Chocolate Raspberry Murder (a Baron & Graystone Mystery Book 3) by Laura Pauling

Author:Laura Pauling [Pauling, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Redpoint Press
Published: 2023-06-12T16:00:00+00:00

Brett and Belle stood outside Forsythia’s home.

“How’d I do?” he asked, grinning.

“Um, what do you mean by that?”

“You know, my talk with the detective. Was I convincing?”

Convincing? Belle thought it a strange word to use when giving a statement to a detective. If you’re telling the truth, do you need to convince? Shouldn’t the truth speak for itself? Her doubts about Brett’s story were growing by the minute. Why not be truthful? “Yes and no.”

“Why not?” he asked, astonished. “It was a good performance.”

“Well, that’s just it.” Belle figured Lucas had the same doubts. “Talking to a detective should not be a performance. It’s just truth-telling…unless you have something to hide.”

“Don’t we all have something to hide?” he asked, not hiding the mischievous grin.

“Of course. But with murder it’s different.”

“I’m not sure it is too different. My perspective on what happened will be different from yours, and different from the women who worked for Xavier. I guess it will be up to your detective friend to find the truth.”

“Yes, it will be.” She looked toward the imposing house, the place where it happened. “Ready?”

“Most definitely. We had a deal. I talk to your detective. When he leads me to a room, I insist you stay with me, and in exchange, you’ll get me access to Xavier’s van, and an introduction.”

As they walked up to the door, Belle had the desire to meet more magicians. Were they all the same? As a person, a magician was like a trick. There was the man, the performer they showed the world, but beneath the surface, behind the capes and drama, were people of keen insight. She wouldn’t mind knowing more of Brett’s past.

Forsythia greeted them with partial enthusiasm. She didn’t look as polished or put together; hair not as perfect, blush not as bright; in fact, there was a pallor to her face, rather grim.

“Are you okay?” Belle asked.

She waved them inside. “I am not. Of course not. The magician, the star of our event where we were to raise thousands has been sabotaged by a ruthless killer.”

“We can still run the murder mystery part, right?” Belle asked, except now she wasn’t sure what her part would be as she was the “audience”.

“Yes, I suppose so.” She led them into the living room. “Please sit. Though I have some of the girls coming over to brainstorm.”

Brett nudged her. She said loudly, “I might have the answer.”

“Oh?” Forsythia perked up, but not much, because she couldn’t see the way out, the way to make this event as big as it was with Xavier the Astonishing.

“Forsythia, this is Brett Banks.”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

Belle smirked. Brett laughed. He stood. With a flourish, he bowed. “Octavian X, at your service, Madame.”

Belle added, “Brett is willing to take Xavier’s spot in the event.”

Forsythia was a flower blooming, a sky opening up after a storm, her face expressive, her smile big, her eyes bright. She clapped. “You’ll do the show?”

“I would love to.”

Then, Forsythia looked closer, frowning. “You do seem somewhat, forgive my rudeness, but a bit plain.

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