“No offense, Skye, but what does it matter?” Seth said.
“It matters because of this.” She pulled out another document. This one said “Last Will and Testament” at the top. “According to this, the grimoire gets passed down the oldest female line along with ‘all my worldly goods,’ unless there is no blood relative, in which case it passes down to the other children’s children.”
“Rafe wasn’t a blood relative because he was adopted,” I said.
Skye nodded. “Amity Leal tried to cover it up by listing Rafe as a blood relative. I don’t know how they managed to trick the great-grandparents, but they must have because Rafe has always had the grimoire.”
“But technically, Monica/Morgan should inherit,” Seth said.
Skye nodded. “I don’t know if this is related to Rafe’s death or not, but he had a very good reason to want to keep his adoption a secret. Besides the fact that he claimed control based on his ‘bloodline’ he also had his inheritance at stake.”
“Do you know what he inherited?” I asked.
Skye nodded slowly. “I think it was some land and maybe a house up in Traverse City. He told me a few months ago that he had to go up there to deal with some repairs on a family home. He said he had just inherited it and was fixing it up to sell it.” She pulled out the will I had seen that day at Rafe’s house. “This will leaves everything to Diana and Dylan, but it’s unclear what was actually Rafe’s property.”
“If Morgan knew about this, it gives her a very good motive for murder,” I said.
Skye and Seth waited.
“You have to take this to the police, Skye.”
Her shoulders slumped. “I thought you would say that.”
“What’s the problem? You have evidence that might help them,” I said.
“Morgan is my friend. She’s always been really supportive of me and I just can’t believe she would hurt Rafe.”
Shocked as I was about this statement, I started to see why Seth always defended her.
“If she’s innocent, it won’t matter.”
Seth snorted. “Say that to Dylan.”
Skye left with the promise that she would go to the police with all of her charts and notes. I was glad that I had decided to stay out of the investigation. It was getting much too murky for me.
Seth and I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with the dogs. I attempted to help him with his homework and he ended up teaching me how to do geometry proofs. I never saw the point the first time around, but hid my lack of interest for the sake of being a good role model.
38
Tuesday morning I woke early with suspicions and murder plots buzzing in my brain. I texted Mac and asked him to meet me at The Daily Grind. I left a note for Seth and headed off on foot, hoping the brisk air would clear my head. Thunderstorms were forecast for later in the day, but the clouds still looked friendly.
Mac was waiting for me at our usual table and Josh gave me a goofy grin and hooked his thumb toward Mac. Apparently our secret had become common knowledge.
After I sat down, Mac said, “He’s acting strange today.” He tilted his head in Josh’s direction.
I grimaced. “Our secret is out. My family found out we were together the night of Lucan’s accident. They jumped to conclusions and I think your mother is going to get a dinner invitation.”
Mac nodded. “It’s fine. It was getting too hard to cover up. Plus, I think Andrews has a crush on you. This will let him off the hook.”
“He does not.”
Mac remained silent but his eyebrows quirked upward.
“How’s the case going?” I asked. Any subject would be better.
Mac stiffened and met my eyes. “I can’t talk about it. I hope you and your gang have quit trying to ‘assist’ now that Dylan is out of jail.”
I held my hand open on the table. “I don’t want to fight about this. I was just asking. I hope you figure it out soon.”
Mac glanced at Josh and took my hand. His shoulders relaxed.
“It’s been a tough one, as you know. Rafe Godwin had a lot of enemies.”
I nodded, debating with myself over whether to tell him about the family tree. Mac was already investigating Morgan; maybe I should just leave it.
“I was thinking we should take a vacation when this case is over,” Mac said.
His announcement chased all other thoughts out of my mind. The thought of escaping a Crystal Haven winter and sitting somewhere warm with Mac while sipping drinks decorated with umbrellas seemed too good to be true. I immediately began thinking of what my story would be for the family, when I remembered that they already knew about Mac.
“Where would you want to go?” I asked.
“Somewhere warm where no one knows us.”
“That sounds amazing.”