The Singers wouldn’t be the first couple to call their child a treasure. But they talked about Nina and the treasure as two separate entities, and the scant details we had mentioned them leaving the treasure for Nina.
This case keeps getting more complicated with every scrap of evidence we find.
Our cases were never walks in the park, but this one had more twists and turns than a rollercoaster.
I parked my rental a block away and walked to Grannie’s.
Downtown Weatherford was busy with early rising tourists enjoying the cool summer morning.
The bell above Grannie’s door made sure I didn’t walk in unnoticed.
“Good morning,” Beth called out without looking up.
Beth Wyatt, Grannie’s manager, Mary’s best friend, widow, mother to eight-year-old Chase, engaged to Doug Sharpe, the resident SSI tech genius.
We’d met once, at Jamie’s wedding, prior to seeing each other at Madi’s party.
“Morning, Beth.”
Shit, I didn’t think to verify Nina’s schedule before driving to Weatherford.
Before I could ask if she was flying solo, Nina’s head popped up from behind the espresso machine.
Her eyes widened. Sparkling cherries dangled from her ears. She opened her lips, but nothing came out.
“Morning, Cherry.”
Did I say it to sound friendly, or because I couldn’t resist using the nickname I’d given her before my professional and personal lives crashed into each other like soldiers on a battlefield?
I refused to acknowledge my inappropriate attraction to Nina. Not only was Nina too young, but she was a person of interest in my case.
Beth saved Nina by asking, “Did you want to talk to Mary?”
“No, though if she’s here, I wouldn’t mind saying hello while I drink my coffee. Large black, please.”
“She’ll be in soon,” Beth said while filling my cup.
“Would it be okay if I talked to Nina for a minute?”
“Why?”
Her guarded tone set off my alarms.What happened in the last thirty-six hours to make her so suspicious?
“I want to make sure she’s okay and set her mind at ease about our little run in.” I blended my practiced, professional charm with my personal request.
Beth nodded. “Nina, it’s okay with me if you want to take your break with Austin.”
I paid for my coffee and left a generous cash tip.
Nina reluctantly agreed to talk to me. Knowing I didn’t have much time, I’d need to keep it short and sweet.
Nina sat down and blew my game plan all to hell.
“Why do you keep calling me Cherry?”
I chuckled, and for the first time today, my smile was genuine. My hand lifted as if to reach out and touch her earrings before pulling back and gripping my cup.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
