Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
He parked in an empty spot across from the law offices of Hagger, Hagger and Miller. Near the spot she’d parked before her accident. Devin Hagger, the only partner remaining at the firm, was the most prestigious lawyer in town. Hagger had once been in business with Tony Miller, the man murdered at the Garden during a party thrown by Jane. Hagger had also been a top suspect—to Jane.
“Come on. I’ll show you my process,” Conrad said. They emerged into the cold morning. And, for the next half hour, they stood at the side of the road. Silent. After the shoulder bump and finger graze in the mausoleum, she purposely remained ten paces away from him.
Conrad stared here, there and everywhere, the wheels in his head obviously churning.
“What are we doing again?” Jane asked, drawing the lapels of her cashmere fleece tighter. A garment she cherished, and a gift made by Grandma Lily simply because Jane had liked the striking yarn the color of wild berries.
“We’re seeing what Adaline Crema saw before we speak with her.” He pulled a notebook from his pocket and wrote something down. “She’s the one who was ticketed the day of your accident.”
Jane remembered that day well, and not just because of the wreck. Earlier, Hagger had told her, “Your snooping is gonna get you into trouble. You keep at it, and you may not like what you find. Or who finds you.”
A promise–or an accurate prediction? Had she poked her nose into the wrong person’s business?
A shudder wracked her, despite the warmth provided by her beloved coat. Concentrate on the now.
“Detective work is boring,” Jane grumbled. She much preferred her version of fact-finding–searching through a dead woman’s purse or barreling through a suspect’s place of business.
Though, really, Conrad’s brand of investigation did provide stimulating visuals. A beam of golden sunlight spotlighted the soon-to-be sheriff–no way he’d lose the election–as if drawn to him like a magnet. She knew the feeling. Did he have to look so gorgeous? Before they’d left the cottage, he’d changed into his usual perfectly tailored suit and tie, paired with an extremely sexy wool coat.
The cold breeze carried hints of his scent. Prince of Spices indeed. She closed her eyes for a moment, just a moment, and breathed deep. A mistake. Awareness for him zinged her every cell, her response to him undeniable and inescapable.
He crooked his finger at her. With a voice of pure temptation, he invited, “Come here, Jane.”
Ugh. Close contact still wasn’t a good idea. But. Business was business, right? Dragging her feet, she made her way over. The second she stepped within range, he reached out, clasped her hand, and tugged her in front of him. Then he released her—but only to grip her waist to hold her steady. Shivers rolled over her spine.
With his lips hovering over her ear, he softly commanded, “Tell me what you see.” His warmth made a mockery of her coat.
More shivers plagued her, each one hot enough to spark a new wildfire in her veins. Red alert! Red alert! She scrambled for another source of focus. “Townsfolk bustling down the sidewalk. Pots displaying colorful mums of orange and yellow outside storefronts.”
“Good,” he said. “Now imagine you are Ms. Crema, and you are parked here. The hearse is there.” Again he released her, but only long enough to point to the spot she’d parked the day of her crash. “What can you deduce?”
The urge to melt into him bombarded her. Only friends, remember? “Um. Well. Our person of interest had a view of the passenger side of my vehicle. She could have seen anyone approaching from the…north?”
“South.”
“Yes. That.” So directions outside of the Garden weren’t her thing. So what? “But Ms. Crema wouldn’t have noticed anyone coming from the alleyway behind all those shops.”
“True.”
So… “Conrad, I don’t mean to insult you, but I deduced this information with a single glance, yet you required over thirty minutes.”
A soft chuckle left him, his breath fanning over her hair. “I’ve run about fifty different scenarios through my head.”
Ahhh. Okay. Yes. That made sense. Why hadn’t she thought of it? “My turn to run scenarios.” Let’s see, let’s see. “Oh! How about this? The deputy who pulled her over was the one messing with my car. When he finished up with his dastardly plot to end my life, he climbed into his cruiser and noticed the indomitable Adaline toddling past. Afraid she saw something she shouldn’t, he hurried to pull her over and cover his tracks. He questioned her subtly but learned nothing. Next he did the only thing he could. Issued her a ticket—and a threat.” In her best evil overlord imitation, she said, “Tell anyone what you saw here today, and the next fine will cost double.”
Conrad snorted. “What’s the deputy’s motive?”
Easy. “To possess Garden of Memories and get to the gold.”