Page 88 of Exposure of Murder

“So do you, Ethan.” Matt was about to say something else, but the flights arrived with the snacks, and they spent a few minutes tasting.

“I’m guessing Bucky is no longer a person of interest,” Matt said, taking a few pretzels.

“No, turns out he was in foster care with Jane’s husband. He was looking for a diary that his girlfriend wrote.”

“I like him,” said Tanner. “He’s had a hard life but seems to be turning it around.” He picked up a handful of nuts and tossed them in his mouth. “Jane has really turned that farm around. Maybe with her spare time, she’ll start writing again.”

“Writing? What do you know about her books?” asked Ethan.

“Hey, I read,” quipped Tanner. “For your information, Leah picked her books up at the library. You know she’s a best-selling author, don’t you?”

Ethan never thought about it. He rarely read unless it was for work or a magazine that caught his interest, like hunting. Maybe he’d pick one from the bookshelf and read it.

“What I’m hearing is that no one has confessed to the murder or burning the greenhouse,” said Matt. “Do you have any information that might solve this case?”

“Wish I did.” Ethan picked up his last small tasting of beer, gulped it down, and wiped his mouth with his hand. “Sean mentioned a ring of thieves laundering money by buying businesses and houses, then selling high. We believe Thornton was involved with someone named Viper, but that’s all the information we have.”

“So, you think this Viper is the man behind everything?” asked Tanner.

“Think so. He gets other people to do his dirty work, but it’s been tough connecting him and Thornton. Thornton’s financials were a mess, with questionable transactions linked to that name.”

“But you still don’t know why the fire was set?” asked Matt.

“Still a mystery,” said Ethan. “We think it’s a message to scare Jane off or cover something up.”

“Is there something in the barn that would indicate Thornton or who this mystery man is?”

Ethan sighed. “I don’t know for sure. Jane had a couple of break-ins and a strange note. I’m guessing it does, but…” He threw up his hands and shrugged. “But what it all means, I don’t know.”

“Well, we still have those keys we found at Thornton’s house. I bet they open a ledger of some kind,” said Adam. “I wonder if it’s buried or hidden in the barn. That would make sense.”

The conversation paused as the server came back and asked if they wanted more beer. After they placed their order, Ethan’s thoughts drifted to Jane.

This past year had been a roller coaster for her, but she never backed down, never made excuses, just put one foot in front of the other and moved forward. And that was what he loved about her.

Loved? Holy shit! He loved her.

Forty-Five

Jane rushed around the house, straightening and cleaning in anticipation of Savannah’s arrival midmorning the next day. She wiped down the kitchen counters, dusted the guest room and vacuumed while mentally checking off tasks to complete.

She looked through her pantry and fridge and realized she was short on food. With everything that’d been going on—the fire, the investigation, Bucky in the hospital—grocery shopping wasn’t tops on the list.

Jane grabbed her keys and drove over to the barn. Bucky was getting feed for the sheep. He had a plaid shirt on with his sleeves rolled up, and he looked healthier.

“I’m going into town. Do we need anything for the farm?” she asked. He wiped his brow and thought for a moment, then gave her a short list of items they needed.

First up would be the Feed & Grow. She parked in front of the store and stepped in the front door, the familiar scent of hay and feed greeting her. She waved to one of the cashiers she saw occasionally, a young woman with blue highlights in her hair, who nodded.

Jane found the items Bucky needed and paid before heading outside.

As she walked to her car, a familiar voice hailed her. Jane turned to see Victor heading her way with a confident smile on his face. He had on a charcoal-gray suit with the jacket unbuttoned and a black turtleneck underneath. Jane didn’t know much about men’s clothing, but the outfit he was wearing screamed, “I’m expensive.” When he reached her, he leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. “Hey, beautiful, how are you?”

“I’m fine, Victor,” she said, giving him a small smile. “Funny meeting you here again. I didn’t know you had a thing for feed stores.”

“Ha ha.” He chuckled and glanced at the items in her hands. “More supplies? How’s everything going on the farm?”

Jane’s mind flashed to the recent fire, but since they didn’t know who set the fire, she wasn’t going to mention it.

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