Prologue to Murder by Lauren Elliott

Author:Lauren Elliott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2019-02-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

Addie finished wiping down the counter and looked at the clock. It was well past nine, and there had been no word from Simon. She stretched her stiff neck and shoulders, thankful the meeting had ended earlier than anticipated. If only she’d had more time to talk to Ida about the bombshell she’d dropped. Jeanie had become involved with her own mother’s boyfriend? That revelation just moved Jeanie and the mysterious chameleon of a man, Steven, to the top of her list of suspects. This was something she needed to tell Marc. She pulled her cell out of her pocket, began dialing his cell number, and stopped. Her shoulders sank, and she slipped the phone into her pocket again, ignoring the pain in her heart.

She retrieved her purse and jacket, turned off the lights, and had begun setting the alarm at the back entrance when a pounding noise echoed through the building. Heart beating in her throat, she crept toward the rear entrance door.

“Addie, Addie, are you still in there?” an excited voice shouted from the other side.

“Simon?” She flung the door open, laughing. “I’m afraid you missed the book club, it was—”

He pulled the door open, wrenching it from her grasp, and stepped inside, banging it closed behind him.

“What is it?” She placed her hand on his arm. “You look shaken. What’s happened?”

His eyes dropped, and he sucked in a deep breath and shook his head. When he raised his eyes, they held a tortured look that sent instant prickles rushing up Addie’s spine. “What’s happened?”

“I think I’d better take you directly home.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she recoiled. “Why? What’s happened?”

“There are people waiting for you.” He looked at her, his face taut and pale. “I came to warn you.”

“What people? You’re not making sense.”

“The police. If they’re not there now, they will be shortly.”

“The police? Why would they be at my house? Oh, God no.” Her hand flew up to her gaping mouth. “Have I been broken into again?”

He shook his head.

“Then what?” She sank onto a wooden storage crate and stared up at him. “What is it you’re not telling me? Is it Serena? Has that witch Lacey—”

“No, it’s that . . . it’s, well . . .” He sat down beside her and took her hand in his. “I stopped by the police station on my way here to drop some dinner off for Carolyn. She’d forgotten hers at home, and her husband can’t leave the kids alone, so . . .” He stroked the back of her hand. “Apparently, an anonymous tip had come in to the station.” He took a deep breath. “Someone reported that you are in possession of the shovel believed to have killed June Winslow.” He squeezed Addie’s trembling fingers. Her mouth dropped. “Marc was in the midst of obtaining a search warrant when I bolted out of there and came directly here to warn you.”

Addie couldn’t move. She stared at Simon with unseeing eyes. “You’re joking, right? Someone’s pranking me?” She glanced around the room.

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