Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
And sure enough, the little dude is busy licking my plate clean. The doggy smile he gives me is huge. “Auggie. For shame.”
“What a good dog only eating Sidney’s food,” says Hana, giving him a pat. “You’re such a good dog, aren’t you?”
Muriel wanders back out of the kitchen with a fresh plate in hand. “Lucky there’s leftovers.”
“Thank you.” I sit down and Auggie curls up next to me with a contented happy sigh. As he should with a full stomach. “So our list of suspects for Grace’s murder is basically everyone.”
“Guns are one of the weapons of choice when it comes to killing your girlfriend,” says Hana. “What are the chances her ex followed her up here?”
I sigh. “I don’t know. All she really said about him was that he was a judgmental asshole. But that might have been more about her trying to make me think she was on my side, so I’d talk to her about all this stuff.”
“You don’t think it’s more likely that her death had something to do with Ryan?” asks Muriel.
“Just trying to keep an open mind at this stage,” says Hana. “But her link to Sidney, that she was in town for the podcast, and her being found in the park are all curious as fuck. Could be a copycat killer. Someone trying to compete with Ryan or maybe someone who wants his attention.”
“Could definitely be,” I agree.
“Or it might be someone trying to mess with you.”
My eyes open painfully wide. “They’re doing great so far. Consider me messed with.”
“We need more information,” says Muriel, her brows pinched tight together. “How do we get it?”
I tear off a piece of naan. Thinking requires carbs and lots of them. “She was in town for the money. It would be great to get a look at her bank accounts. But in lieu of that, I’m going to try the motel where she was staying and see if anyone will talk to me. I mean…we were family. They might tell me something useful.”
“It’s worth a try,” says Hana.
Muriel nods. “I agree. But should you really be going on your own?”
“Alone is less intimidating and it’s a public place.” I shrug. “Should be fine. It’s been a while since I’ve seen my stalker in the flesh. She’s probably too busy with other stuff right now to bother hassling me. We have no actual evidence anyone else means me harm.”
“Just your cousin’s dead body,” says Muriel drily. And yeah, she’s got a point.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Grace was staying at a hotel out by the highway. A nice three-star sort of place. No idea if she chose it or the podcast put her up there. I head out around sunset the next day since work took longer than expected due to a new account. This might be a total waste of time. But I have to do something. I can’t just sit around any longer waiting for news.
The hotel is a big old four-story brick building. While the lighting in the parking lot could be better, the place is packed, so I wind up parking on a grassy area in the back. Some of the trees surrounding the lot have started to change color. Green giving way to red, orange, and gold. Guess summer is officially over for another year. A dark sedan seemed to follow me some of the way, but they didn’t turn off into the hotel parking lot with me. Not that I have any idea what car Laura drives. But there’s been no sign of my stalker for a while now. Which is curious. Perhaps the push to have Ryan retried is taking up her time. Or did shadowing me just stop being fun?
Inside, the air is cool and stale. Signs in the foyer advertise a Hemp and Cannabis Conference happening. A folk band plays in the bar area to a good-sized audience. One that is as mellow as can be. And the person at reception looks bored as can be. They’re around twenty. Curvy, with white skin, an assortment of piercings, and a gaze that’s glued to the computer screen.
I approach the desk with a wide hopeful smile. “Hi.”
“Hello.” The tag on their neat and tidy shirt says their name is Harper. “How can I help you?”
“My cousin stayed here a couple of days ago. She’s the woman who went missing and was found out at the park.” Notice the way in which I delicately omit the word “murder.” As if not using it will change anything. “I was wondering if—”
“We can’t talk about that,” they say flatly.
Of course I’m not the first person sniffing around for information. No doubt the media and an assortment of amateur detectives have already been by. So this is when I somehow endear myself to them. This part of the process is usually left to Muriel or Hana. They both have better people skills. Less of a warning: possible psycho killer attached to their name and/or face.