Deadly Double Deception: A Bel Harbor Cozy Mystery by Lenn Emma

Author:Lenn, Emma
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Self
Published: 2024-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Motives and Memories

“W

ho do you think we should talk to first?" Luke asked Rachel once the other officer had left the office. They now had two options: either head to the address on Carey's card or call James and request him to come in for a quick discussion.

Rachel took a moment to survey the office as she pondered their options. It was modest, about half the size of her room, with minimal furnishings—a small desk tucked in a corner, two chairs opposite each other, and an oversized couch nearby, leaving the rest of the space empty.

On Luke's desk sat a photograph of himself and his daughter Maddie, taken when she was around three or four years old. It was a heartwarming picture, Maddie's face partly obscured by a large hat with a visible chocolate ice cream stain. Luke stood beside her, a tender smile on his face, presumably captured by his wife behind the camera. Rachel couldn't help but smile at the scene.

"I think we should start by talking to the freelancer," Rachel suggested as she crossed her legs, idly twirling an office pen between her fingers. "He might have some valuable insights for us."

Luke considered her suggestion. "Or he might confirm what we already know," he countered.

Rachel shrugged. "That's true, but it's worth checking out."

"Let's get it over with then," Rachel proposed. "Talk to the freelancer now."

But Luke had a different idea. "I want to speak to James first," he insisted. "I feel he's hiding something, and I want to know what it is."

Rachel persisted. "What if we hit a roadblock with James and later realize we could have avoided it by talking to the repairman first?"

Luke chuckled. "You're getting ahead of yourself. You have no idea if that will happen."

"It's a crazy world; anything can happen," Rachel quipped. "Besides, I'm feeling lucky today."

Luke reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a coin. "Let's leave it up to chance," he suggested. "Heads, we talk to the freelancer first."

"I'll take that bet," Rachel said confidently. "I'm the lucky one, remember?"

Luke flipped the coin, caught it, and revealed the result: heads.

Rachel cheered triumphantly. "Told you I'm lucky!" "

Luke grinned. "Fine, off to see the repairman, Fred Morra."

They left the office and drove to the address on the card, arriving at a house in Bel Harbor. They knocked on the door but received no response. As they turned to leave, they heard a noise coming from the backyard.

"There's someone home," Rachel observed. "In the backyard."

They went to the backyard, where they found a garage with a man tinkering at a workbench scattered with computer parts. Fred Morra looked up as they approached, squinting through his glasses.

"Mr. Morra?" Luke inquired.

"Who's asking?" the man responded cautiously.

"I'm with the police," Luke explained. "We have some questions regarding the incident at Highlander."

"Oh," he said as he walked outside. "I was told someone might contact me again. I wasn't expecting a visit."

"We decided not to stress you by asking you to come to the precinct," Luke explained.

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