gives Bobby and Willy a motive to kill Fiona.”

“For Bobby, it’s another motive,” I corrected. “We already had him on our list because Fiona had control over his inheritance. With Fiona’s death, it’s possible he gets his money.”

“Things aren’t looking good for him.” Spence’s tone was as grave as I felt.

“If any of this is true, then no, they’re not. But things don’t look so great for Willy, either.”

“Two people with the same motive.”

“At least.” I leaned into my desk, staring at my piles of reports, proofs, and other paperwork as I shifted my thoughts. “Speaking of Willy, could you check on something for me? Could you ask your Peach Coast Inn manager what time Willy checked into the inn, please?”

“Sure.” Spence’s voice filled with curiosity. “Why? What’s going on?”

“I’m hoping to tie up loose ends.” I plucked a pencil from my holder to roll between my fingers. “Willy said he drove straight from his home in Beaufort, South Carolina, to To Be Read. I have no reason to believe he’s lying, but I’d feel better if we could verify it.”

“I’ll ask Isaiah, the manager, to find out.” Spence sounded distracted. I wondered if he was creating a reminder note as we spoke. “I’m glad you thought of this. Check-in is two PM, so he would’ve had time to check in, then drive—or even walk—to To Be Read before the four PM signing.”

“That’s a good point.” A chill traced my spine.

I wanted to help bring compelling evidence to the deputies, evidence that would at least take the spotlight off of Jo, if not completely clear her name. But every time I reviewed our suspect list, I felt queasy at the thought that I might have come face-to-face with a cold-blooded killer.

Betty shifted her feet and hunched farther into her oversized cream sweatshirt. If that sweatshirt, dark sunglasses, and navy baseball cap were meant to be a disguise, they were epic fails. I hadn’t known her long, but I’d recognized her right away.

I’d been on my way back to my office Wednesday afternoon, but after spotting Betty in front of the library’s display of new and old books by Georgia authors, I was inspired to make a detour.

En route, I passed the customer line, which was winding its way toward the circulation desk. Employees from nearby businesses were visiting the library on their lunch hour. The Peach Coast Library didn’t have money for self-checkout machines, at least not yet. For now, the counter was staffed by two part-time employees serving the dozen or so guests who’d made their selections. It cheered my heart. A busy library was a joyful place.

I stopped within an arm’s length of Betty. A couple of copies of Fiona’s book, In Death Do We Part, were stocked within reach of us. The book was in high demand, in part because of Fiona’s murder, I was certain. But also it was a very good book. I was halfway through it and found it hard to put down.

Connecting Fiona’s book with Betty’s disguise brought a mischievous smile to my lips. “Good afternoon, Betty. Can I help you find anything in particular?”

The other woman jumped at my greeting. “Marvey! What? No, I’m not… There’s nothing in particular I’m looking for. No. Thank you. I’m just browsing. Well, actually, I’m not looking. For anything. I’m just waiting. For someone. Who’s not here. Yet.”

I scanned the library, noting new faces among the more familiar ones. None of the guests seemed to be waiting or watching for Betty. “Who are you waiting for?”

“That’s none of your business.” She stood straighter. Beads of sweat were forming on her pale brow and thin upper lip. I couldn’t see how she’d be comfortable in that sweatshirt. The library was warm. Betty must feel like she was carrying around her own personal sauna.

“Would you like a glass of water?”

The offer surprised her. It surprised me too. “I’m fine.” She used the tips of her fingers to dry her upper lip.

“While you wait for…whoever, I’m happy to make a couple of reading recommendations for you.” I glanced at Fiona’s book.

The rosy flush to Betty’s cheeks suggested she realized I’d guessed her secret mission. “I said I don’t need your help. Why don’t you go find someone who does?”

I gestured toward her uncomfortable costume. “Instead of trying to disguise yourself, why didn’t you just buy Fiona’s book online? It would’ve been so much more convenient, and no one would’ve been the wiser.”

She straightened her shoulders, looking down her nose at me. “Don’t you have work to do?”

The proverbial lightbulb turned on in my mind. “You don’t want to actually pay for Fiona’s book. Is that it? You resent her so much, you don’t want to help her sales.”

She glared at me, retaining her stubborn silence.

“All right, I want to talk with you about something else, anyway.” I faced her, straining to read her reaction in her eyes. Her dark sunglasses made that difficult.