Gingerbread and Gunshots by C. A. Phipps

Author:C. A. Phipps [Phipps, C. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cheryl Phipps

Chapter Seventeen

After what seemed like forever, Ethan called her name from the top of the stairs. The terseness in his voice wasn’t the slightest bit compelling.

Gingerly she went back upstairs, where all eyes watched her approach. Oddly, Camille looked decidedly guilty.

“What on earth are you thinking?” Ethan rounded on Maddie.

She hadn’t expected the attack and stiffened. “You’ll need to be more specific.”

“This isn’t a game. Camille tells us that you plan to go to the resort to speak to Mr. Valaro.”

“That’s right.”

“After I specifically said you shouldn’t.”

Maddie liked to think she was good natured, but she wasn’t a fan of being told what to do—even by a sheriff, and that was how she was trying to think of Ethan. In fact, his attitude made that a little easier. “The Fourniers and I will be going together. Since the case isn’t progressing, I think it’s important to put all the cards on the same table, and I believe the people in this room don’t have all those cards.”

“How the case progresses is not up to you or your friends,” Ethan growled.

It was an effort not to get angry with him when she knew he had a job to do and was only worried about her. “When it comes to friends and family, I have to respectfully disagree.”

The detective stood between them. “The Fourniers insist that you have no new leads, so why do you assume Mr. Valaro does?”

Saying that she had a feeling that he did and that it was the next logical step to join forces wouldn’t be an acceptable reason when she had nothing concrete to back it up, but she didn’t back down.

“We all know there’s more to this case than meets the eye and that the connection is there—we just haven’t found it yet. Maybe by comparing our experience during the situation and what happened before and after Ricky’s death will bring something to light we haven’t managed to put together so far.”

Bizarrely it was the detective who came to her rescue. “I agree.”

Ethan’s eyes widened. “You agree with what?”

Detective Jones gave him a side-eye, possibly at Ethan’s tone. “Ms. Flynn has a point about us all having different experiences during the case, and while this is somewhat irregular in that a citizen is initiating the meeting, I can see that it might have some merit.”

“Valaro can’t be trusted,” Ethan protested. “On that basis alone, it’s not safe for Maddie to be around him. Or the Fourniers,” he added somewhat belatedly. “To say nothing of having a killer on the loose.”

“While he does have some history with wheeling and dealing that might not be totally above board, we found nothing dangerous attached to Valaro or his company.” The detective gave Ethan a pointed look. “As for a killer we haven’t found yet, I doubt they would risk anything with so many officers on site.”

He’d surprised her again, and Maddie kept her gaze averted from Ethan. She didn’t have to look at him to feel the waves of

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