“We thought it would be nice for a change not to constantly mooch from you or expect you guys to be on kitchen duty because we were too busy to eat before coming here,” I said.
“No need to, but we appreciate the thought, and the lunch. We were too busy for our lunch as well.” Reina inhaled the aroma wafting from the soup bowl. “Chicken, lemon grass, and a hint of coriander?”
“A healthy boost to the immune system, especially when we’re dealing with a lot of stress.” Ange dipped her spoon into the soup.
“Any stressful situation in particular?” Harper appeared a little worried.
“I’m talking about sleuthing. Bex and I have put in some good spadework, so we’ll leave no stone unturned.” Ange said.
“And have you come up with anything interesting?”Reina asked.
Ange signaled me to take over.
I repeated what Skye had divulged and concluded, “The way I see it, we have two avenues to pursue. First is the question: who knew where to find Tim during the night in question or how to lure him into the corner by the chest? Apart from Candice.”
“Are you sure Skye is innocent? She was in the area, he’d have trusted her or at least he wouldn’t have been afraid of her, and she could easily have visited the fair during her lunch break,” Reina pointed out.
“I’m as sure as I can be.” I took the now empty bowls, went to the kitchen, and put them in the dishwasher.
“What about the second avenue?” Reina asked when I returned.
“The motel. Skye is right. Why would Tim rent a room at theSweet Haven? If we know that, we’ll be a lot closer to solving this case.”
“My money’s on what we thought straight away. He had a clandestine rendezvous there. If not with Skye, then maybe with Candice.” Ange’s words came out grudgingly.
My phone buzzed before I could answer. “It’s a message from Trey Stone,” I said.
“What does he say?” Ange broke a biscotti in half and crunched it noisily.
Goosebumps formed on my arms as I read. “He’s discovered why the Cannon Hill police had a warrant for Candice’s room. They were searching for new evidence connecting her to the murder because they found her fingerprints on the murder weapon, a stiletto-shaped letter opener that was stolen from a booth at the fair.”
“I’m so sorry,” Reina whispered. “Maybe she is guilty after all.”
“No.” The word came out with less conviction than I’d intended. I’d remembered the unopened letter. I took it from my handbag and slid it across the table to Reina. “If this is a confession, break it to megently that I should hang up my witch hat because she’d fooled me completely.”
“Are you sure?” Reina fetched a blue glass letter opener.
“Yes.”
She slit the envelope and pulled out two sheets of paper, covered in a large cursive script.
“Read it to us, please.” Reina’s siren voice should soften the blow, I thought. My palms became sweaty.
“Hi Bex, I’ve been meaning to say these things ever since you were such a star, coming to our rescue, when Rick and I needed you. But somehow, I didn’t find the right words. As for Rick, well, you know men.”
“I hear you sister,” Ange muttered. “Not Nick, of course, that’s why he’s a keeper.”
Harper glared at her, and Ange fell silent.
Reina continued reading.
“The silly thing is, he’s been trying so hard to impress you, and to prove that he could be successful on his own. I know you thought it totally sus that there was so little money when you split up. I couldn’t believe it either. The poor darling had invested so much in an art gallery when it’s obvious that he was out of his depth. I got him to understand that he didn’t have to be a major success to step out of your shadow, just return to what he’s good at. Please tell Alex too. I know that Rick’s too embarrassed to man up. And, please, if anything happens to me or I get arrested – and I swear to you that I’m innocent – keep up your boundaries but don’t let him down. Without you or me to keep him on track, he’s floundering.
Candice
PS I’ll always be grateful for your support.”
My jaw dropped. “He wanted to step out of my shadow? That’s ridiculous.”
