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

Linc nodded. "Ms. Poledark was a looker back in the day, even with the drinking."

"Ew, Linc," Colleen and I said together. He shrugged, unapologetic.

"Having an affair with his wife's mother would be a motive for murder, for sure." I leaned back in my seat. "Although more so for Missy, not the other way around. If I found out my husband had an affair with my mother, I'd freak out and probably kill the scoundrel too." I looked at my friends' shocked faces and added, "Hypothetically, of course."

"Could they have gotten in a fight that went too far? Maybe the whole thing was an accident," Colleen said. "Scissors do seem like a crime of passion. If you're going to premeditate something, why not bring a knife or a gun?"

"True. Okay, picture this: Missy and Mike fought over the results. Mike lashed out in self-defense grabbing the only thing nearby—scissors." I could see it play out in my mind as clear as day.

"One small problem," Linc interjected into my mind movie. "Why was she in the woods? If they fought there, someone must have brought the scissors. You don't just find scissors laying around by the reservoir. Beer cans and chip bags, sure. But scissors? Not likely."

I felt myself deflate a little. We were still missing something. My buzz from earlier diminished to a dull ping in the back of my brain. Still there but much less intense.

Colleen must have felt the same since she said, "Maybe it is just juicy gossip and nothing to do with the murder."

"Could be," I confirmed. But I couldn't quite let it go. "But it is really coincidental. This report is recent." I pointed at the date at the top. "We're missing something."

Linc munched on the almost forgotten basket of fries, his eyes unfocused as he thought. We looked at him with anticipation. It wasn't like him not to offer an opinion.

Finally, he said, "Nope. I got nothing. I'm still on Team Kelly did it to take over the salon. Everything fits—the scissors, the timing, the renovations. Maybe this DNA report is just a—what do they call it? Pickled herring?"

"Red herring," Colleen and I said at the same time.

Linc nodded. "That's it!"

I sighed and finished my milkshake. "You're probably right. Keep your ear to the ground tomorrow at work about Kelly's interview last night. Charm your way into getting Joy to talk about it."

Linc gave me a sideways look, but a smile pulled at his lips. "Won't you be there too? You are falling way behind on your community service requirements."

I rolled my eyes, a habit that had gotten much worse since returning to Piney Ridge. "I don't really want to be anywhere near that place right now."

"Understandable. Maybe you can meet me by the sign, and we can get started on repairs."

Now it was my turn to smirk. "So not only would I be paying for the repairs, but I would also be helping to repair it? Something doesn't sit quite right there."

Linc shrugged, the hint of a smile turning into a real one. "I'll bet the carpenter would knock a few bucks off of the labor quote."

I threw a fry at him.

Chapter 32

Later that evening, I tossed and turned in my bed. My mind was racing, trying to connect the dots between Missy, Mike, and Jodie. It really was too much of a coincidence for the DNA results to come back almost the same day as Missy's murder. Someone—presumably Mike—was so upset about them, he or she ripped the report to shreds. No one ripped paper that much unless they wanted to erase what was on it.

The reservoir threw me off. If this had happened in the Vandenburg home or at Mike's office or at the salon, I could make my theory fit.

The salon! I sat bolt upright in bed. Of course. Missy had been at the salon that day. She could have easily picked up some scissors there. What if it wasn't Mike who came prepared with a weapon, but Missy? That fit with the "Missy was the angry one" scenario.

Or maybe she happened to have them in her pocket. I thought about all the times I found lens caps and cleaning wipes and SD cards in my pockets. People put work stuff in pockets all the time and forgot about them.

My scenario from earlier could make sense if Missy were the one to have brought the scissors. The couple fights over the affair, it gets out of hand. Maybe Missy remembers the scissors and pulls them to threaten Mike. He overpowers her, takes the scissors, and stabs her. Or they struggle for the scissors and Missy accidentally gets stabbed.

Mike obviously wouldn't want the scandal to get out. If he or his father were the culprit of the affair, the scandal would rock Piney Ridge and possibly affect their business. That would devastate the Vandenburgs, who thrived on their image and their current, lavish lifestyle.

A terrible thought occurred to me then. Would he also want to silence Jodie? Obviously she knew about the results; did she also figure out Mike's involvement in Missy's murder? If he were willing to kill to keep the secret of the DNA, he would absolutely kill again to cover up another murder. The stakes were so much higher.

I checked the time—not too late. I flew out of bed and threw on some clothes. Jodie would probably still be awake or even entertaining guests at the memorial. I had to try to warn her, to convince her to go to the police.

I cursed my stupid car for still being in the shop and contemplated calling Linc or Colleen to get a ride. Jodie's wide, bloodshot eyes and pale, tear-stained cheeks filled my head. There