Page 70 of Not That Complicated

“That solves all my problems,” I said.

“What?”

“That is a nice chunk of money. I could move from this awful, awful place instead of being stuck for the rest of my life because all my money’s locked into a murder house, and the idiot locals think I did it!”

“Babe,” an amused voice said by my ear. “Where’s my coffee? You’re taking forever.”

“What? Adam?” I looked over my shoulder and frowned. “Was I getting you coffee? I don’t remember that. Are you sure? This is all very stressful.” I passed a hand over my forehead. “I forgot. Sorry. And an Americano for Adam, thanks.” I turned to him and put both hands flat on his chest. “Adam,” I said urgently.

“Yes, Ray?”

I flung an arm behind me in an agitated wave, encompassing the rest of the coffee shop. “All these people think I’m a murderer.”

“I heard.”

“And that Liam arrested me.” I grabbed the paper off the counter and pushed it into his hands.

Adam took it. His face did something complicated.

He was trying not to laugh.

“This isn’t funny,” I said.

“It does look like you’re being arrested.”

“Well, I wasn’t! Unless Liam forgot to inform me of the fact. You know what? Ihopethat is the case, since everyone thinks he did anyway. Then I’ll sue himandJasper, and I will definitely be able to set fire to the murder house and go live somewhere else!”

“Don’t sue Jasper,” Adam said, brushing a piece of hair out of my eyes and smiling down at me. “He’s a lovely lad.”

“I’ma lovely lad!”

“I’d rather you didn’t threaten arson in my hearing, Mr Underwood,” said another familiar voice, infinitely less welcome. “I really would have to arrest you.”

I whirled around to glare at Liam. “I’ll burn down my own damn house if I want to,” I snapped. “Kick back and toast some marshmallows. Grill a steak, who knows? It’s my house.Liam. Don’t worry, though. I won’t be claiming the insurance. I won’t need to. When I’m done suing you and Jasper, I’ll be a millionaire.”

“It’s still illegal to burn down your house, whether or not you’re trying to commit insurance fraud. And it’s the site of an ongoing investigation. That would be tampering. I’d have to arrest you twice.” He, too, was trying not to laugh. He looked over my head. “Hey, Adam.”

“You got here quickly,” Adam said.

“I was coming over anyway.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah, had about ten calls that a murderer was about to go off.”

“You’re not funny, either,” I said to Liam. It was then I noticed that at least three people had their phone cameras aimed at me. I shrank back against Adam. He wrapped an arm around me. Although it chafed me to admit it, I felt safer with Adam there.

“I need to talk to you again this morning, Ray,” Liam said.

Everyone shifted forward a bit in their seats.

“You’re not arresting him, are you?” Adam said. Loudly.

“No.”

“Why is that, Liam?”

He levelled Adam with a glare. “Because he’s not a murder suspect, Adam.”

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