Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58442 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58442 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
“Have you been able to draw a line between me and Mr. Grayson?”
“As I said, I can’t discuss details about the case,” Detective Drake says.
“This is absurd. What about a line between me and the other guests? If that knife was meant for me, someone had a serious motive.”
“Such as?”
“Isn’t that your job, detective? I can’t imagine why anyone would do this. Julian betrayed me. Victor’s an ass. Sebastian has always resented me. But enough to kill?”
“Not this again,” Grandma mutters.
“You disagree with your grandson that Sebastian Hale could be a suspect?” Detective Drake asks.
“He’s been loyal to me for years. He wouldn’t do this.”
“How has he been behaving since the murder?”
“The same,” Grandma says, with a hitch in her voice. I don’t think the detective notices it, but I do. “He’s always been a loyal butler. A good person. He would not, I repeat, would not do this.”
The detective leaves, saying she’ll keep us updated on any developments. I see her out, then join Grandma in the living room. She stands at the window with her hands behind her back, stiff, and tense.
“You’re hiding something,” I say.
“Don’t go there, Raiden.”
“I’ll go anywhere I want, Grandma. I love you. I want the best for you. But there’s something you’re not telling me, something to do with Sebastian. I know there is.”
“I know something too,” she says, turning to me with a conflicted expression. “I haven’t seen that lovely girl with you since the Retreat. I haven’t heard you mention her. I wasn’t going to say anything, but if you’d like an argument, let’s have one. You were never together, were you?”
I grind my teeth. “Don’t change the subject. Why are you protecting Sebastian?”
“This has nothing to do with Sebastian,” she hisses.
“I’d agree with you if it wasn’t for the fact you get so suspicious anytime I bring him up. Grandma, if you’re with him and you’re embarrassed about the age gap—”
“Did you pay her?” Grandma cuts in with a blunt tone.
“I won’t judge you,” I finish.
“Did you pay Aurora to trick me? That’s the only explanation I can think of. You were head over heels at the Retreat. Now–nothing. I think about the challenge I gave you, to be settled and happy at the Retreat. I already know Julian hired someone to be his date.”
“How do you know that?” I demand.
When she turns away, a childlike, guilty look comes over her face. I know her well enough to be able to read it. Her expression says, You’re going to get angry if I tell you.
I seize on the truth. “Sebastian. He told you, didn’t he?”
“A good butler is an invisible, nonjudgmental observer.”
“He’s a goddamn meddler, Grandma.”
“You’re wrong,” she says. “He’s a good person. You’re avoiding my question.”
I slam my hand against my chest. “She was going to lose the shop. I helped her… and in return, she helped me.”
Grandma slumps down in a chair, her hand on her forehead. “Oh,” she mutters. “I'd hoped I was wrong. What you two had, it seemed so real. You seemed so good together. I thought you’d finally found someone.”
“So did I,” I say.
She looks up. “Excuse me?”
“So did I,” I say, louder. “It started as a deal, but those days were special. I felt closer to her watching silly horror flicks than I have to any woman I’ve dated. I respect the hell out of her. We had…”
Chemistry, passion, something special.
“Something,” I go on, sighing. “But she made it clear it was just a deal, and I respect that.”
At least I’m trying to, though I’ve driven by Needle & Muse a few times, telling myself it’s to check she’s okay when really I just want to see her.
“Ma’am?” Sebastian says from behind us, knocking on the open door. “Would you like some tea?”
“Eavesdropping again?” I snarl, turning to him.
He averts his gaze. “I wouldn’t dream of it, sir.”
“You’re full of shit.”
“Raiden!” Grandma snaps. “Leave him alone.”
“What have you got on my grandmother, Sebastian?” I say, approaching the smaller man. “Some dirt? Some angle? Blackmail that’s been going on damn near a decade? Why is she protecting you?”
“Protecting me from what, sir?”
“The cops,” I snap. “And me.”
“The police?” He looks confused. “Wait a second, you don’t think… Why would I hurt that man, Raiden? What possible motive could I have?”
“He doesn’t mean it,” Grandma insists. “He’s confused and angry, that’s all. Raiden, if you’re going to say mean things, just go.”
Whatever else is true, I can’t imagine Sebastian hurting Grandma. They’ve probably spent more time together over the past two weeks than I’ve spent with her. I storm out of the room, shoving into Sebastian.
A light drizzle falls as I drive into town, stopping across the street from Needle & Muse.
The world seems less grim when I see Aurora in the front window, working side by side with her grandmother. The other times I’ve swung by, Aurora has been working alone. It’s good to know that Margot is on the mend.