Assault and Batter(32)

“Who is there to alibi me in the middle of the night? My family is all gone. I was doing exactly what I do every night, and I was doing it alone. I heated up a frozen dinner, watched a little baseball, and then I fell asleep on the couch. There’s no one in the world who saw me, or even spoke to me. But I’m telling you now, once and for all, that I didn’t kill Jude Williams. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to be late for my haircut.”

Reggie got in and drove away before we could say another word.

“Do you believe him?” Grace asked me after he was gone.

“I want to, but I’m still not sure. How about you?”

Grace shrugged. “You know me. I don’t trust anyone. If I see lips moving, I believe that someone is lying to me. Call it the cost of doing business as a saleswoman for too many years. What does your gut tell you?”

“It’s surprisingly quiet at the moment,” I said, “except rumbling for food. I’m starving, are you?”

“I could eat,” she said with a smile. “I’d just about decided to have a few donuts when you gave them away. That should entitle me to a real meal.”

“How does the Boxcar Grill sound?” I asked as we got into my Jeep.

“Like a little bit of heaven,” she said with a grin.

“Then let’s go eat,” I replied. We’d managed to get some new information since we’d started our investigation, but we were still nowhere near finding the killer. I was beginning to wonder if we ever would, but I knew that I had to be patient. These things often took time. The problem was that Emily and Max shouldn’t have to get married with a cloud of murder hanging over the festivities.

That gave me an artificial time limit, and it was quickly running out.





Chapter 12


“Hey, ladies,” Trish said as Grace and I walked into the Boxcar Grill. It was my second favorite place to eat in all of North Carolina, being second only to Napoli’s in union   Square. “What’s going on with you two today?”

“We’ve been keeping busy,” I said. “What’s happening in your world?”

“Just another day in paradise,” she said with a grin. “Grab any table you’d like, and I’ll be right over. Two sweet teas to start?” she asked.

“Why ruin a long tradition,” I said with a grin. “Does that sound good to you, Grace?”

“You know me. I’m easy to please.”

Trish and I both started laughing at that clearly false statement, and Grace joined us.

We had just settled into a booth when I noticed someone approaching, obviously intent on speaking with us. I had a hunch that I wasn’t going to like it, but I wasn’t about to turn tail and run.

“Suzanne, we need to talk,” Gabby Williams said as she reached our table.

“Sure thing. Why don’t you sit down and join us?” I asked.

Gabby looked around the dining room of the Boxcar. “I don’t think so. I don’t want the whole town hearing what I’ve got to say.”

“Then let’s all go outside,” Grace said as she started to stand.

“Not you,” Gabby said as she looked at my best friend. “Just you,” she added as she turned to me.

“Gabby,” I said, trying to keep my voice reasonable, “you know that I’m going to tell Grace anything that you tell me as soon as you’re gone, don’t you?”

“What you do after I talk to you is entirely up to you,” Gabby said, and then she started to walk out of the diner before pausing and asking me, “Aren’t you coming?”

“Go on,” Grace said. “I don’t mind.”

“Order for me, would you?” I asked.

“That’s dangerous, don’t you think?” she asked me with a grin.

“Just know that whatever I get, I might switch with you, so use your best judgment.”

“Got it,” she said.

“Let’s go, Suzanne,” Gabby said loudly enough to make every diner turn toward her. “You all need to go back to your food,” she told them, and then she stormed out.

I followed along, curious about what she was about to tell me.

Trish asked me softly as I walked past her, “Is everything okay?”

“Not by a long shot, but I’m fine, if that’s what you’re asking me.”

“That’s what I wanted to know,” she said. “Good luck,” Trish added as she gestured toward Gabby.

“Thanks,” I said as I walked outside.

Gabby was waiting impatiently for me at a table near the front door down the steps.

“What’s so urgent, Gabby?” I asked her.