A Brush With Murder by Donna Clancy

Author:Donna Clancy [Clancy, Donna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Summer Prescott Books
Published: 2024-03-22T00:00:00+00:00

FIVE

Jannelle grabbed the bat which stood next to the back door and headed for the stairs.

“Who’s down there? Show yourself! I have a bat and will use it,” she yelled into the darkness of the cellar.

Silence.

She flipped on the cellar light.

“Come to the bottom of the stairs where I can see you,” Jannelle commanded. “I’m calling the police.”

“Please don’t do that,” a female voice replied. “I’m coming out.”

A woman, probably in her early thirties, stepped out of the shadows. Her clothes were dirty, and her red hair tussled beyond description. She looked up at the shop owner with tears in her eyes.

“You were in the truck with Devon when Aria was killed, weren’t you?”

“I was. My name is Cindy Sample. I am Devon’s cousin from Ohio.”

“His cousin?”

“Yes, I came out here to attend a family wedding, which I missed because I’ve been in hiding since that day.”

“Did you see who killed Aria?”

“No, the door of the truck blocked my view, but I heard the voices.”

“Voices, as in plural?”

“Yes, there were two of them, one man and one woman. The man’s voice sounded familiar, but I can’t place it. They were arguing with Devon.”

“Come up here and get warm. It has to be cold and damp down there,” Jannelle said, leaning the bat against the wall so Cindy wouldn’t feel threatened.

“How did you get in here?” Jannelle asked when they were seated at the table having coffee.

“Devon has the keys for making deliveries and he has your alarm code. He knew you wouldn’t be here for two days, so he let me in and told me to stay in the cellar out of the view of the windows. He was going to come back and get me tonight.”

“Why are you both hiding?”

“I think Devon knows the people who killed Aria and I believe they were after him and not her. He’s terrified. I get the feeling I might know who they are if I saw them and that’s why he told me to run.”

“Do you know many people in the town?”

“I used to live here up until four years ago. I moved to Ohio for a job promotion. Devon and I have always kept in touch. I know the people around here think he’s a sleazeball but he’s really a good man. He took care of me when my parents died.”

“Sample. I remember now. Your parents were killed in a boating accident out on the lake.”

“They were and so I could stay here and finish high school, my cousin gave me a room in his house, fed me and bought me my first car. He has always been there for me, no matter what has happened in my life.”

“That’s a side of Devon I don’t think anyone knows about,” Jannelle said. “Before I forget, did you take some apple crisp out of the fridge and eat it?”

“I was so hungry. I’m sorry I took your food. I hadn’t eaten in almost two days.”

“That’s fine. It’s just nice to know I’m not losing my mind thinking I ate it already,” she said, smiling.

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