Courtin' Disater: Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles Book 25 by Cindy Davis

Author:Cindy Davis [Davis, Cindy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-05-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

I’m Nobody’s Fool

It’s a quick ride to the Drake residence in a gated community about two miles out of town. “We’re here to see Hope Drake,” Whitney tells the guard. He makes a quick telephone call then pushes a button to raise the gate. “First right, follow the curve around the lake. The Drakes are in 2110.”

We find the house easily. Would anyone be surprised to hear it’s big? Like maybe ten-bedroom size. It’s a Colonial with six pillars across the front of the recently-painted-white home. The shutters are emerald green. The left side of the double front doors open and a butler—yes, in complete butlering attire—stands waiting for us. Even though it’s only been a minute since the announcement of our arrival, there’s an air of impatience about him. Okay, I’ll say it up front, for those who might be inclined to ask; my parents’ place in Maryland makes this look like a cabin.

We’re escorted to a sunny room. Oh yes, he called it the solarium. Mrs. Drake is dressed in black workout shorts and a tank top. She drags a white facecloth from the back of her neck, and swipes it across her face—trying to let us know we disturbed her exercise. I check the clock over the fireplace; we’re exactly on time for our appointment, so this is, a clear way to put us down, to let us know we aren’t of her status. Man, she doesn’t know us at all! This kind of stuff means nothing to us. One thing I do understand: she obviously does work out, frequently.

“Do you have a gym here in your home?” I ask.

“Yes,” is all she says.

She motions for us to sit, and we take the sofa, me in the middle. She settles on a side chair, wipes her neck this time—even though I don’t see a drop of sweat.

The girls look at me to begin. That wasn’t the plan; Whitney and Hannah are both more adept at handling people even though we sometimes have to tighten the reins on Hannah’s brusqueness. But, here goes.

“I want to begin by offering our condolences for Bennett’s death.”

Hope gives a small nod. “You said you were working with the police?”

“Yes,” is all I say because, how do I explain the relationship we four have? “Did anything unusual happen here the first morning, opening day, of the fishing derby?”

She thinks a moment, this obviously not being a question she anticipated. “That damned derby is the only reason my husband will get out of bed before dawn. Other than that, it was a perfectly ordinary day.”

“Does he fish a lot? I mean, does he go out on the boat frequently?”

She shakes her head. “Only for tournaments.”

“Do you know why that might be?”

“It’s about the money. Awards.”

“Prestige,” Hannah fills in.

Hope gives a small nod. “He has a huge ego. Takes a lot to keep it full. Heaven knows I’ve never been able to.”

“That’s got to be tedious.”

She gestures to encompass the room, then shrugs. “I have a good life.

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