“Do you try to scare off all his girlfriends by calling them whores, or do I threaten you?”
“I’m just giving you some advice.” Bronte didn’t look angry. More resigned. “You’d be wise to take it.”
“I’ll file it under ‘unsolicited.’ Now please pay and leave.”
Bronte pulled out a fifty and placed it on the counter. “Keep the change. Looks like you could use it.”
As Bronte left, Polly had the strongest urge to tear the bill into a thousand teeny tiny pieces. Either that or throw something at the other woman’s head.
By the time she reached the town meeting, she was so angry that every muscle in her body was locked, and she felt like one big ball of tension.
Who did that bitch think she was, coming into Polly’s café and talking to her like that? She should have just kicked the woman’s ass out before a single word came out of her mouth.
She dropped into a seat in the back row beside Maureen.
The psychic looked at her, eyes softening. “Hi, dear. How’s your mother today?”
News of the breakup had spread quickly. She had no idea how gossip got around so fast in this town, but it did. “She’s okay. Just resting at home.”
“I would have thought she wouldn’t want to be alone after the breakup, then what happened this morning.”
Polly’s gaze flicked to Maureen. “This morning?”
“Oh…you don’t know?” Maureen touched her hand. “Honey, Jonah was in the woods by the river with a gun. Now of course it hasn’t been proven that it’s the same gun used to kill Jenna, but the town’s under stress and this doesn’t look good for him. People are talking.”
Blood drained from Polly’s face.
No. It couldn’t be true. Jonah couldn’t be the town killer.
But…the reason her mom thought he was cheating was because he kept coming home late with no explanation. What if itwasn’tcheating? What if it was something else? Something more sinister.
Oh Lord, she felt sick.
Joel took the seat beside her, immediately frowning. “Hey. Are you okay?”
“Is it true? Do people think Jonah is the killer?”
“People are saying he’s the killer?”
“Joel!”
“Yes. He was found with a gun. He surrendered it to Ward, and nothing’s linked him or the weapon to the deaths.”
“Yet,” Basil called from a row ahead, clearly listening to their conversation.
Joel frowned at Basil before looking back to her. “Ward’s sending off a bullet from the gun to compare with the bullet they found in Jenna. We should know in a few days.”
It could be Jonah. Jonah could be the Deep River killer. He’dmarriedher mother.Livedwith her mother.
She was just starting to spiral when Joel rested a palm on her thigh. “Hey.”
She looked at him.
His gaze bled into hers—comfort, softness, and maybe a bit of protection. “I don’t think it’s him.”
“How do you know?”
“I’ve been trained to know.” He leaned closer. “But if I’m wrong, you’re still safe with me.”
