DBM04 - Cloudy with a Chance of Ghosts by Winters J D

Author:Winters, J D [Winters, J D]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cThriller
Published: 2015-06-11T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Bebe went out the back door and someone rang at the front door not two minutes later. I was surprised to find Celinda on my front doorstep, looking harried.

“Celinda! What a surprise.”

“I need to talk to you.”

“Come on in. Would you like….?”

“Nothing, no, thanks. I…I just need to get a few things straight with you and your friend.”

“Well, Jill’s not here but I’m available.”

We sat in the living room, each sitting stiffly on the edge of our separate chairs. The tension was thick and we gazed at each other warily. I was on tenterhooks wondering what she was going to say.

“So,” I began. “Do you know something about Keri’s murder? Do you know who did it?”

She shrugged and looked annoyed. “I assume the police know what they’re doing. Haven’t they arrested Jagger?”

“Detained, not arrested.”

Her hazel eyes narrowed. “Are you sure about that?”

Actually, I wasn’t, so I ignored her question and moved on. “What can I help you with, Celinda?”

She bit her lip for a moment, as if assessing what she wanted to say, then she blurted out, “Have you talked to Carlton? I can’t get hold of him. I went to the house, but the guard wouldn’t let me in. He’s not taking phone calls. I tried email and texting, but no replies. I’m at my wit’s end. I have to speak to him.”

I stared at her, bemused. “Why would you think that I had a special connection to Carlton?”

“I could see he was…amused by you yesterday. I thought maybe…”

I was shaking my head. “Nope,” I said. “Sorry. Wrong number.”

“Oh.” She looked genuinely distressed. “I’ve got to get to him. You know he’s scheduled to announce the winner of the Carlton Group Award on Wednesday. The rumor is…” She winced. “They say it’s going to be Jagger. And that’s just not fair. And now, if it turns out Jagger did kill that Keri woman, giving him the award would be such a huge mistake. I’ve got to talk to Carlton and make him see that.”

“So you know Jagger pretty well and you’re ready to believe he could have done this awful thing.”

She blinked and it was clear she wasn’t even thinking along those lines. She just wanted to make sure Jagger didn’t get something she thought she ought to have.

“Well sure. If the police think so….”

“But what do you think? What would be his motive?”

“His motive? Who knows? The guy is sort of free-spirited, you know what I mean? Here today, gone tomorrow. You can’t count on him.”

“Yes, but why would he kill Keri? What would he gain from that?”

She blinked again. “I don’t know. Maybe he was doing a favor for Carlton, getting rid of a nuisance. Not that I think Carlton had anything to do with it,” she added quickly.

“Right.”

“But to give him an award would be criminal in and of itself,” she declared. “He doesn’t deserve it!”

I had a feeling I might know where this was going. “Who do you think deserves the award?”

She flushed. “Listen, I’ve worked harder than anyone to get the Carlton Group organized and off the ground.

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