Small Town Trouble by Laura Benedict

Author:Laura Benedict [Benedict, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: KaliOka Press
Published: 2018-01-07T17:00:00+00:00

The shock of learning about Julie had pushed Erin's suspicions about Noah to the back of her mind, but as they'd walked back to the house, she remembered how he hadn't told her about his father being released from prison. And how she'd seen him with Bryn Owens. Now that Noah was gone, the pounding of her heart slowed, and she handed the sheriff his mug of coffee with a slight smile.

She didn't want to suspect Noah of anything. She didn't want to be angry with him. In fact, she felt like she'd give pretty much anything to be able to go after him, and ask him to tell her the truth.

"Bruce, Erin." Abel Bowen leaned against the big island, and set the mug down. "It's not good news. Looks like Julie Berry was shot, and I don't believe it was self-inflicted."

"Oh, God." Erin put a hand over her mouth, her thoughts about Noah evaporating. She sank into a chair. "Who would do that? Why here?"

Her father was silent but put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed.

"It's a shock, I know," Abel said. "Take a minute. I told the Daly boy about it."

Erin could hardly believe what she'd just heard. Julie. Murdered. People didn't just get murdered in New Belford. Her mother's death had been a horrible accident, and was hardly murder. Now Julie Berry had been shot, too. It was a strange and disturbing coincidence. Just then, Trouble glided into the kitchen and rubbed against her leg. After a moment, he jumped up onto the table. She didn't have the heart to send him back to the floor, and he lay down near her, purring.

"Julie didn't deserve this," her father said. "She always meant well." He swallowed hard and looked out the window.

"Listen, I'm going to head down to the dock. The boys have been texting me like mad. We'll talk some more when I get back. You up to it, Erin?” the sheriff asked.

Erin nodded. "I'll be okay."

"Good girl." Abel took another sip of his coffee and rested the mug back on the counter before he went out the same door Noah had used just minutes before.

Erin didn't feel okay. Ideas swirled in her mind. Julie was a gossip, and she'd been desperate to stay close to Erin's father. Really, Erin had felt kind of embarrassed for her. But she didn't deserve to be murdered. Her mind went again to Noah. What if his father had killed Julie as some kind of sick revenge for being put in prison? Julie had been her mother's closest friend. He might be that insane.

"Pumpkin, are you really all right?" Her father's eyes were full of concern.

"It's just so unbelievable." Erin was overwhelmed with guilt. "She left me a message but I didn't get back to her. I tried to get her attention yesterday, but she didn't see me. What if I'd caught up with her? I was so distracted because of Shelby Rae coming back and...I'm sorry, Daddy. I know she was your friend, too.

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