Murder at the Courthouse by Meghan Carver

Author:Meghan Carver [Carver, Meghan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carol Street Books
Published: 2019-10-27T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The sunshine and heat outside the sandwich shop were a welcome warmth on MacKenzie’s arms as she hugged herself around the middle, desperate to chase away the chill of the conversation with the server.

Callie swung her bag at her side as she fell in step next to MacKenzie. “That statement of the boyfriend certainly seems incriminating.”

“Yes. It’s too bad Betty didn’t know the man’s name.”

“She didn’t even know the daughter’s name.”

MacKenzie slowed her feet as her brain tried to work faster. “His scene in the restaurant—with witnesses—does seem to implicate him. But a statement like that alone proves nothing. I’m not even sure it’s worth calling Detective Ryan about.”

“Would we really need to call him about anything? After what you said about him….”

“I know, Callie, but yes. If we find out something that could truly be helpful, we need to let him know… no matter what his reaction might be.”

Callie glanced at her watch. “As fascinating as this lunch has been, I need to get back to work. Want to walk with me?”

“Sure.” MacKenzie picked up her pace and fell in step beside her young friend, but her mind continued to churn. “I wonder if that boyfriend has an alibi? Of course, if the daughter is so in love with him, she would probably be more than happy to say he was with her, whether he actually was or not. So how reliable would that be?”

“Exactly. And if they had the courage to go against Judge Vail in such a public place, they probably would have no qualms about lying for each other.”

“Right. Even to the police.”

The light turned red, and they stopped on the curb. A couple men in suits stood behind them. MacKenzie could see the colorful petunias in their large clay pots in front of Rudder’s Market another block down, past a few more stores, as they waited in silence. At the Walk sign, the suits swarmed around them, in a rush to get to their meeting or appointment or whatever it was.

MacKenzie pulled some lip balm from her purse and quickly applied it. “So now what? How do we find out who the boyfriend is?”

Callie squinched her eyes as if trying to summon a memory. “I vaguely recall someone in high school, much younger than me, who everyone whispered about being a judge’s daughter. That was probably the Vail girl, but I don’t remember her name. And I have no idea about the boyfriend.”

Heels clicked feverishly on the sidewalk behind them, and MacKenzie led Callie toward the side to allow the person to pass. A well-coifed and bejeweled woman stepped around them and spun abruptly, a menacing look in her eye as she pierced first MacKenzie, then Callie, then MacKenzie again with her stare.

“Um,” MacKenzie felt Callie’s shoulder tremble next to her, “May I help you?”

Her finger jabbed the air in front of MacKenzie. “I’ve heard about you, that you’re meddling where you ought not. And now it sounds like you’re gossiping, sticking your noses into other people’s business.

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