the job. The money was good and the workload was tolerable. I didn’t want to lose the opportunity.”
“You also didn’t want to disappoint Grandpa,” I surmised. “In your mind, he’d gone out of his way for you.”
“He did.”
“Except Roy was so desperate to be seen as an equal where Grandpa was concerned he would’ve done it regardless.” I rubbed my forehead. “How long before he threatened your job if you didn’t sleep with him?”
“Six weeks.”
I felt sick to my stomach. “What an Axehole. You should’ve reported him to the police. That’s sexual harassment. Hunter would’ve helped you.”
“I didn’t want anyone to know. I was embarrassed.”
I couldn’t blame her. It was doubtful I would’ve acted differently in her situation, no matter how much I wanted to believe I was above it all. “What did he do when he found out you were pregnant?”
“He freaked out. He was desperate that Vera not find out. He wanted me to have an abortion, which I flatly refused.”
“Did you shake him down for money?”
“Why would I do that? He didn’t want Dakota, but I did. I didn’t expect anything from him.”
I was surprised. “Wait ... are you saying that you didn’t get child support from Roy?” It was bad enough that the guy was a lecherous old goat, but to not take care of his child was a new low.
“I took money. I wish I could say it wasn’t necessary. He wanted to pay me in one lump sum, because it would be easier to explain to his wife. I agreed, with the stipulation that he help with Dakota’s college education when it was time.”
I pursed my lips. “How did you know he would survive that long?”
“I didn’t, but I had no interest in upending lives. I just wanted to be able to live my life away from gossip and prying eyes. It’s worked out well so far. I found a job doing medical transcriptions online, and with the money Roy gave me I’m doing pretty well.”
She was doing better than me. I couldn’t very well afford to throw stones. “So, you had no motive to kill Roy.”
She arched an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Did you think I did?”
I shrugged. “I guess maybe I was hoping it was you ... not on a personal level or anything,” I added hurriedly. “The idea that there’s a killer running around out there has me unnerved.” As did the fact that I’d managed to burn a woman’s eyebrows off with my mind and my ex-boyfriend slept on my couch the previous evening. “Can you think of anyone who would’ve wanted to kill Roy?”
She shook her head. “It’s possible multiple people wanted to kill Roy. I didn’t harbor any ill will toward him. He wasn’t exactly my favorite person, but he gave me what he could for Dakota. He stayed out of our lives. He’s worth nothing to me dead. I don’t gain anything.”
She was better off if he’d lived long enough to see Dakota go to college. “So ... I guess it’s back to square one for me.”
“Sorry I couldn’t be more help.” She seemed genuine. “I’m pretty sure this has nothing to do with me.”
“Unless it was Vera and she was angry over the money that went missing from their accounts,” I muttered, causing her to widen her eyes. “That still wouldn’t be your fault, though,” I reassured her. “You’re clean in this.”
“I don’t feel clean where Roy is concerned. He makes it worth it, though.” She grinned at Dakota, who handed a rock to me. The small Petoskey stone made me smile.
“Thank you.” I beamed at him. “I’ll cherish it for life.”
I WAS STILL ANTSY FOR ANSWERS, SO MY next stop was Barry Buttons. I wanted to know if Vera’s attorney had any insight.
Barry’s secretary seemed confused when I said I merely wanted to talk to her boss, not enlist his services. She stalled, but when I refused to leave she finally placed a call to his office. If her expression was any indication, she was surprised when Barry readily agreed to see me.
He was the smarmy sort. I could tell that the second I invaded his personal space. He was a big guy, gut hanging over the belt of his pants, and there were photos of him and various women splashed all over his office. There were also trophies declaring him the “World’s Best Divorce Attorney,” which I found tacky and unnecessary.
“Stormy Morgan.” He grinned at me as if we were old friends. “It’s been a