Page 73 of Little Shattered Dreams

He glanced at it, then at me, and bit down on his lip.

It did belong to him, which we all suspected.

“You had so many opportunities to tell me you had a firearm,” I said. “But you didn’t.”

He shrugged. “You know why I didn’t.”

“Because you’re not supposed to own a firearm. So, whose is it?”

“It’s mine.”

“Is it registered?” I asked.

“No.”

I didn’t bother asking where it came from.

There were plenty of places to acquire a piece like his on the street.

“Do you know the kind of trouble you’re in?” Foley asked.

“Sure do.”

“Let’s back up,” I said. “I’m assuming you knew the gun was missing. When did you realize it was gone?”

“Monday.”

“Beforeany guests arrived on the property?”

“I’m not sure if it was before anyone arrived or after.”

“Did you tell anyone?”

“Nope. Thought if I did, I might lose my job.”

“You should have trusted me,” Grace said. “We could have worked it out … together. Now … well, I don’t know what we do now.”

“Where did you keep the gun?” I asked.

“In my nightstand drawer.”

“After you noticed the gun was missing, did you try to find it?” I asked.

“When I realized it wasn’t there, I didn’t see the point in looking around my own place. I didn’t misplace it.”

He may not have seen the point in looking around his own home, but he could have looked elsewhere for it.

“Walk me through the events of that day,” I said.

He nodded. “All right. Sometimes on Sunday, after the guests have gone, and before we welcome new ones on Monday, we have a get together at one of our abodes. We have a few drinks, relax, catch up with each other. I hosted the last one.”

“Who was there?”

“Everyone. Everyone who works here, I mean.”

“Except me,” Grace said. “I was in my office most of the evening, doing some last-minute prepping for the next guests.”

“She’s right, sorry. I meant to say all the staff was there.”

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