Page 27 of Rest In Peace

The stranger chuckled, a sound devoid of humor. "Sometimes."

"Do you know the name of the woman her husband was seeing on a regular basis?"

"Who's asking?" His gaze was steady, penetrating.

"Someone who doesn't want to see an innocent person take the fall."

"Is that right?" He took a step closer, his breath smelling like tobacco and beer. "Maybe I know something. Maybe I don't. But why should I trust you?"

"Because you're here," I said. "And you're talking to me instead of walking away."

"Observant," he acknowledged with a nod. “I'll give you this—Steven was playing with fire and not just with Sarah."

"Someone else got burned?"

"Seems likely." His eyes narrowed. "But motives are like ghosts; everyone believes in them until they try to find one."

"Help me find this ghost," I urged.

"They were neighbors," he said. “That’s all I know. Sarah told me one day, after a few drinks, that her husband was fooling around with the woman next door.”

"Wait—" I began, but he was already striding away

"Neighbor," he repeated without turning around.

My mind raced, weaving possibilities, motives, and hidden truths. Who was this man? An ally or someone with a much darker agenda? Was he telling me the truth?

"Everything alright?" Lisa asked, her eyes searching mine.

"Maybe," I replied, glancing once more at the door. "Or maybe it's just beginning."

The stranger's words hung heavy in the air, a riddle wrapped in the smell of beer and cigarettes. As the bar's laughter and chatter swirled around me, a solitary thought echoed in my head:

What did Steven do, and who wanted him dead badly enough to murder him in cold blood in his own home? Sarah? And was the neighbor he had an affair with Nicki? The woman found shot to death in her home?

It was time to have a serious chat with the husband, Adam.

Chapter 33

With a charming smile pasted on his face, Pete moved graciously among his guests, ensuring everyone had a drink in hand and a smile on their faces. His friends admired the extravagant spread of food and drinks laid out before them, a testament to Pete's lavish lifestyle. Today was his birthday, so naturally, he hosted a big party, as he did every year.

Despite the glitz and glamour of the party, Pete's mind was consumed by fear. The threatening letter he had received gnawed at him from within, casting a shadow over the festivities. He tried to push aside his paranoia, convincing himself it was just a prank or perhaps one of his ex-lovers seeking attention.

As the evening progressed, Pete's smile faltered whenever he caught someone staring at him. The once welcoming gazes now felt like accusatory glares, and the laughter around him sounded like whispers of betrayal. His heart raced with anxiety, his mind racing with suspicions and doubts.

When Ben sidled up to him, his eyes gleaming with excitement, Pete couldn't help but feel a pang of unease.

"Hey, buddy, you've been acting a bit off tonight. Everything okay?" Ben asked with a knowing look in his eyes.

Pete forced a chuckle, the sound hollow in his own ears. "Just dealing with some work stress; you know how it is," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

Ben arched an eyebrow, his gaze piercing through Pete's facade. "Come on, Pete. You can tell me if something's wrong. You know I've got your back no matter what," Ben said in a low voice, a hint of concern underlying his words.

Pete hesitated, unsure if he could trust even his best friend with the weight of his fears.

"I appreciate that, Ben," Pete replied, his voice a little strained. "It's just some personal stuff I'm dealing with, nothing major."

Ben studied Pete for a moment, his expression unreadable. "You sure about that? You've been looking over your shoulder all night. Is everything really okay?"

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