Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57502 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57502 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
“Ezra Sterling, strong and bold,
About his bravery, legends are told.
Faced with thieves, he took a stand,
With wit and grit, he became the hero of our land.”
Conrad shook his head. “This town is so weird.”
Despite her anxiety, Lucy appeared pleased she wouldn’t have to explain the basics and could go straight to the scandal. “Well, let’s just say Mr. Hero didn't mind helping himself to a little bit of each man’s gold. He stored it down here.”
Beau huffed with indignation. “People have been squirreling away gold in this town since the beginning.”
Jane suspected the time she had “requested” they dig up a dead body to look for some of that infamous hidden gold at the Garden had scarred him for life.
“You mentioned another doorway.” Conrad centered them back on the investigation.
Lucy visibly swallowed, tension radiating from her in waves. “I’ve since locked it, in case the killer used it to escape. And he must have. Because Cartier was down here before Hannah’s murder. When I returned, my baby was gone, a note left in her place. It said I’ll be in touch. Respond or else.”
Jane’s chest squeezed. The panic in the other woman’s expression and tone struck a chord deep within her. She’d experienced something similar during a previous murder investigation, when a masked woman had snuck into her home and Rolex went missing. Plus, she knew Lucy. Knew the sweetness in her heart.
Had Jane suspected her of murder not too long ago? Yes. But that was before this. And maybe she could rule out Donnie too? What were the odds someone new to town would know about secret doors? Although, Christopher and his encyclopedia of knowledge might. What if he told those facts to everyone at the fire station?
Maybe Donnie had known.
“Why is there a litter box in the secret room if the cat was kept down here?” Conrad asked.
Lucy sniffled. “Cats wander, and Cartier would sometimes get locked up there. She needed a place to go.”
“Everyone stop talking. I need a second.” Jane whipped out her phone and found her ex’s number. Once, she’d stored his name as—her cheeks heated—Kisstopher. After their breakup, she’d changed it to Craptopher. But she’d since switched it to Christopher.
Jane: Hey, do you know some obscure facts about town history?
A response came within seconds.
Christopher: I do. Is there something you’d like to learn?
Jane: Yes, please. Are there any secret doorways around town?
Christopher: Many. Maggie and Abigail asked the same question a few months ago, so I did some research and put together a map. A few of the guys at the station helped. I have the info stored on a computer at home. As soon as I get back, I’ll shoot the file your way. The town is quite a fascinating maze!
Ah ha! Maggie, Abigail, and probably Jacob had known. Jacob could’ve told his father. And the firemen had assisted. Basically, this pointed to all of Jane’s suspects. Christopher’s willingness to offer up details exonerated him. Mostly. Because it also added to his potential guilt.
She would share the news with Conrad when they were alone. “All right. Please continue,” she said, trying to tamp down her excitement.
Conrad gave her a funny look. “I’m going to ask some questions, and you’re going to answer,” he told Lucy. “Or we can go to the station and have an attorney present.”
“I’ll answer your questions here and now.” Lucy slowly lowered her arms, then motioned to a small round table with the perfect number of chairs and several stacks of folders. “Please, get comfortable.”
“Beau,” he said. That was it. Just the war vet’s name.
“On it,” Beau replied, launching into a slow, thorough search of the room, taking photos with his phone.
Their understanding of each other and what needed to be done was wow.
Lucy, Jane and Conrad sat. Jane noticed the carvings on the table. Oh! One of her ancestors had engraved his name. Silas Ladling. She traced her fingertip over the letters, grounding her thoughts.
“Tell me what happened,” Conrad commanded. “Start from the beginning.”
“My half-sister was sick. She had an operation but died anyway, and I was lost,” Lucy said with a sniffle. “Every action I took, all my thoughts for the last year and a half, centered on getting the money for her surgery.” Her voice thickened as she continued. “Now I have no job, no home, and no savings. I mentioned my financial tie to Hannah to Jane, but our connection goes deeper. Before that, I dated one of Hannah’s sons. When I reached out, she offered me a lifeline and a top secret place to stay.”
“Oh, Lucy,” Jane said, giving her friend’s hand a pat. Stealing that fifty thousand dollars made so much sense now. And was it really stealing if the murderer brought the money in a briefcase, intending to buy a murderer’s silence? “You’ve been through so much.”