Process of Illumination (Hand Lettering Mystery Book 4) by Daisy Robyns

Author:Daisy Robyns [Robyns, Daisy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Three Jays Press LLC
Published: 2019-09-23T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Ridge let himself into my kitchen. He'd had a long day and should have looked beat. But he looked refreshed, recharged. He had unlimited energy, it seemed. Fighting crime and bringing justice to victims energized him even when he was still losing the battle. "Something smells good in here."

I reached for the wine bottle and a glass for him.

Ridge held up a hand. "No thanks. I'm still on duty."

"Have you eaten at all today?" I lifted an eyebrow and sounded more like his mom than I liked.

"I grabbed a few snacks from the machine."

Snacks from the machine at the station meant nothing good or healthy.

Nora pulled the meatloaves from the oven. I finished mashing the potatoes and put them in a bowl on the table. Dinner was served.

Nora wasted no time questioning Ridge. "What can you tell us? How did Nicole die?"

"You know I can't talk about the case—"

Nora's face fell, but we both knew her better than to believe she'd give up that easily.

"But," Ridge said, "it's pretty clear she drowned. The toxicology report hasn't come it, but it was also obvious that she was drunk. You could smell the alcohol on the body."

"Drowned. In the middle of the town?" Nora served Ridge two of the small meatloaves covered with homemade ketchup. I set the bowl of mashed potatoes in front of him.

He dug right in. "It doesn't take much water to drown a person. You can drown in a few inches. In a puddle. Only one requirement—your mouth and nose have to be covered with water."

I turned to Ridge. "Did Mily report the missing water buckets yet?" I was prepared to fill him in if she hadn't.

"She did. I interviewed her, Bane, and a few of the other men." He took a big forkful of meatloaf. "You're thinking what I'm thinking? Murder weapon?"

I nodded. "Don't tell Mily. She'll be so upset. She was only trying to save time in the morning and they shouldn't have been a problem. Her tent at the market was soaked this morning. She thought it looked like horseplay, a water fight. But it could have just as well have been the site of a struggle and Nicole's murder. A person could drown in a bucket full of water. Certainly if their head was held under."

Ridge looked grim and slid a glimpse at Nora. "Anything we say here is for private consumption only, as you both know."

Nora smiled in reply. "I've been part of the crime-solving team before. I know the rules."

Ridge returned his attention to his plate of food. "Mily won't find out from me unless it's absolutely necessary. I let her believe she was probably just another victim of the vandals."

"Drunk." I was lost in thought a moment. "When did Nicole become inebriated? Before or after her fight with Mike? Before she stormed out?"

"She apparently likes her wine when she's upset," Nora said.

"You've heard the rumors or you've already interviewed the neighbors?" Ridge's tone was only half joking. He knew us too well.

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