Page 113 of Conquering Oz

Chris snorted, pacing around her shop. “It’s all Madz can talk about.”

Elodie had told her best friend a week ago. Madalyn had been just as excited, if not more than Elodie. She talked nonstop about how their children would grow up together and be best friends. Madalyn painted a beautiful picture. However, she obviously wasn’t aware of how Chris felt about the situation.

“She’s excited. But I don’t expect you to be.”

He glanced up and stared at her stomach. “I’m worried about you.”

His heart was in the right place, and she appreciated the concern. But it wouldn’t change anything.

“Nothing to worry about. I know your thoughts on Oz. And you’re entitled to them. And I’m entitled to mine. So if you’re here to, I don’t know, try and change my mind about him or argue about my decision to be with him? You’re wasting your time.”

Chris scoffed, shaking his head. “Known you long enough, Elle. Not a man alive can make you do anything you don’t want. And it’s not my place to try.”

She furrowed her brows, scanning his face. This seemed like a resolution of sorts. But there was something bothering him. She walked around the counter and stopped near the display case a few feet away.

“Then what’s with the surprise visit that I’m assuming Madalyn knows nothing about?”

Chris dug his hands in his pockets. “I didn’t tell her, but I’m not asking you to keep a secret. After I leave if you want to call her, then I’m good with that. And if you don’t, your secret is safe with me.”

Secret? Before she had a chance to ask, Chris cleared his throat and turned toward her.

“You never mention anything about your dad.”

What?This might’ve come completely out of left field months ago. But now? It was suspicious. Elodie shifted on her feet and clamped her lips.

“I asked Madalyn about him, but she didn’t know many details. She made a point of telling me that under no circumstance was I to ask you about him.”

Madalyn had always been a protector of secrets. It wasn’t a secret her father was murdered. It helped that she didn’t share his last name. It put distance between their connection. However, there was never a way to escape all the whispers. Who doesn’t love gossip?

It was imperative to change the subject.

“And yet here you are asking, and in turn defying your wife’s request. I could use this as leverage, Chris.” Elodie chuckled, hoping to lighten the mood. It worked. Momentarily.

Chris smiled and folded his arms. “You really didn’t know about the connection between Oz and Sal Caruso before I told you. Did you?”

Finally, a question she could answer honestly. “No.”

“Then why the interest in Caruso?” Chris cocked his brow. “Did you think he had something to do with your father’s murder?”

What?

She mentally debated on answering. Flipping it back on him was her best line of defense in answering any further questions.

“You said yourself Sal was never a suspect in any homicide investigations.”

“Not on paper, no.”

Elodie clasped her hands and shrugged. “There you have it.”

“I looked into your father’s case. You know what I found strange?”

Oh shit!She needed to shut this down.

She parted her lips, but Chris held up his hand, “His death should’ve been solved considering all the factors. Broad daylight, an active family neighborhood with plenty of stay-at-home mothers. People were around that day. Witnesses. And no one could give any information.” Chris folded his arms. “No one saw anything, heard anything. He was shot two times, Elle, and no one heard anything.”

She raised her brows. “It happens every day.”

“What does?”

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