Auctions and Alibis: Cape Hope Mysteries by Winnie Reed

Author:Winnie Reed
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter Thirteen

“I would feel a lot better about this if Pete or Joe or somebody was with us.” Of course, my words fell on deaf ears.

I might as well have been talking to myself. After all, nobody cared that I thought it would’ve been better to wait until morning to make this little trip up the Parkway. It was nearly eight o’clock by the time we hit the road, meaning it would be at least ten when we reached our destination. At least traffic wasn’t very heavy at this time of night. I hoped that would help.

“Maybe it would’ve been better if you had stayed home.” Ethan shot me a look from the corner of his eye. “We don’t know what we’re going to find when we get there.”

“Please. Like I would pass up the opportunity to watch this unfold.”

Meanwhile, Max sat in the backseat, typing frantically on his laptop. I could only hope he wasn’t documenting every moment of our journey—and that if he was, he would be kind toward me. I didn’t much love the idea of reading unflattering things about myself.

I’d always heard jokes about people being nice to the writers in their life, and now I understood where those jokes came from. Nobody wanted to end up reading all about their gory murder.

Especially if they had a tendency toward bickering with the author.

At least the ride would pass quickly, with Ethan entering Brian’s neighborhood short of ten o’clock. I couldn’t help but whistle in appreciation of the houses we passed on the quiet, perfectly maintained street. “I thought you said he’s been down on his luck these past few years.”

“He has. If I remember correctly from that party, he told everybody he paid for the house in full.”

I turned toward him in surprise. “He made that much money?”

In the light from the laptop, I watched Max grimace in obvious distaste. “His last book was the third in a line of extremely successful projects. The first one sold like gangbusters, the second I did better than that. Of course, his agent used that success to broker a massive advance on the third book—which earned out in no time.” Boy, was he jealous. I could practically taste his envy.

“It’s a shame he hasn’t had much luck these past few years.”

Ethan murmured his agreement. “And I’m sure the taxes out here are no joke, not to mention the maintenance on homes this big.”

“Which is all the more reason for him to do something desperate. Do you see why I’m so sure about this?”

Ethan and I stayed silent, but we shared a look that told me he and I were on the same page. I still thought this was way too thin of a theory.

“I don’t think this is a good idea.” Yes, there were lights on in the house, now visible thanks to Ethan turning into the driveway. From the street, the house was hidden from view behind a stone wall. The driveway curved on the way to the house, trees lining both sides, with what looked like solar lights providing a little illumination.

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