Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“And you won’t,” I assured her. “You’re stuck with the bunch of us forever.”
Amy raised her wine glass, teary-eyed. “To our endless sisterhood.”
I sat in the living room by myself the next morning. Ian had shoots scheduled early. Amy was feeling her more usual confident self to Beau’s relief but also dismay since it meant he wouldn’t need to spend the whole day with her. As soon as they left, I got busy working on my weekly newsletter, keeping at least a month ahead saved me from last-minute craziness and stress.
I had the TV in the living room on, waiting on the local channel for the interview with the mayor on the Gail Fergus Morning Show. Locals watched it since it covered everything going on in Willow Lake as well as the surrounding area.
I set my laptop aside as soon as the segment with Mayor Barrett came on.
The mayor touted all his accomplishments since in office before getting down to the crux of the interview.
“Tell me, Mayor, has Travis Rodgers finally been found after all these years,” Gail asked.
“We have to wait for a formal identification, but something was discovered with the body that makes it fairly certain it’s Travis. I’m telling you, Gail, this case will finally be solved, and my father will be proven correct in his conclusion that Travis Rodgers killed Rita Carson all those years ago.”
“But with the discovery of his body having been buried—”
“Proves that someone else was there that night and killed Travis in revenge,” Mayor Barrett said, not letting her finish. “Now that Warren Madison is sheriff, he can finally do what my father had tasked him with and which he failed to do… find Travis and confirm he was the killer. This time I am going to make sure that Sheriff Madison does his job.”
I could not believe that Mayor Barrett laid blame on my dad for the case not being solved. His father had been the sheriff, he had been in command. What had he failed to do to help investigate the murder?
Not interview his own son.
I wanted to march to his office and tell him what I thought of him, but that wouldn’t help my dad. It would only make things worse. But I knew someone who would handle it perfectly, and I knew exactly where the mayor would go after the interview. Where the locals go at this time… the Star Diner.
I smiled as I picked up my cell.
9
Mom was at the diner when I got there. Zelda caught me before I joined her in our usual booth.
“You called her, didn’t you?” Zelda asked.
“Of course, she did,” Lara said, passing with a tray full of plates. “Who better than to handle the mayor than Sally Madison.”
My mom was a beauty for her fifty-six years, not a trace of gray in her auburn-colored hair that I inherited. She was slim and petite in size like me, but she packed a big punch you never saw coming. That was because she delivered it in a way you never expected, but boy did it sting.
“I cannot believe Jim Barrett spoke like that about your father,” my mom said before I even sat and as soon as I did Mayor Barrett entered the diner.
I smiled. The man didn’t know what was about to hit him.
“He is mayor and represents the people of this town, and he should know better than to accuse his own sheriff of failing to do his job. Your dad worked hard on that case, spent plenty of sleepless nights over it.”
I snatched up the small teapot and filled my mug as I listened to my mom talk. Her voice remained soft and level, no one would know she was angry which was why when she struck, you didn’t see it coming.
I waited, knowing the mayor couldn’t resist coming to speak to us, showing everyone that there was no ill will and he was the better man. I also realized the diner had suddenly gotten crowded. Those who knew my mom knew there was a showdown coming.
Then it happened. I saw the official police vehicle pull into the parking lot. I was hoping he wouldn’t hear about it until afterward. I wasn’t that lucky… my dad got out.
It took only a minute for my mom to announce. “Your dad just walked in. Oh, and Ian as well.”
That one I didn’t expect. Still, I kept my fingers crossed that victory was at hand.
Ian slid in beside me in the booth. “Your da called me and suggested I meet you and your mum here.”
I should have known my dad knew what I’d be up to after hearing that interview.
“They’re shaking hands, how nice,” my mom said, and I felt Ian relax next to me as if a storm had been averted.
“Your dad is headed this way,” my mom said and slipped out of the booth to lay a comforting hand on my dad’s arm when he reached her. “Are you all right, Warren?”