Proof of Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #4) - Lauren Elliott Page 0,23
Addie, a slight smile twitching at the corners of his lips. He tugged on some blue rubber gloves and joined Jerry, who stood beside the body.
Addie drummed her fingers on the arms of the chair. This waiting-her-turn nonsense was excruciating. After overhearing the conversation between Blake and Marc, she was dying to add her perspective on what happened. Plus, she needed to speak with Blake to try to find out more about the thefts he’d mentioned. As far as she was concerned, that was big news, but Marc didn’t appear to be all over it. Her gaze flitted from Marc to the door as she mentally tried to will him to see the significance of what Blake disclosed and go after him. Then a smile touched the corners of his mouth as he headed toward the door.
Yes! She edged forward in her seat. He’d finally gotten the message and was going to follow up with Blake himself and not leave the questioning to a young officer. She let out a deep sigh of relief and sank back in her chair. Unfortunately, her elation didn’t last long. An attractive, raven-haired woman had entered the library, and when her gaze met Marc’s she returned a smile that reached her smoky-dark eyes. By the look on Marc’s face as he approached the woman, it was clear to Addie that it was the sight of her and not a revelation about what Blake said earlier that was the reason behind the change in his previous, dour-police-chief demeanor.
Addie studied the woman, trying to figure out who she was. She was fairly certain she wasn’t one of Blake’s employees, because even though her white, collared, sleeveless blouse and black, slim-fit capris were summer wear, as theirs was, there was nothing casual about their tailored cut. Her red open-toed sandals and matching tote bag even screamed totally put-together professional woman.
When the woman leaned over and said something to Marc, Addie couldn’t help but notice how close they stood to each other. So close, in fact, their shoulders brushed, which didn’t appear to create that usual awkward moment for either of them, and then when she laid her hand on Marc’s forearm, Addie knew. Whoever she was, she and Marc were anything but strangers or casual acquaintances. Addie shifted and began to stand up again. Enough was enough. She needed to know what was going on. Then the woman looked across the room directly at Addie and nodded at something Marc said.
Addie’s chest tightened as the raven-haired woman sauntered toward her and she plopped back into her seat. It appeared that at least one of her questions was about to be answered.
“Miss Greyborne, do you mind if I have a seat”—the mystery woman motioned to the neighboring chair—“and ask you a few questions?”
“Sure, and you are?”
“Forgive me.” She held out her hand, “I’m Special Agent Ryley Brookes.”
“Special agent? Like an FBI agent?”
“Yes, and I must say how nice it is to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Special Agent Brookes perched on the edge of the other chair.
“You’ve heard about me? From whom?”
“The DA’s office, Chief Chandler.” She shrugged. “You’ve made quite the stir in the town from what I hear.”
“Coming from the FBI, I’m not sure if that’s good news or bad.”
Brookes shook her head with a soft chuckle, her dark, wavy, shoulder-length hair swinging freely.
“Can you tell me why the FBI is interested in Charlotte McAdams’s death?”
“They’re not, officially. I’m here on leave and just helping a friend speed up the investigation process.” Agent Brookes removed a small notebook and pen from the tote at her side. “Now, Miss Greyborne. Can I call you Addie?”
Addie nodded, the hold on her chest twisting. Marc had spent two of the last three months attending a series of FBI-sponsored training programs for law enforcement officers at Quantico. His last month, if Serena’s gossip was correct, had been spent in Italy taking some of his built-up vacation time at the strong urging of the mayor.
Addie eyed her interrogator. Her skin shared the same sun-kissed glow of Marc’s. The cold hand twisting at Addie’s chest wrenched one more time. Marc had met this woman at the FBI Academy. And then took her with him on vacation.
Chapter 8
Addie’s mind reeled at the rapid-fire questions the agent launched at her. She relayed the sequence of events that occurred after she and Blake had entered the room leading up to them finding the body. Except she struggled to remember the exact