Page 37 of Midnight Waters

Urgency gnawed at my insides as I leaned against the counter. Time was of the essence if whoever murdered Tyler planned on targeting Michaela, too.

Maybe if I sat down with her and started up a casual conversation, some relevant information might seep through?

“You know I’ll help you with the funeral costs, but you need to get some help.” Dad’s voice drifted through the crack in the kitchen door.

“I’m trying to get the gambling under control, but… it’s been harder since Tyler passed.”

I eyed the kitchen table. That much was clear.

“It might be worth speaking to a therapist again, George,” Dad said.

“I’m not a lunatic, Theo.” George had an aggressive edge to his voice.

“That isn’t what I’m saying. You’re months away from bankruptcy, and I can’t help you with that.”

“Not that it’s any of your business,” George said. “But the boy’s life insurance policy comes through in a few weeks. We’ll manage.”

My blood ran cold, and a shiver racked my shoulders.

Life insurance policy? On Tyler? Who in their right mind would take out a policy like that on someone so young?

My eyes widened. Had someone killed Tyler to collect on his insurance policy?

“George!” Michaela’s cracked voice still reached into the hallway.

“Can we talk about this later?” Dad asked.

“What’s there to talk about, Theo?”

Their footsteps echoed off into the living room, but I still left it a few moments before following them.

Tyler’s life insurance was suspicious enough on its own, but what I really needed to know was who had taken it out on him. Had he even known?

I highly doubted Michaela would have put a price on her son’s life. George? He and Michaela had gotten together when Tyler was in his teens, and I didn’t know whether Tyler liked him.

George had seemed pretty enthused about the money. With a gambling problem so severe that even my dad had concerns, maybe he had a reason to be.

My stomach rolled as I walked back into the living room. The only person I knew who would have in-depth information about the relationship between George and Tyler was Ben Everhart.

I had hoped I wouldn’t need to speak to him so soon after our last encounter.

“Morty, how are you?” Theo offered his hand to a man closing the front door.

He wore a cheap suit and lopsided, stripy tie. Sporting a short beard cut back significantly, and grey hair hanging down to his chin, he had the look of an aged salesman.

“Oh, you know how it is, Theo.” The man shook Dad’s hand with gusto.

“Maeve, this is Mortimer,” Dad said, gesturing to the man. “George’s brother. I thought you were in Dubai?”

“Got on a plane as soon as I heard about poor Tyler.” Mortimer shook his head, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “Family, well… you come home for family, don’t you?”

I nodded absently as I intertwined my fingers together. It seemed I wasn’t the only one around here who was drawn back to this place by death.

“Morty paid for the funeral, George.” Michaela had regained some of her voice, clutching a glass of water in both hands.

At least, it looked like water.

George whipped his head around from his perch on the arm of the sofa to look at his brother.

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