AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’ll only take a couple of minutes.”
He pressed his lips together and jerked his head. “Quickly.”
“I think Steph killed Declan.”
Whatever he was expecting me to say, I didn’t think it was that. “What?”
“I think Steph killed Declan,” I repeated. “I’ve been thinking about it and—”
“Oh, have you?” Noah asked with an edge to his voice. “Is that why my sister has been asking me almost daily if we’ve solved the case yet?”
“I don’t know, but I’ve been talking to Steph and—”
“Leave it,” he said firmly. “We’re handling it. You especially shouldn’t be getting involved in it. You haven’t been officially cleared yet.”
“That’s exactly why I should be involved in it! Did you really think I was just going to sit there on the off chance you all decided I didn’t kill Declan?” I shot back. “For God’s sake, Noah.”
“Yes, that is what I thought, and that’s what you should have been doing. You’re not a police officer.”
“Why won’t you even listen to me? I know what his will was. I know what she’s inherited. She has all the motive.”
“And you think we don’t know that?” He raised his eyebrows. “I know this town thinks the police force is incompetent, but that’s not the case.”
“If you’re so competent, why haven’t you solved it?”
His lips thinned.
“Just listen to me. She tells me things she’d never tell you, like how abusive he was and exactly what she’s inheriting. I just think—”
“I don’t care what you think, Charlotte!”
I took a step back. The edge to his voice held an anger I’d never heard from him before, and I swallowed hard. “Then I’m sorry I bothered you,” I said quietly, moving back again and turning around.
“No, Lottie. Shit.” Noah sighed. “I didn’t mean to—”
“What’s taking so long?” Kayla’s voice sounded from the doorway, and I closed my eyes, stopping on the path. “You. Why are you here?”
That’d be why it was a bad time.
“She was just sharing something she’d heard that she thought might be helpful,” Noah said.
“Why you?”
“Clearly an error in my judgement,” I said, turning back to them, and eyeing Noah before turning to Kayla. “I’m already on my way, don’t worry.”
“Why even come here?” she asked, pushing the poor dog back inside so she could step out in front of Noah. “Did you think you could just waltz back into town and pick up where you’ve left off? Just because his family seem to love you doesn’t mean he does.”
Wow.
No wonder Ash and Gwen didn’t like her.
Despite what Gwen said, I’d bet it really wasn’t just about the cottage pie.
“Oh, boy, that told me,” I deadpanned.
“Kayla,” Noah said tightly, but his eyes twinkled with a little something when he quickly met my gaze.
“No, you won’t tell her, so I have to,” Kayla argued, glaring at me. “He doesn’t care about you, Charlotte. Whatever you’re doing is horrid and desperate. Leave our family alone.”
