Grave Expectations (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 4) by K. Sterling

Author:K. Sterling [Sterling, K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bawdy Books
Published: 2021-04-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

“I must say, you’ve got a little extra bounce in your step this morning, doctor.” Baxter grinned and gave Wallace a jab with his elbow. “After you,” he said and waved so Wallace could go first. He snorted at Baxter as he climbed the front steps of the mayor’s porch.

“You could find yourself some company too, Baxter. You don’t have to be lonely and bitter,” he teased back and Baxter gasped and grabbed his stomach as if he’d been punched then laughed sarcastically.

“I’m doing just fine. How are things going with you and Flip?” He asked and leaned so he could ring the doorbell. It was just a formality since the door swung open a second later.

“Wonderful,” Wallace said but he forgot what they were talking about as Mayor Hathaway’s butler glowered at them. He was a tall, menacing looking older man with a hard face and dark, dead eyes.

“We’re selling cookies. Is his lordship in?” Baxter asked with a cheerful smile but Hathaway’s butler didn’t crack. He stepped aside and waved them in and his glare followed Baxter.

“This way. Gentlemen,” he added a pregnant moment later. Baxter held up his hands innocently as they followed and they were led through the stately home, past a formal dining room, a sitting room and a library. The butler pushed the door open at the end of the hall and Wallace tensed as the mayor waited to greet them from behind an imposing mahogany desk. Wallace had met the mayor a few times at various official functions and around town. He was severe and aloof but Wallace got the sense that Hathaway knew his town inside and out and was the master of all its secrets.

“Thank you, Cedric. I had a feeling I’d be seeing you,” Hathaway said as he reclined in his seat and steepled his fingers. Baxter rested his elbow on his armrest as he studied Hathaway and Wallace’s nerves stretched as he waited for one of them to make the first move.

“You seem pleased.”

“And you seem confused. You’re not an actual police officer or a credentialed investigator of any sort,” Hathaway reminded Baxter and he hummed in agreement as he crossed his ankles and propped up his chin on his fist.

“Not at all, and yet, you agreed to speak to me because I’ll tell everyone you aren’t cooperating if you don’t. I don’t need a badge as long as you’ve got a reputation to protect,” he said. Wallace thought he heard Hathaway’s teeth grinding as he stared across his desk at Baxter.

“As you’re with the medical examiner and I respect his authority, I’ll entertain this for a few more minutes but I wouldn’t push your luck, Dawson,” he warned but Baxter just snorted back at him.

“You know Jones doesn’t want anything to do with this. He gave me his unofficial blessing and won’t touch this unless he can take the credit for it. He’s got to get reelected too.”

“What do you want to know?” Hathaway asked tightly. Wallace’s eyes watered at the tension; there were practically fumes.

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