The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda (speld decodable readers txt) 📕

me. Well, actually, she’s been one step ahead of me. I wonder what else she’s done? What else does she know? “Have you found anything else helpful on the phone?”

“Not too much, I guess. I know from reading his text messages that Dad was drinking to get through the night. He couldn’t wait to get away from Tish, and he told her as much. He should have left that night. He stayed because of loyalty or something.”

“I’m convinced she put something in your dad’s drink.” I won’t play the voice mail message for her. Not now, maybe not ever. I don’t want her to remember him, his voice, like that.

Ashlyn slumps back on the couch, exhausted.

“It’s so scary. I actually can imagine Tish doing that, too,” she says. “You should have seen the crazy look on her face this afternoon.”

“It is hard to believe, but the truth was right in front of us. She’s a murderer.” The words spill out of my mouth. “I can’t believe I didn’t put it all together sooner. And now, she’s trying to hurt you.”

“So you believe me?” Ashlyn says.

“Of course. We need to be more careful, until we get rid of her for good. Bob and I have something we need you to do.”

“Sure, OK, but why didn’t you tell Chief Briggs all of this? Maybe have him keep an eye on her?”

“We just really don’t have enough evidence, but I will if we can get more proof. In the meantime, I’m focused on getting Tish out of the company, and on nullifying that new ridiculous will. Bob’s waiting for the papers. Unfortunately, from a legal standpoint, the best person to contest the will is you, honey.”

“Tish is going to love that. Not. Why me?” Ashlyn asks. I hear the fear in her voice. She sounds exhausted.

I hold her hand. “Trust me, I’d do it if I could, but you are your father’s only direct descendent. Are you up for it?”

The doorbell rings before she can answer. I expect it to be the courier, and I hear Bob answer the door. He carries the paperwork into the family room. I grab a pen from my purse and hand it to Ashlyn.

“Here it is, honey. Take your time, read it over. And then sign if you are comfortable. This is all about your inheritance.”

She lifts her head and nods.

“I don’t need to read it,” she says, and signs her name on the last page. “I trust you. And we need to get rid of her before she does something else.”

I hand the signed paperwork to Bob and follow him to the front door.

“I’m filing immediately. Lock the door and turn on the alarm. Call if you need anything. Actually, call Briggs first.”

I return to my daughter. “Once this lawsuit is filed, Tish will know you are the one challenging the will.”

Ashlyn wipes under her eyes. “I don’t care about that. I want to know if she killed my dad.”

“I know. We’ll get to the bottom of all of this. Just remember, you meant the whole world to your dad. He would never cut you out of the will. That’s when I started thinking about the timing of everything. I remembered the texts. Even I didn’t realize how desperate he sounded until I read through them again. Combined with the filing date of the fake will, well, it’s undeniable.”

Ashlyn’s breath catches in her chest. “I could see it, I mean, I can see it now. Oh my god. She thought Dad was leaving her to come back home. And you and Dad were flirting.”

“I’m embarrassed you read all of that,” I say and pivot to the task at hand. “We need some sort of concrete evidence against Tish.”

“I can look around her house. I spent a lot of time over there, remember?” Ashlyn stands up. “I need to move all of my stuff out anyway.”

“That’s too dangerous. She may have tampered with your car. Once we file the lawsuit, she’ll blame you for everything.”

“Then I need to go now.” Ashlyn takes a deep breath as tears well up in her eyes. “It’s going to be hard with all of Dad’s things still there. But I need to do it now or who knows what she’ll do to all my high school treasures.”

“What will you tell her about why you’re just showing up?”

Ashlyn leans against the counter holding her arm. I think she needs a doctor. “I am telling her I’m moving out. That she and I don’t have a relationship any longer now that Dad is gone. And I’ll look around. I just don’t know what I’ll find, if anything. Or what I’m looking for.”

I watch as Ashlyn pulls out her phone and texts.

“Are you texting Tish?”

“No, I’d rather surprise her. I’m texting Seth. I’ll need a ride.”

“I don’t think you should involve anybody else, do you?” I say.

“He’s already involved. I was at his house all afternoon,” she says, blushing.

“Seth, huh?” I smile. “I like him. You two are cute together.”

“We’re just friends, OK?”

I realize something more is developing. “Sure. Friends,” I say. “I’m going to see if the doctor can make a house call tonight, what do you think?”

“Bonnie makes house calls? She’s your doctor, right? The naturopath?” she asks. “I remember I liked her.”

“Well, no, I was going to call an orthopedist. Dr. Bonnie is great for herbs and potions and balancing your chakras. Not sure she can do anything for bones,” I answer, wondering why this sudden interest in a doctor Ashlyn hasn’t seen for years.

“Dad was taking some sort of pills from her, wasn’t he?” she asks.

“Oh, right, for stress. You saw that on the texts on his phone,” I say, finally figuring out where she remembered the name. “Bonnie is great. But I’ll call an orthopedist for this.”

“Doctors can’t really do anything for broken elbows. I googled it. Let’s give it some time,” Ashlyn says. “I feel fine. Just a little sore. Seth will be here in ten minutes.”

“I’ll follow and