Page 67 of Sinister Secrets

Who had means, motive, and opportunity?

Most people could get their hands on some roofies and a gun if they were determined enough, so means probably won’t be much help. Same with opportunity. With no way of determining the time since death, there’s an eight-month window in which he could have been killed. Which leaves motive.

I need to dig deeper into Gordon’s life, his former coworkers, his friends, find out if he had any enemies. Make a list of who might have wanted him dead or who stood to gain something from his death.

I need to find out who the cooler at his house belongs to. The one with Matt’s initials on it.

Sheriff Kingston has spent decades hating me, initially because he didn’t think I was good enough to date his son and then because I tried to break up with him. I find it hard to believe that he suddenly had a change of heart. There’s no way he’d ever welcome me into their lives with open arms.

So, was it a coincidence that Sheriff Kingston asked me to work this case? That he was uncharacteristically nice enough that I agreed to do it? Or did he have an ulterior motive all along?

I need to find out what Matt and Gordon’s relationship was like while I was gone. Grabbing my phone, I look up the number for Alligator Automotive. We all went to high school with the service manager, Chris Keller. He and Matt are still friends. If anyone knows if Matt and Gordon still hated each other, it would be him.

Only as the keypad on the door beeps, it’s clear that the call is going to have to wait. A moment later, Chelsea sweeps into the kitchen. Passing by me without an acknowledgement, she opens the refrigerator and grabs a beer. Twisting the cap off, she tosses it onto the counter and starts to retreat, no doubt heading for the TV, when she pauses, a frown creasing her pretty face.

“Where’d those come from?” she asks.

I twist around to see what she’s pointing at. Can’t help smiling as I take in the bouquet on the counter. “Jake stopped by.”

“He did? Is he still here?”

“No, he left already.”

She drops heavily into the chair beside me. Feeling the heat of her stare, I rip my gaze from the flowers to face her, find myself startled by her glowering look. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she says sharply. Sweetening her expression, she adds, “Sorry. I just feel bad, is all.”

“About what?”

“I guess I just wish that he had stuck around for a bit. It would make me feel a lot less guilty about leaving you home alone again tonight.”

“Another hot date?”

“You know it.”

“Things are going well with this new guy, then?”

“Better than I could have hoped.”

“Hey, maybe you guys will move in together.” I bite the inside of my cheek, instantly regretting the comment. It feels selfish. She just got out of a bad relationship. She shouldn’t rush into a new one just because I want to ensure that Jake and I get our privacy back.

“Believe me, I’m working on it. There’s just one tiny hurdle.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

“His girlfriend.”

A queasy feeling takes hold, tightening its fist around my stomach. “You’re dating a guy who already has a girlfriend?”

“Well, I wouldn’t exactly say that.”

“So he doesn’t have a girlfriend?”

“It’s complicated. She thinks she is.”

“How does a mistake like that happen?”

“Well, they’ve known each other forever. And he thought she was what he wanted… at first. But now he’s changed his mind and he feels really bad about it, because she rearranged her life to be here with him. But, I mean, if it were me, I’d want him to pull the Band-Aid off quickly. You know, just tell me and get it over with.”