Meredith Potts Six-Book Cozy Mystery Anthology by Potts Meredith

Author:Potts, Meredith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

It was standard procedure to put suspects in separate cells after questioning. That kept fighting to a minimum. The most that suspects could do if they were isolated was send verbal jabs each other’s way. Only, this case was far from standard. To me, extraordinary circumstances like this called for desperate measures. Instead of isolating them, my plan was to place all three of the Peabody siblings to be inside the same jail cell.

It would be cramped, uncomfortable, and would put them right in each other’s faces. That was by design. I wanted them so close that they could almost smell each other’s breath. It was not a time for personal space. Like a group of children crammed into the back seat on a long car trip, I was counting on their fuses being short. The quicker they got on each other’s nerves, the better.

With siblings who hated each other that much, it shouldn’t take long for the fireworks to start flying. In my mind, the more heated, the better. If no one truly knew how to tear each other apart like family, I was hoping for pure mayhem—metaphorically, of course. Anger lent itself to poor judgment. If we were lucky, we’d be able to catch a break.

I followed Oliver and one of the deputies as they escorted Tilly Peabody to the shared jail cell.

As the deputy locked the cell behind her, as expected, Jude and Elliot were already on edge. They seethed quietly, but it was clear to me that they were like volcanoes that could erupt at any moment.

Elliot remained quiet, trying to keep his anger to himself.

Jude wasn’t able to find the same restraint.

“Hey, what’s the big idea bringing her in here?” Jude said.

Oliver smirked. “I thought you’d be happier to see your sister.”

That shut Jude right up. He thought better than to go on some long diatribe eviscerating his sister. At least, not while we were standing right there.

While their mouths were quiet, their body language was not. Jude, Elliot, and Tilly all exchanged glares.

Just as Oliver, the deputy, and I began walking off, I stopped, determined to set the stage for as explosive of an encounter as could be.

I thought of the most incendiary thing possible. “By the way, Tilly. Your interview with us earlier was very eye-opening. I have a feeling we’ll be wrapping this case up shortly.”

The bait had been set. The question became, would they take it?

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