Proof of Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #4) - Lauren Elliott Page 0,35
smug. It was possible, in her mind at least, that he did know the collection of Holmes books had been discovered and then gone missing. The question then became, how? No one except Kalea, Charlotte, Robert, and her even knew the Doyle books had been found in the barrister’s case. It made Addie wonder how he had known because by every indication of his reaction to the reproduction he did know, and was also aware that they were lost and replicas had been left in their place. But Charlotte was dead and Robert and Kalea were both MIA. Does that mean he’s the thief? Is he the person Kalea texted right after we discovered them? That could explain why her cousin had disappeared. Addie hit her brakes.
Coming up her driveway directly toward her was Marc’s cruiser, followed closely by Jerry’s. Marc’s car pulled to the side and slowed down to let her pass, but she couldn’t even glance over to acknowledge her thanks for the gesture. Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel. She knew exactly why they had been at her house.
Serena stood, arms crossed, at the bottom of the staircase that led up to the garage apartment. The look on her face reinforced that this had not been a social visit. Addie pulled up in front of her door, and by the time she got one foot out onto the pavement, Serena was at her side.
“Can you believe the nerve of them searching my apartment?”
“Did they find what they were looking for?” Addie slammed her car door.
“Of course not.” Serena’s eyes widened. “You know I don’t keep any inventory here.”
“How did Agent Brookes take her wild-goose chase, then?”
“She didn’t say a word, but I could tell she was disappointed when all she could find was cooking herbs and spices.”
“Did she take samples of those?”
“Of course. I’m pretty sure she was trying to save face in front of Marc. I hope she chokes on them when they come back negative for whatever poison she thinks I have stashed away.”
“Yeah, but she seems really determined to find something to implicate me. It’s too bad she hasn’t stopped to think that by doing that with this poisoning theory, she’s implying you were the supplier. She’d also be taking down Marc’s sister. I wonder what he’s said to her about that.”
“Probably nothing. Remember, he never told me one word about her, their trip to Italy together, or her staying at Mom and Dad’s. So, all I know is that if either of them expects me to welcome her into the family with open arms, they’d better think again.”
“But doesn’t it make you wonder why she is so bent on proving I had something to do with this? And why bring you into it? And why is Marc letting it happen? There has to be a reason that we’re not seeing.”
“Oh, that’s easy. She knows Marc was in love with you and is probably afraid he might still be.”
“I doubt that. You didn’t see the way he treated me and the way he looked at her. There’s no question of who he’s in love with now. But if what you’re saying is even partially true, why involve you and risk causing a rift between her and Marc?”
“Because I’m your best friend and biggest advocate, and maybe she thinks if she can prove you poisoned Charlotte, it might sway how I feel about you.”
“I’m just guessing, here.” Addie shifted her weight and shoved her hands deep into her pants pockets. “Just hear me out for a minute. She doesn’t want to alienate you and cause an issue with Marc. All this sample collecting is just a show to prove to him that no stone was left unturned in finding the evidence to prove that I did whatever she thinks I’ve done. That way she can clear you and then say to Marc that she knew all along that you could never have knowingly helped me in such a devious plan, and that I must have used our friendship to learn some of your knowledge to make my own concoction.”
Serena burst out laughing. “You should have been a writer, not a bookseller, because that’s the craziest conspiracy theory you’ve ever come up with.” She snorted, covering her mouth, still giggling.
“What?” Addie looked sideways at her. “It’s a sound theory. Why else would she be so determined to prove I’m behind all of this?”
“Are you sure,” Serena gasped, fighting her urge to laugh, “that finding out