Chocolate Hearts and Murder by Patti Larsen

Author:Patti Larsen [Larsen, Patti]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Patti Larsen Books
Published: 2017-02-11T18:30:00+00:00

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Chapter Twenty

Wait, what? “You killed Mason Patterson?” But, why? I almost dumped the last of the precious coffee, heart pounding, suddenly not so comfortable with the giant man/dog combination. My brain stuttered, needing clarification. I was alive. He could have left me out there to die. Not the act of a murderer, was it?

Bill shook his head, refused to look at me. “I didn’t hurt Mason,” he said. “He was my friend. But that young sheriff will think it was me because I used to be in prison. That’s how these stories always end. So I’ll just save everyone the trouble of saying the ex-con did it.”

Chest aching with more than the cold that had almost killed me, I found my eyes stinging with new tears. “Tell me about how you ended up working here,” I said.

Bill looked up at last, dull brown eyes meeting mine and for a moment I wondered if he was even going to answer. Then, he sighed again but only after Moose nudged him in the hand for stopping his endless petting. Bill resumed scratching the dog’s ear and spoke.

“I had a job at the college for a bit,” he said. “Then some professor accused me of stealing from his office. Well, it wasn’t me.” Bill sounded angry at last, offended. “They fired me lickety split even though they caught his cute little assistant with his stuff. Because can’t have an ex-con hanging around even though I just wanted a job.”

“So Mason offered you one here?” It had to be hard. Discrimination against former criminals wasn’t a shock or anything. “Why?”

Bill shrugged, rubbing a finger over the bridge of his flat nose he’d broken a time or two in the past and healed crooked. “Dunno. Just kind of hit it off with him from the start. He’d crack jokes, buy me coffee. When he found out I was fired he offered me this job right away.” Bill’s face tightened. “I know a lot of folks didn’t like Mason none, but he was good people down deep where it mattered.”

If he said so. And honestly, the man clearly had a different experience with the kid, so fair enough. “And you’ve been here ever since?”

He shifted in his chair, seemed to relax a little, probably because I wasn’t accusing him of murder. “He made a point to come check on me earlier tonight before dinner.” His voice cracked, one hand wiping his eyes before he set his narrow lips in a thin line against his emotions, visible in the tension of his body. “Meant a lot.”

Well, so maybe I could cut Mason a little slack if he showed such empathy to a man who received none from others. “Thank you for saving me,” I said, as kindly and with as much genuine gratitude as I could. Because I really, really meant it.

“You’re welcome.” A faint smile? I’d take it. “How’d you end up outside in that getup?”

I shook my head, finishing my coffee and staring into the empty bottom of the mug.

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