Digging Up Murder by Brooke Penny

Author:Brooke, Penny [Brooke, Penny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-07-09T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

“Before you say anything, please let me apologize for missing your wedding. I never saw the invitation. I am so sorry. I know I was the worst friend in the world, and I can’t say I’m sorry in enough ways to make how I disappeared be okay.” Elly took a deep breath, staring into Claire’s big blue eyes and waiting for the inevitable scolding from her former best friend.

Claire threw her arms around Elly, squeezing her tight and laughing. “That’s a very good start to your many, many apologies! It’s so surreal to see you!” Claire pulled away and patted the high wooden stool next to her at the rail of Clancy’s bar.

“But really, I didn’t know. And Buck? I mean, how much more cliché can you be?” Elly nudged her shoulder into hers. “Head cheerleader marrying the quarterback.”

“Oh, stop!” Claire’s laughter was free and happy, the same easy-going optimistic personality that had made her so popular in high school.

“But for real, I’ve been a terrible friend, and I swear someday when we have the time to get really, really drunk, I’ll tell you all of the details of Florida and what happened there. But…right now, I need to ask you a big favor.”

“Okay, sure. But I’m holding you to a girls’ night complete with ice cream, too many bottles of wine, and the entire story of the past ten years in the near future.”

“Deal.” Elly turned to Claire, ready to ask her if she knew what evidence the police had found to prompt their arrest when Clancy strolled over.

“Ladies. Haven’t seen the two of you in here together since you were just old enough to order a drink.”

“And yet you still haven’t aged a day since then, you handsome devil.” Claire winked at the sixty-year-old bartender before flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder and holding up two fingers. “Seasonal, please.” She turned to Elly. “Unless you wanted something else?”

“Nope, a Gravestone Brewing Witch’s Head sounds like just the right thing to kick this weekend off.”

Clancy nodded and hummed to himself as he poured two draft beers with a thick foamy head, then settled them and a small bowl of candy corn in between the ladies. With a nod, he headed back to the other end of the bar where a group of college-aged guys were taking turns ordering shots and beers.

“Claire, I….look, I don’t want to cause any weird trouble with you and Buck, but…” Elly hesitated, hating the idea of damaging her friendship further if Claire reacted badly.

“Spit it out, Hockette.”

Elly snorted, the spiced beer burning the back of her nose. “Okay.” She coughed. “Okay, well…I thought it was really weird how they let me and Grams go at her house, but then the sheriff came by late last night and arrested her.”

“Mmmhmm.”

“And…I was wondering if you knew why? He said that they had evidence, but he didn’t say what it was.”

Claire’s eyes danced, and she looked around the bar to see how many people were watching.

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