“Alibi?”Daisy cut in.“We don’t even know what happened yet.In fact, why don’t you fill us in, Jeb?”
Wow.That edge in Daisy’s voice could cut glass.Impressive.Amka felt her shoulders start to relax.
Jeb didn’t flinch.“Jarod Teller was found in his truck, in your driveway, after being shot in the head.”
Shock ripped through her.She gasped.“Somebody shot him?”
“Yep,” Jeb said.“And there’s no way it was self-inflicted.I could tell just from one look at the body, which has already been sent to Anchorage for an autopsy.We had a transport helicopter that brought new fire equipment to town, so the timing worked.Unfortunately, that means the body of Eli Warner stays in the cooler here a few more days.We think Jarod’s truck was leaving your house based on how it was positioned.Did you see him last night?”
“No.”Amka’s voice dropped.“Not after the fight we had at the bar.”Why did she have to fight with him in front of everyone?“He left and I worked late before heading home.My brakes were cut and I crashed into the river.”
“Excuse me?”Jeb’s brow wrinkled in disbelief.
She nodded.“I went into the river.”
Daisy swiveled to look at her.“Are you all right?”
“Christian saved my life,” Amka said.“But my rig’s still at the bottom of the river.We’ve got to pull it out.”
“Wait a minute,” Paige said, leaning back and raising a hand.“This is your story?That you got in a fight with your fiancé last night.Then you were driving home, somebody cut your brakes, and you crashed into a river.Christian Osprey saved you.Then you stayed the night with him, while somebody murdered your fiancé in your driveway.That’s your timeline?”
Amka swallowed hard.“It’s the truth.”
“What were you and Jarod fighting about?”Jeb asked.
“Money,” she said without hesitation.“I mortgaged my house and the tavern to go into business with Ace Osprey.Jarod wanted the cash for his motel.I figured he had enough funds from the insurance payout for his motel.”
Paige’s brows drew down.“Yet another fire in town?What a coincidence, huh?”
Not a convenient one.Amka looked at Daisy, who was studying the troopers.
“How long have you been engaged?”Paige asked.
“Since New Year’s.”That had been when Jarod first blackmailed her.
Paige leaned forward.“I see.And yet you stayed the night with Christian Osprey last night, correct?”
Heat rushed into Amka’s face.“Yes.”
Paige placed elbows on the table.“Do you feel bad about cheating on him?”
So much for them all being friends.
“That’s irrelevant,” Daisy snapped before Amka could speak.“Stick to the facts.”
“I can stick to whatever I damn well want to,” Paige said without even looking at Daisy.Her focus never left Amka.“Did anybody else see you last night?”
“No,” Amka answered.Her back was straight, her tone calm, but her stomach had gone cold.She felt like she was gripping the edge of something slippery, and her fingers were starting to give.
“Nobody saw you drive away?”
“I have no idea.”
Jeb cocked his head.“Nobody saw you crash into the river?”
“Just Christian.He was behind me in Brock’s truck, and he saved me.”
Paige didn’t blink.“Why was he behind you?Did you plan to meet up?”
