That was definitely strange. But Sarah wasn’t worried about anyone going through her things. She knew better than to leave anything relevant to her conclusions handy.
Two young women were dead. Most of the answers Sarah got when she asked questions were the same. How the hell could two girls with no enemies be murdered in a small town where everyone knew everyone else?
So far the only two leads Sarah had on Valerie Gerard were the falling-out and/or relationship with her minister and some sort of tension with the innkeeper. Alicia Appleton, on the other hand, had only one potential enemy at this point: Jerri Lynn Pope, the would-be competition, if Polly’s assessment was correct. If Brady Harvey was to be believed, Polly had been somewhat of a nuisance to Alicia. But Sarah was relatively certain Polly was harmless.
The Pope girl, Sarah could check out tonight. The innkeeper, she could talk to most anytime. The minister—considering he’d discovered Alicia’s body—wasn’t likely taking visitors. That had never stopped Sarah from showing up.
The man would be extremely distraught. Particularly vulnerable to interrogation.
Worked for Sarah.
All she had to do was get past his militant wife.
24
Living Word Church, 9:29 a.m.
Sarah swerved into the church parking area and braked hard.
An SUV, a police cruiser, and a sedan were parked in front of the reverend’s home. The sedan was a rental.
Lex August.
Anger, hatred, and a couple other emotions Sarah couldn’t readily define erupted inside her.
He was here already. Interviewing the man who’d discovered the body.
“Damn it.”
She wouldn’t be getting anywhere near the house at this point. A deputy was stationed outside. Sarah’s name definitely wouldn’t be on his access list.
Surveying the street, she didn’t see any sign of Conner’s Jeep, which meant he wasn’t here. Had he been ordered off the investigation as well? That would make learning the facts a hell of a lot harder.
Fine. She shut off the engine and got out of the car. Waiting hadn’t gone out of style. Neither had badgering. She knew how to do both.
Leaning against her rental, she crossed her arms over her chest and waited. What she would give for a cigarette right now. The nagging need fueled her frustration.
When Lex exited the house, she would demand answers. She wouldn’t get them, but maybe a confrontation would cause him to screw up and let something slip. She could hope. That strategy had worked for her before.
If it didn’t, there was always bribery.
Ten minutes. Twenty, then thirty passed. She didn’t care if it took all day. She wasn’t going anywhere.
Snow and ice crunching beneath tires drew her attention to the lot behind her. Conner’s Jeep pulled into a parking slot. He climbed out and headed her way.
No surprise there. He was back on babysitting detail. Well, he could forget about it. She wasn’t about to be distracted by him a second longer. Heat stirred deep in her belly as images from last night nudged their way into her thoughts.
He’d given her a few minutes of physical pleasure. So what? He wasn’t the first, probably wouldn’t be the last. She owed him nothing. The same as he owed her.
She banished the little voice that balked at her conclusions. This assignment, this man, was no different from any other. More determination was required to exile the denial that sprang instantly in reaction to that concept.
Stupid, Sarah. Really stupid.
“Sarah, we need to talk.” That dark gaze plowed into hers. “Now.”
“Maybe later, Conner.” She turned her attention back to the Mahaney home. “I’m busy right now.”
That didn’t put Conner off. “You need to come with me. The chief is talking about a restraining order and I can—”
