“I know she did. The woman thought she’d be named in Kent’s will, but he never removed me. I’m still the beneficiary, and there’s nothing she can do about it.”
With that declaration, Cheryl Paine marched out of the building, letting the door slam behind her.
“Sounds like motive to me.” Greg watched the door thoughtfully.
I tucked my book back in my bag, reluctant to leave the author’s world. I stepped toward Greg, “Yeah, but for which one? Cheryl or Sherry?”
He put his hand on my back and led me through the door and out into the sunshine. Time to return to South Cove. “Both.”
CHAPTER 10
Greg leaned on my porch railing, watching me unlock the front door. “I can get into the house all by myself.” I dug in another section of my purse for my key ring. “I’ve been doing it for years now.”
“How many times have I come over to unlock your door after a run this spring?” His voice was warm, comforting, and hearing him, I could just see the self-satisfied smirk flowing over his features. We rarely fought, not true smack down, hurt your feelings fights. But when we did, it was usually because one or more of us thought ours was the only way. Or we insisted on some sort of crazy superiority over something, like who was the better keeper of the keys. A contest Greg would always win. The man was a security fanatic.
I felt the teddy bear fob that was part of the key chain and pulled the mass of metal out of the bottom of my purse. I held it up for him to see. “I told you I would be fine.”
“Maybe I like to spend time with you?” His lips curved into a crooked smile, drawing me toward him. Then his phone rang and killed the moment.
Greg glanced at the display before answering the call. “Yes, Tim?”
I watched him as cop mode took over and he listened carefully to the deputy’s voice. I turned the key in the lock and left the door open so he could come in after he’d finished the call. Emma sniffed at my feet in greeting, then ran to the back door, ready to run the yard. As I passed through the living room, I glanced over at my sofa and saw the couch cushions were still intact. I poured a glass of iced tea and sat down at the table, my to-do notebook in hand. Time to plan the rest of my weekend. Jackie had my shift at the coffee shop tomorrow, so I had two whole days with nothing to do. I made a quick grocery list and was just finishing up when Greg appeared in the kitchen doorway. “You want steaks tomorrow evening, or should we order Chinese?”
He shook his head. “Let’s not plan anything definite. I’m not sure where this investigation with Kent’s going.” He held up the phone. “I’ve got to go meet with the bank auditors. They’re camped out in my office and won’t leave, according to Tim. I guess now is as good of time as any.”
“Do you know what they want to discuss?” I tapped my pen on the notebook. “Maybe someone from the bank killed Kent and they know why?”
Greg laughed. “Seriously, who do you think at the bank could be a murderer? John, the janitor? I guess he’s a possibility, he carries Mace, but he’s over seventy.”
“You don’t have to be so sarcastic. There’s a chance it was someone at the bank, okay, maybe not John, but one of the clerks. Kent was a horndog, maybe he scorned the wrong woman.” I chewed on my bottom lip. This was a most excellent train of thought. “Maybe the redhead killed him.”
His phone beeped with an incoming text, and as he read the message, I could see his attention shift. “Crap, I’ve got to get downtown.” He walked over and kissed me on the top of the head. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Tomorrow?” I squeezed his hand and then let it fall to his side. “If you’re coming for dinner, I’ll walk into town and get Sadie’s Chocolate Temptation Pie for dessert.”
“You are pure evil.” He waved, turning toward the driveway. I heard the truck start up and Emma whined at the door.
“I miss him, too, girl.” I let my dog in, and she settled near my feet while I finished my list of projects. That done, I made plans for a light dinner and refilled my glass of iced tea. Then I took the paperback out of my purse and Emma and I went out to the back porch to relax.
Later, I started working down my list of chores, feeling just a bit sorry for myself. It wasn’t like we always spent Saturdays together, but sometimes, I just wanted a little more. I’d just put a load in the washer when a knock sounded at the door. Maybe his meeting with the bank examiners had been shorter than expected. Of course, he’d only been gone an hour. The only way that was Greg at the door was if the meeting had been postponed and the auditors were already out of town. My luck didn’t run that good.