Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57502 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57502 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
His eyes narrowed. “How do you suddenly know there’s paperwork when I’ve heard nothing about it?”
“You have your ways, I have mine.” Her gaze landed on Jacob Thacker, who seemed to have been waiting for her. He glided toward her. Excitement and triumph flooded Jane. Ignoring him and his father had worked, luring over the weaker link. “Game face on,” she muttered.
“Jane Ladling?” Jacob asked, his tone pleasant. Not the route she’d expected him to take.
“Yes. That’s me. And please, Mr. Thacker, call me Jane. This handsome slice of pound cake is Beau.” The war vet faced the town’s first son. “Hello,” he grunted.
“I’m Jacob Thacker. Though you clearly knew that. I’m also president of Golden Pages Book Club.” He extended his hand, and they shook. Then he shook Beau’s hand. Then she shook Beau’s hand because she got caught up in the moment.
Get it together, Jay Bird.
Beau tried not to laugh at her.
“Please, call me Jacob,” the newcomer added.
“Nice to meet you, Jacob,” she said. “Out of curiosity, and no hard feelings, did you block my invitation to speak to the book club members?” How smooth would he be, getting out of the hot water she’d just poured all over him?
He blinked, as if stunned. Then he surprised her by blushing a little and laughing nervously. “I did, yes. After my mother’s arrest, my lawyer advised me to avoid everyone with a connection to her case.” He shrugged his shoulders, all you understand, right? “That’s why I asked Mags–Maggie to strike your name from the list.”
Oh, he was good. Not just smooth, but slick. Bringing up his mother’s arrest without becoming accusatory was either the move of a perfect gentleman or a great gamer.
Attempting to lull Jane into liking him, so she would remove him from the official suspect list? Too bad, so sad.
“How long have you served as book club president?” she asked.
“This is my first year. I took over for Mags. Maggie,” he clarified once again.
Time to dig deeper. “Are you and Maggie close?” They must be, for him to continue using such a personal nickname.
He offered a wry smile as his glance strayed toward the mechanic, who remained in Abigail’s court. “You could say that.”
Ooooh. Did he love her? He loved her, didn’t he? That’s why he lived in the house next door to hers.
How easy it would be to go back and forth between residences planning Hannah’s murder. A man in love might kill to make the object of his affection happy.
The idea had merit. But so did the supposition that Jacob had worked alone to ultimately eliminate the main witness against his mother, with Hannah being collateral damage. “Did you two ever date?”
He flinched, as if he found the concept repulsive, and Beau covered his mouth with his hand. “No. I can honestly say I’ve never dated Mags.”
What a strange reaction and way to word his denial, as if he were overcompensating. Or gay?
“Mind if I join you?” a gruff voice asked. The mayor entered their three person circle, his demeanor and countenance as sour as ever since his wife’s arrest.
Perhaps Jacob had worked with his father, as Jane had speculated. “Please do,” she replied, mentally rubbing her hands together with glee. Dig, dig, dig. “Why did you follow my fiancé and me yesterday?” Might as well keep being blunt. Look how far it had gotten her already.
A noise of surprise escaped Beau.
Mayor Thacker’s mouth formed a small O before he narrowed his eyes. “Are you trying to blame me for what happened to Hannah? I knew you would!”
“Dad,” Jacob said, his cheeks reddening. He darted his gaze. “Please don’t do this. That isn’t what she’s doing. Is it?” he asked her. “We had nothing to do with the murder, so we couldn’t possibly be suspects.”
Jane didn’t miss the fact that neither man had answered her question. “I only ever go where the evidence takes me.” A statement he could take as reassurance or a threat, depending on his involvement.
He nodded, as if she’d just proven his point, and Jane glanced at Beau, hoping to prod him into speaking up. The darling man had reinstated his I will tackle anyone who looks at my friend wrong stance.
Very well. She continued. “So, let me see if I understand this, Mayor.”
“Robert,” he grated.
“Robert. You expect me to believe you feared being implicated in a murder, so you followed the case investigators to ensure we didn’t implicate you? That’s an odd thing to think unless you have some kind of relationship with the victim.” Or the murderer. Like, say, he hadn’t participated in the act, but he knew his son did the deed and now he hoped to muddy the evidence.
“I’m not claiming anything.” Robert lifted his chin. “I wasn’t following you.”
Lie! What other whoppers had he told?