“I know you killed Casey,” I blurted when the driver started for the bag behind me. His eyes widened, and he stopped beside his car, his gaze on Selene. It appeared I’d gone for the direct approach, and it worked.
Selene stared at me with her mouth ajar. Her face turned an ashy white color. “What?”
I’d already gone this far down the rabbit hole. I needed to finish the job. “Yes, you killed him for the house. It’s probably worth millions.”
“You think I killed Casey?” she asked, sniffling over every word. “I loved Casey.”
I stepped closer to the luggage and put my arm behind me to hold on to it. She was not getting away. “Yes.”
“I don’t get the house,” she said full out crying. She was either the world’s best actress—like get her an Oscar—or it’s possible she didn’t kill Casey. “It goes to his uncle in Ashville.”
“Ashville?” Why hadn’t anyone mentioned this uncle earlier? Before I went on my wild conspiracy witch hunt. My complete assurance she killed Casey and Lisa splintered.
She nodded. “Casey was the love of my life. Losing him is losing everything good in this world.”
Holy crap, her words and sobs rubbed a hole in my heart. Those two had the real deal.
But I still had so many questions.
“Did he know your dad built the riverside condos? That he tried to buy this place?” How did she explain her family connections? I repositioned myself and grabbed the suitcase again.
The driver of the car stood patiently by the side of the road. I waited for him to pull out his phone and start recording. He’d go viral.
“No,” she said, her voice growing firm. “And there was no need. Richard is no longer my father. He lost those privileges because I chose Casey over my family. That’s how deeply I loved him.”
Oh, no. Did I make a colossal mistake?
“Let me tell you about my sperm donor.” She marched toward me and I stepped to the side of the luggage. Real grief or not, if she came at me, I was not above pushing the Empire State Building of Luggage at her before running. “Richard divorced my mother after moving us to this town ten years ago. You’re never accepted in the South if you’re not from here. No one was ever nice to me—except Casey.
“He didn’t care about my missing Southern accent or anything else. He just loved me for me.” She thumped her hand against her chest.
I flinched.
Reed was going to kill me when if he ever made it home—first for leaving the rental and second for accusing a grieving woman of murder. I inched backward toward our door, hoping to leave the situation before he got home. Then we’d never have to talk about it.
“But Dad…” She put a heavy sarcastic tilt on Dad. “Couldn’t handle it.”
“He didn’t like Casey?” I asked. Sure, I was still scared for my life, but Selene was also an excellent storyteller.
She grunted. “He never even met him. Dear old Daddy didn’t want me falling in love with a poor man, so he cut me off.”
Damn, how rich was Selene’s family because Casey wasn’t close to poor in my definition. His mother was in the garden club. Poor people didn’t have time for garden clubs. I knew because I’d never been in one, and I had first-hand knowledge of lack of money.
“No loss,” she said, continuing on with her explanation. “He’s no longer my father. I lost everything for Casey, and I have no regrets. Now excuse me.” She pushed past me, grabbed the handle on her enormous suitcase and rolled it toward the van.
The driver jumped to action and took it from her halfway. Selene had herself buckled into the back seat of the van and the door closed before I thought of an apology. They drove off, and I slunk back toward the house, glad Reed missed my epic embarrassment.
I struggled with the latch on the gate. Damn, maybe Selene didn’t kill Lisa or Casey. But then who did? The gate closed behind me as the porch lights automatically turned on from the darkening sky.
Anxiety about the approaching night crept up the back of my neck, tightening my chest. I needed Reed to return with Torin, so I had company—and people with guns. If Selene wasn’t the killer, the person responsible for two deaths was still out there.
I opened the door and slipped inside, closing and locking it behind me. If Selene didn’t kill Lisa or Casey, who did?
I’d have to pour over the articles again. Maybe we’d overlooked another clue.
“Oh, shit.” I stopped dead in my tracks on the other side of the door.
The articles!
