Fame and Fortune and Murder by Patti Larsen

Author:Patti Larsen [Larsen, Patti]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Patti Larsen Books
Published: 2017-03-11T18:30:00+00:00

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Chapter Twenty Three

It was only moments later when Julian and Stella, obviously ignoring Crew’s orders to stay out of the way, stomped into the sitting room while Mila shrank beside me, huddling in fear as they confronted the sheriff. I found it very interesting my dad hung back, arms crossed, eyes narrowed as he simply observed how Crew handled this new challenge without offering any kind of support.

It had to be hard for my father to just stand by after decades as a deputy and then a sheriff himself. I knew I was having difficulty keeping my mouth shut while Willow’s agent and director both started shouting at once.

Crew finally held up both hands, his face locked in a firm yet understanding expression I wouldn’t have been able to maintain, so kudos for that. “If you’ll speak one at a time,” he said, “I’ll be happy to answer your questions.”

Somehow he reached them, despite the quietness of his voice. Only then did I realize he’d mastered my father’s technique, that near-mystical and powerful ability to use sheer influence and will to silence those who were in the deep throws of emotion. I’d watched Dad do it over the years and always felt in awe of that skill. Now that I saw Crew could do it too, I wondered just how hard it might be to figure out for myself.

Interesting and altogether not the point at the moment. And yet, there it was.

“How dare you attack Willow like that?” So this was how the conversation was going to go? I’d had enough already and stood, creeping around them, leaving Mila on the sofa. Dad joined her while she watched me leave with a mournful expression, my pug on my heels. I exhaled in relief as the pounding questioning went on, more indignant and angry than helpful.

Let Crew deal with those two. I had someone I needed to talk to before she recovered from the reveal of what her life was really like.

She wasn’t in her room and, when I returned downstairs and peeked in the kitchen, I found her making tea. Carter stood off in one corner, nodding to me and I nodded back, happy to see he was watching over her. She didn’t even seem to notice him, and I suppose I understood that was also her reality.

“Willow.” I took the box of tea bags from her hand and seated her gently on the stool, waited for her to hug her wrap around her before pouring her tea. She didn’t say a word, her face quiet and reposed, but the vulnerable feeling to her hadn’t gone away. If anything she was even more exposed and frail than she had been, as if Mila’s accusation and proof had torn away everything that kept her together.

I set the cup and saucer in front of her, pulling up a stool next to her, Petunia whining softly before scooting up close enough she could lean against Willow’s legs. She smiled down at the pug and scratched the top of her head before a soft sob escaped her.

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