Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters

Author:Natalie Walters
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romantic Suspense;Women journalists—Fiction | Suspense fiction | Mystery fiction | Christian fiction;FIC042060;FIC042040;FIC027110
ISBN: 9781493419579
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2019-09-18T16:00:00+00:00

seventeen

RYAN PASSED ANOTHER PACKAGE of orange fish crackers across the table. The baby squealed in delight as her mom opened them and handed her one.

“I already told you I don’t know who set the fire.” Lauren wiped a strand of loose hair from her face. “Cody and I were already in the truck when he saw the flames.”

“Why were you at the Gazette last night?”

“To find out why that reporter was looking for me.”

“Did Ms. DeMarco give you a reason?” Ryan was interested in hearing not only Lauren’s side of the story but also just how much Vivian had told them.

“She said Harold was killed. That whoever killed him might be looking to come after me.” There was a tremor in her voice, and when she handed the baby another fish cracker, he saw her fingers shake. “You don’t think I had anything to do with his death, do you?”

“I’m not sure what to think, Ms. Holt.” Ryan looked at his notes. “A video of you and Harold hours before he dies is emailed to him with a demand for payment. You disappear and then suddenly reappear at the Gazette minutes before the place is torched. There’s something going on here that you’re a part of, and I want to know what it is.”

“I don’t know anything about the tape. I saw it for the first time last night.”

“Why were you and Harold meeting that day?”

Lauren’s eyes shifted downward. “He sent me an email asking to meet him. Said it was urgent.”

Ryan frowned. “What was urgent?”

“I don’t know. When I got there, Harold asked me why I had sent an urgent email asking him to meet. But I didn’t send him an email.”

“Harold said you sent him an email?”

Lauren nodded.

“Is there any reason why someone would want to tape you and Harold together?” Ryan hated himself for what he was about to ask next. “Did you and Harold ever—”

“What?” Lauren gasped. “No.”

“According to Harold’s calendar, you’d met with him before.”

“He was trying to help me.”

“Help you how?”

She smoothed a piece of the baby’s downy hair. “It was personal.”

Ryan studied the woman in front of him. Nothing stood out about her. T-shirt, jeans, sandals. Her hand stroked Olivia’s chubby cheek and Ryan noticed her ring finger was bare. No ring. Then Vivian’s words echoed in his head. “Ask about the baby’s father.”

“Is Cody Olivia’s father?”

The question caught Lauren off-guard and she narrowed her eyes. “No.”

“Harold?”

Disgust filled Lauren’s face. “You’re joking?”

Ryan’s eyes slid to Olivia, who was contently gnawing on her fist. Lauren’s gaze followed and she drew the little girl back.

“No, Deputy. If you knew anything about Harold, you’d already know the answer to that question.”

He did, but he still had to ask. Lauren was hiding something. “You’re right. Harold loved his wife and she loved him.” Ryan hoped he could lean into her compassion. “Which is why we’re trying to understand why someone would videotape you and him together hours before he was killed.”

“I don’t know.” Lauren looked up, a tear dripping down her cheek.

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