“And he was killed around the same time as Molly, is that right?”
She crossed her arms. “It’s hard to know without samples, but yes, that’s a possibility.”
“And the Hudsons disappeared.”
“Whose investigation is this? Mine or yours?”
“Can you just tell me? Would it kill you?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, the Hudsons left town. No trace of them was ever found.”
“Brownie Jarvis is their niece.”
Kency’s eyes narrowed. She studied me and did that weird teeth-sucking thing again. “Now how do you know that?”
“Never mind how I know it. She must know something about the Hudsons. What happened to them? What happened to Mrs. Hudson if Mr. Hudson died? That’s the rumor, you know? That he died.”
“I’ve heard it.” She shot me a look so searing I was surprised she left any flesh on my bones. “Stay out of it.”
“Kency.”
Her gaze flickered to Roan. “How do you put up with this all day? Her wanting to lead everything and butt into everyone’s business?”
He shrugged. “I enjoy it.”
“You’re not the man I thought you were.”
Roan smirked. “No. I’m not the man you thought you wanted.”
I flared my arms. “Whoa. Whoa. Can we put aside these tensions? I’m not interested in being part of that whole thing. Kency, Roan and I are dating now. We are happy. I’m sure you will be happy too when you find the right—”
I wanted to sayvictim. I mean, dating Kency Blount would be torture. I’d rather wrap twigs in my hair and then be forced to pull them out one by one. I’d rather watch the Yule log fire burning all night on any day other than Christmas Eve. I’d rather be forced to sit and eat a meal with the entire senior center of Haunted Hollow than think of setting Kency Blount up with anyone.
By that, yes, I would never allow anyone I knew to endure that sort of suffering.
But instead of vomiting all my thoughts on Kency, who would probably throw me in jail once they left my mouth, I said, “I’m sure you will be happy too when you find the right thing.”
It was the best I could do. Just to be fair, I dropped my voice on the wordthingbecause I didn’t want her to hear it and have more of a reason to hate me than she already did.
Not that she hated me, but she certainly didn’t like me.
“Thank you,” Kency said.
I had to muffle my grin. “You’re welcome.”
“But to answer your other inquiry, I’ve already spoken to Brownie.”
My eyebrows shot to peaks. I clenched my fists. This was a huge break for us. “And what did you find out?”
“She doesn’t know anything. You’re barking up the wrong tree with her, Blissful.”
With that, Kency walked away, leaving Roan and I alone on the porch.
He wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “You did your best.”
I tipped my head up to meet his gaze. “Brownie knows more than she’s saying. I know she does.” I gritted my teeth. “And tomorrow I’m going to find out what.”
We walked back toward the car. Fannie Sullivan stood in her yard, staring at the house.
