Page 36 of A Second Chance Christmas Kiss

“What valuables do you keep there?”

“None. My mother had no valuables that I know of. Plus, what would’ve caused the gunshot sound? My mom didn’t have a gun, and it didn’t seem like anything had been damaged.”

“I don’t know,” I said, pulling up to the house and putting the car in park. “Here we are. Let’s discuss it with the police.”

“Wait,” she said, placing a hand over mine. “Just so you know, Bill Meyer is there.”

“Who?”

“Do you remember Bill Meyer? He was part of our beach group. Anyway, he is a cop here. We have been in a grief grouptogether. He asked me out and I said no. He flagrantly hits on me.”

That caught me off guard. “Okay.”

She shook her head and then opened the door. “I don’t even know why I told you that. It’s just weird.”

There were two policemen out front, and as we walked upstairs, I instantly recognized Bill Meyer. Let’s just say age had not been good to him. He was balding, and instead of the linebacker who was full of muscle in high school, I saw a man whose muscle had been clearly replaced by fat.

He looked between me and Melody. “Hey,” he said to Melody. Then he paused. “What is he doing with you?”

I found it funny that he didn’t even acknowledge me at first. “Bill Meyer,” I said, putting my hand out. “How are you?”

Bill looked bothered by the gesture, but he reached out and we shook hands. He stared at Melody as if she were already his wife. Then he met my gaze. There were no friendly vibes coming from him, which was unusual. Most people liked me in this town or at least tried to impress me. “Charles. I don’t know if she wants you to be briefed on what happened.”

Melody moved past him and walked into the house. “Can you update us, Bill?”

I half smirked at the way she was all business and didn’t even acknowledge his dislike for me.

Bill followed her inside while I trailed along with the other policeman. “We got a call thirty minutes ago. We arrived here, searched the area, and I called you. You know that.”

Chapter Fifteen

Melody

I stared at the chaos in my mother’s living room. I’d left the boxes and bins out, and the different piles I’d sorted were scattered and messy. I bent and picked up a picture of me and my mother; the frame was freshly cracked. “Why would someone do this?”

Bill sighed. “We don’t know.”

Charles moved to my side and turned to Bill. “What do you mean, you don’t know? She said this is the second time. Have you been doing any investigating?”

“Mr. Rich Guy doesn’t think the police can do their job. Is that it?” Bill stepped closer to Charles.

“I didn’t say you can’t do your job; I’m just saying it doesn’t seem like you are doing it.”

This was getting out of hand. I put a hand up. “Please. Stop. I can’t do this.” It would’ve been funny in high school to see two boys sort of fighting over me, but now was not the time. “Charles, the police are trying.”

Charles took a step back, raising his hands in surrender. “Okay.”

I turned to Bill. “If you guys are done here, then I’d like to look around by myself.”

Bill gestured to Charles. “But he’s staying, right?”

“That’s none of your business, Bill.”

Bill shook his head. “You’ve always been into the rich guy, even when we were young. Look how that turned out for you.”

I wanted to slap the man, but I restrained myself.

“The lady asked you to leave,” Charles growled.

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