Heat Wave Homicide by London Lovett

Author:London Lovett [Lovett, London]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Fox Press

Chapter 19

Lisa was sniffling as she dropped cans and vegetables into boxes. "Hello, Ms. Ivans"—I held up my press pass—"I'm Sunni Taylor with the Junction Times. I was hoping to talk to you. First of all, let me say I'm so sorry about Bart."

She shoved a bag of peppers into a box that didn't have room for them and gave them an angry push. I thought I was going to be told to bug off. Instead, she sucked in a loud breath, gave the peppers another shove and looked up at me. "It was Ari, his ex-wife. She killed him." She pointed at the notepad I'd pulled out. "You can quote me on that."

I was stunned into silence for a second. It was not the response I was expecting. "Why do you think it was Ari?" Had I already found the pot of gold?

"Ari was constantly calling and texting Bart. One minute she'd be begging him to take her back, and the next she was telling him he was the worst thing that ever happened to her. She was obsessed."

"Do you know why they split up in the first place?"

She huffed. "A money thing or something like that. Ari lent him some money to start a business—"

"Was that his barbecue restaurant?"

"Yes, Bart's Barbecue." She looked pointedly at my notepad. "Aren't you going to write this all down? The town needs to know that Ari is a murderer."

I scribbled a few notes. "Obviously, I can't print that she's a murderer until the police have actually made an arrest. But I can put details in the article that will lead them to a suspect without actually accusing someone outright." I didn't feel the need to explain to her that I had direct access to the police. "You were saying they divorced because of money. It wasn't something else? An extramarital affair?"

"Bart would never do that. He was far too principled." Except when it came to pushing frail, elderly men out into the hot sun. "And hardworking. Bart built that business up from nothing, and when it became a big success, Ari had her hand out for money."

"Well, if she initially lent him money for the business, she might have been expecting a return on her investment."

"It was never enough for her. She bought expensive cars and clothes. Practically bankrupted Bart. Then there was the whole thing about the television set."

A couple stopped at the table and looked around confused. "We came here especially for Bart's chili. Where is he? Where's the chili?"

Lisa covered her face and sobbed.

I smiled politely at the couple. "Bart Folger has passed away."

The woman's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh no. Does that mean his restaurant will close down? It's our favorite place to eat."

"He's dead," Lisa snapped. "You'll have to find another place to eat," she said angrily. It was somewhat deserved. A man had died and the couple was worried where they'd get their next plate of barbecued ribs. They wandered away looking properly chastised and shocked.

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