Listening hard for any sound of conflict, he eased the front door open and passed the empty front room on the right and the almost-always empty registration area across from it. He passed the dining room, followed by the kitchen to the left. Both were also empty. Aunt Lina’s room was toward the back of the house to the right—no one would be in there, and he had a clear view of the sunroom and porch, so he knew they were all in the sitting room. Plus, he could now hear Paul Sullivan begin to speak inthat monotonous drone that strived to be rational but just ended up being irritatingly boring.
He was talking about the negative consequences of defaming the character of Mrs. Veronica Archer.
Santiago paused at the room’s entrance.
Unlike this morning, Lauren sat in the center of his aunt’s chesterfield couch like a queen on her throne. With her back to the wall, she saw the moment Santiago filled the entry way. She smiled slightly, turned her gaze back to Sullivan, and lowered her demitasse cup onto the saucer on the table.
Santiago adjusted his shades on the bridge of his nose, not liking how his heart picked up at the sight of her. He didn’t judge its reaction; the woman was captivating when her mouth was firmly shut.
The Archers and Sullivan, who hadn’t realized he was here, were packed onto the love seat Lauren slept on last night, while Audrey sat in the winged chair against the wall to his left, his aunt was conspicuously missing. He dropped his chin slightly acknowledging Audrey.
Shielded behind his reflective sunglasses, Santiago tried to decide whether the swell of Ms. Green’s breasts, her glistening shapely brown legs, or her thighs—because the hem of her fiery red wrap dress exposed them almost to the ass—were more worthy of his attention than whatever it was Sullivan was saying.
Ms. Green bent over from the hip as she reached for her cup and saucer, exposing more of her ample cleavage. Sullivan’s words ceased abruptly.
He should arrest her, Santiago thought.
“I was wondering if you were going to show up, Sheriff Stillwater, and like a fly to shit”—she waved toward the people on the couch—“here you are.”
Audrey lowered her head, hiding her face.
There was movement down the hall from the right, and he turned to see his aunt tiptoeing toward him with the devil in her eyes and her finger pressed against her lips. She’d obviously been somewhere close eavesdropping.
When he turned his eyes back to the sitting room, both Sullivan and Anderson were standing.
“Gentlemen,” Santiago nodded. “Mrs. Veronica.”
“Theseoh-so-distinguishedresidents of Shrouded Lake were compelled to drop by and ‘educate’”—she air-quoted the word—“me on the legal ramifications of defaming a woman as respected as the very honorable and...what was it you said, Mr. Sullivan? Oh yes, ‘powerful, good mother’ of the mayor. The thing is—oh, I’m sorry; I interrupted you, barrister. Did you have more to add, or did I restate your complaint correctly?”
Sullivan cleared his throat and nodded, looking at the Archers.
“That’s a decent summarization,” the mayor responded.
With one hand, Ms. Green reached into her oversized designer bag—because Santiago doubted she’d buy a knock off—and pulled out a tablet before putting on a pair of reading glasses.
“Do you know what the most important parts of defamation are, Mayor Archer? One, it has to be false, and two it has to do harm to the alleged victim.”
“Calling my mother a drunk causes her great mental anguish and soils her reputation,” the mayor snapped. “For that, we’ll see you in court, Ms. Green.” Anderson adjusted his tie. “I don’t know how they do things in whatever city you’re from, but here, you let your mouth run unchecked, and you’ll get more than a rest period in jail. You’ll pay for your disrespect financially.”
“Oh, I’m not paying for shit.” She smiled. “But that’s the real reason for this visit, isn’t it?” she asked, taking off her glasses.
Santiago took a step into the room to de-escalate the rising tension, but from her hiding spot against the wall, his aunt made a spitting sound and dragged her finger across her neck, threatening to cut Santiago’s throat if he interfered.
He shifted back to where he’d stood. His aunt cooked 80 percent of his meals, and one did not willing get into the bad graces of Carolina Bertrand. Plus, he was curious to hear why Ms. Green assumed the mayor needed money.
“This situation must have felt like a godsend for you, Mayor Archer,Anderson, because I’ve looked into your finances, and because you’re as patently unqualified to manage this town as you are in managing your financial portfolio. You’ll likely be broke within the next year if things don’t turn around…or you sue a woman with actual wealth.”
Santiago frowned at his aunt whose eyes widened, and she raised her hands, shrugging in confusion.
“Your mother’s a festering drunk?—”
“Oh dear,” Ms. Audrey whispered, pressing her hand against her throat.
“—and everyone in this room,includingyou, knows it.”
Lina slammed her hand over her mouth, eyes wide with shock.
How anyone could be shocked by anything Ms. Green said was a mystery to him.
