Teacup Novellas 02 - Strike the Match by Diane Moody

Author:Diane Moody [Moody, Diane]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: OBT Bookz
Published: 2011-11-22T05:00:00+00:00

“Keri, just because you’ve known him all your life, you can’t dismiss him as a suspect. In fact, at this point, everyone’s a suspect. You have to start from that point of view.”

“What about ‘innocent until proven guilty’?” she asked, obviously fighting the familiar frustration that seemed to always lurk between them. “Isn’t that a basic premise? This is still America, last I checked.”

“You’re right, but as an investigative reporter, you start with a list of suspects then eliminate them as you verify your facts. And you can’t eliminate Jerry just because you know him.”

“No offense, Grant, but you didn’t grow up here. You don’t know these people. Dad and Jerry may have had their differences over the years, but Jerry would never do something like this.”

“Yeah? And you know this how? Because he used to bounce you on his knee when you were little? Because he joined the family for Thanksgiving dinner? Bought you Barbie dolls back in the day?”

“No,” she answered defensively. “But he was like family. I know the guy. He just wouldn’t do something like this.”

Grant leaned back in his chair. “But am I right in remembering Nita told me he and your dad had a nasty falling out a while back? Ten years or so?”

“Yes.”

“Why was that?”

Her eyes narrowed as she exhaled. “Jerry went through a tough time. His daughter was accidentally killed by a drunk driver. His wife left him. He . . . changed.”

“How? How did he change?”

She folded her arms across her chest. “He started drinking.”

“Ironic, isn’t it? People whose lives or loved ones are damaged or killed by drunk drivers turn into drunks themselves? Go figure.”

She huffed, ignoring him. “Dad caught him drunk on the job one too many times. He warned him, Jerry promised to do better, but didn’t. Then his workmanship started to suffer. Dad couldn’t rely on him to do a good job any more. He tried to help him, tried to get him into a recovery program, but the harder he tried, the more defensive Jerry became. Finally, Dad had to let him go. Jerry started his own construction company a short time later.”

“So he’s in competition with your father now?”

“I wouldn’t call it ‘competition,’ though he probably thinks so. Everyone knows his work is second-rate. But he undercuts Dad, bidding low on jobs. Folks who want cheap go to Jerry. Those who prefer quality hire Dad. At least, they did before the economy tanked.”

“I know it hurt your Dad’s business. Jerry’s too?”

“I have no idea. I’d assume so.”

“Is there still bad blood between them?”

“Dad got over it years ago. I mean, he had to do what he had to do. He’s got good men working for him now. It’s not like he’s still fretting over all of it.”

“And Jerry?”

She paused for a minute. Grant wondered how much she really knew about her dad’s nemesis. He could almost hear the debate going on in her head, trying to determine if there was any possible way Jerry would do something so despicable to his former friend.

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