Proof of Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #4) - Lauren Elliott Page 0,41
earlier, Addie pushed her plate away and moaned. “Now I need to sleep. Hopefully, when I wake up this nightmare will all be over.”
“When you ran into Marc, did he say anything about where the case against you is at?”
“No.” Addie wiped her mouth and dropped her napkin on the table. “The days of him telling me anything in relation to a case are long gone, I’m afraid.”
“You mean all those times he protested about sharing details of a case with you, but then did it anyway?”
“You know as well as I do he only kept me in the loop when it was clear that if he didn’t, I was going to investigate on my own. So by sharing some of the information with me, he thought I’d keep my nose out of police business.”
“Yeah, right.” Serena wiggled her eyebrows. “But he still knows you. And in spite of how your relationship has changed, he also knows full well that you’re going to do some sleuthing on your own now, too. So that hasn’t changed, has it?”
“No,” Addie said, chuckling, “that hasn’t changed, especially when Ryley is trying to make me appear to be the number-one suspect of the day. I just have to figure out who else to add to that list.”
“Do you have any names in mind?”
“A few, but I’d have to really take a look at them and see if it adds up. I mean, Simon says that everything indicates that Charlotte’s death was the result of natural causes, which has everyone—well, except Ryley and her ridiculous theory about me—believing her sudden death and the missing books aren’t related, that it’s a coincidence but—”
“You’re not convinced?”
“No, I’m not. One thing my father always used to say about a criminal investigation was, ‘There is no such thing as coincidences. Everything is related, somehow. You just have to find the missing piece of the puzzle to make the whole picture come into focus.’”
“Does that mean,” Serena said as she finished off her wine, “that we’re going back to your shop to pull out that blackboard of yours?”
“Not tonight.” Addie rubbed her hands over her face. “I’m exhausted. Let’s just go home and call it a day.”
“Sounds good to me.” Serena waved Zach over for the bill.
When he placed it on the table, Addie scooped it up. “I’ll get this tonight.”
“If that’s the case, then I’ll leave the tip.” Serena gave Zach a saucy wink, crumpled up a bill, and closed his fingers around it.
He glanced at the bill and let out a husky laugh. “Are you trying to buy me, Miss?”
Serena batted her lashes. “Not in the least. I’m just wondering if you could . . .”
“I could what?” Zach leaned forward, hanging on her every word.
“Stop and pick up some milk before you come home.”
Zach playfully swatted Serena’s behind with a napkin from the table as she darted out of the line of fire.
All the way out the door, Addie stifled her laughter, not wanting to create a scene. She loved watching her friend’s playful antics. It reminded her of the silly banter she and Simon often exchanged. She had made the right choice for her, and she couldn’t wait to get home to call him. At least hearing his voice today would help lift some of the weight off her day.
* * *
When Addie turned down her driveway, she squealed at the sight of the silver Tesla parked by her front door.
“It looks like you’re going to get that hug you needed so badly today after all.” Serena nudged Addie with her elbow.
Addie beamed as she parked the car, waved good night to Serena and dashed up the front steps to her porch. She flung the door open and stepped into waiting arms that swept her off her feet. Simon planted a tender kiss on her lips and rested his forehead against hers. “Welcome home.”
She snuggled her head into his arm as he walked her down the hallway to the kitchen. If she were a cat, she would have purred. This is exactly where she had wanted to be all evening. When he waved his hand over the chocolate fondue he’d arranged on the island for them, she couldn’t suppress the tiny squeal that snuck out. “I thought you might need some comfort food after your day.” His eyes glistened as he popped a chocolate-dipped strawberry into her mouth. “So please don’t tell me you’ve already had dessert.”