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“I think that’s a great idea.” Conrad stood, as if he hadn’t a worry in the world. Once again, he pulled out Jane’s chair and helped her stand. “Have your council contact me in the next twenty-four hours or I’ll pick you up and bring you back in handcuffs.”
Abigail huffed and puffed before jolting to her feet and racing off.
Jane watched it go down, slacked jawed. What was even going on here? “We hardly asked any questions, and I had so many more.”
“She’s nervous now. Let’s see what she does next.” He urged Jane out the door and motioned to the first room. “One last interview. Maggie Johnson.”
Okay. “Is Maggie the witness who tattled on Abigail?”
He shook his head. “No. That’s Christopher Wellington.”
Hmm. Was that suspicious? Christopher did seem to keep inserting himself into the case. Like, he’d seen those shoes, and now he just happened to catch Abigail entering the other home? Not to mention his presence at both murder scenes. Though, yes, everything had a logical foundation. Was Jane grasping at straws again, desperate to blame anyone?
Conrad opened the door, and they reentered Interview Room 1, now occupied by Maggie. Like Abigail, she sat alone. She’d braided her thick hair and wore clean coveralls, as if she hadn’t yet made it to her place of business. She glanced up at them, her features taut with anger and yeah, fear glittered in her blue eyes.
The mechanic jumped to her feet. “You! You did this. Chris broke up with me this morning. You’re to blame!” She pointed to Jane.
Was she serious? “Me? What’d I do?” Besides get clobbered on the head and drawn into a murderous game?
“He said he admires the love you and Conrad share, and he’s realized that’s what he wants for himself, and that he lacks such deep feelings for me.” Maggie laughed without humor. “You are the standard he uses to judge my food. Apparently my casseroles never taste as good as yours. Maybe he still loves you.”
Not this again. “We only dated for two months, and he broke up with me.” Afterward, he’d never called, texted, emailed, written a letter, or even attempted to send a message in a bottle. But whoa! This newest breakup was a shocker. At the memorial, Christopher had seemed so into the mechanic. Granted, he could’ve been into Maggie then, then fallen out of affection as swiftly as he had with Jane. Love ‘em and leave ‘em might be his MO. “Also, you don’t want to end up with a man who doesn’t love you the way Conrad loves me. But enough about that. Let’s discuss your motive. We’re told you have paperwork gifting Hannah’s Treasure Room to you.”
“How did you–” Maggie pressed her lips together, the color draining from her cheeks. She sank into her seat, as if hoping to find somewhere to hide.
Um. That was as good as a confession, right?
Conrad and Jane took their seats across from Maggie. He smiled politely right before asking, “Miss Johnson, did you conspire with Abigail Waynes-Kirkland and Jacob Thacker to kill Hannah Thorton and turn a story the three of you were co-writing into a reality? Did you then work with Ms. Waynes-Kirkland to kill Jacob Thacker because he decided to come clean and implicate you? Before you respond, you should know we just spoke with Ms. Waynes-Kirkland, and your ex-boyfriend gave us the manuscript.”
Jane’s jaw dropped. What! First of all, Conrad had withheld a lot of info. Obviously, his casserole privileges were hereby revoked indefinitely. Second, had her amazing fiancé just solved the case?
“I want a lawyer,” Maggie squeaked.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Always remember editing can take away from your raw genius.
Y’all Write Now–Advice for New Writers
by Tabby Paynes-Murksand
The interview concluded. Conrad let Maggie go without making an arrest, just as he’d let Abigail go. He didn’t even issue a sternly worded warning.
“Spill and don’t leave a thing out,” Jane demanded as soon as they were alone. “Why didn’t you lob those same accusations at Abigail? She might have confessed?”
“Ms. Johnson will ask her about everything I said, and Waynes-Kirkland will wonder the same thing. She’ll doubt her friend and be the first to break.”
So smart. “Tell me the rest.”
“After I was taken to Pinetum, my deputies spoke with the neighbors. As you know, Christopher saw Miss Waynes-Kirkland arrive at Mr. Thacker’s home. He said he was concealed in the shadows of the porch, considering his relationship with Maggie when Waynes-Kirkland parked inside Thacker’s garage.”
“Abigail’s actions speak of extended familiarity. Did she have a key to Jacob’s home and let herself in? Or did he help her hide her vehicle from prying eyes?”
“I believe he let her in and yes, to hide her vehicle. Christopher also said he was gathering his stuff while Ms. Johnson slept because he decided to break up with her in the morning, and that’s when he discovered the manuscript.”
Okay, so maybe Christopher was innocent of murder and only guilty of being a fickle boyfriend. “I was right all along. Abigail was involved from the beginning.” But. “Why didn’t you mention the manuscript immediately? And why not arrest Abigail and Maggie?” And why did Jane have a niggle? Even though her suspicions were being substantiated right before her eyes.
“I wanted to surprise you. And both women can prove they weren’t at the Treasure Room during Hannah’s murder. Christopher provided an alibi for Ms. Johnson at the time of Thacker’s death, and I’m unsure when Miss Waynes-Kirkland departed from Thacker’s home. On top of that, I don’t yet know if the mayor’s son killed Hannah or if he—they—hired someone else. I need to speak with Lucy before I slap cuffs on the pair.”
