“Hello,” he said with a big smile of pearly white teeth trying to lead with his good looks when a tall woman with jet black hair opened the door.
Both of our gazes took in her appearance first, the shiny hair with a set of brown eyes and big pink lips that had to be plumped. No way they were natural. Then in unison our gazes fell lower, both meeting her rounded stomach where one hand rested on top of the bulge.
Definitely pregnant. Pierce nodded as if he heard my internal thoughts. “Is Jason here?” Pierce asked.
“We’re looking into the death of Chip Martal,” I threw in for extra measure. If she knew we weren’t here to sell anything, she’d be more likely to tell us the truth.
Pierce scowled at me, but his attention quickly flew back to the woman on the other side of the door with her next words.
“I’m Jason’s sister, but he’s not home. What do you want to know about Chip?”
“Did you know him?”
The woman’s smile fell into a deep frown. “Hell yes, I knew him, and the only thing I have to say about his death is good riddance.”
8
Pierce
“Is that so?” Katy asked the extremely pregnant woman while shooting me an I-told-you-so look. I didn’t know what she thought she’d told me. If anything, it meant the pregnant lady killed Chip and I doubted she waddled her way through the reunion and shot someone with no one noticing.
“I’m Katy and live in Pelican Bay. Trust me. I understand not being sad about seeing someone dead.” She flashed me another look letting me know her comment most certainly was about me.
“Ashley,” she replied and then her face fell. “I didn’t kill Chip if that’s what you’re here about. I won’t cry at his funeral, but I didn’t off him.”
No, of course she didn’t.
“Is there anything else you can tell us about Chip?” I asked hoping to get this out of the way and have Katy see there was nothing to worry about here. It was a long shot, but being around Katy taught me to pray…often.
“Besides, he’s a piece of shit boyfriend?” Ashley clarified.
“Yes.” Why were woman so difficult? Maybe Katy was right and I had a knack for pissing off people of the opposite sex.
Ashley leaned up against the door frame. “We dated four months, but when he found out I was pregnant he moved in with Shannon Labuld. Asshole still owes me six hundred bucks, but I doubt I’ll see it now.”
“Who’s Shannon?” Katy asked, leaning into the story like we were at a theater. The woman lived for drama.
Ashley’s face fell into one of pure hatred. Now there was someone she’d take the time to kill. “She lives in Clearwater and will fuck anyone willing to buy her a drink.”
Katy found this information interesting, but I was more concerned about the money. Money would definitely lead someone to kill. I’d hope not over a measly six hundred dollars, but you never knew with some people. I’d heard stories of unsavory business deals leading to untimely deaths for years.
“Why does he owe you six hundred dollars?” I asked once Katy finished with her dramatics. If I let her go too long, she’d find the new girlfriend thread and pull it until the whole sweater unraveled.
Ashley snorted and then rubbed her belly before readjusting. Our time was running short. “What else? Bail money.”
“Why’d he go to jail?” Katy asked, not letting up on her questions even as the pregnant woman grew more uncomfortable. Her balance shifted from foot to foot and she rubbed her stomach harder.
She did all of this while rolling her eyes. “What does anyone get in trouble for around here? Drunk driving.”
I guessed if we went to the police station and checked out his record, he’d been in jail more than this once.
“Why was Chip at the reunion?”
Ashley gave a halfhearted shrug. “I have no idea. He didn’t even graduate from Pelican Bay. Chip finished school in Bangor. He had no reason to be there. Unless he was with his new girlfriend, but I bet she didn’t even graduate. If she’s not still in high school.”
Katy nodded her head enthusiastically. “Men are assholes.”
Both women gave a barely quiet uh-huh, but Katy turned to look at me. Her way of letting me know the comment—from her—was meant for me.
