Page 107 of Not That Impossible

The eerie silence and tension that had taken over the coffee shop broke.

I pressed dial, my eyes glued to Ray as he started talking to Amalie.

“Hi, Jasper,” Adam said. “Make it quick, I’m working.”

“Um. Okay. Hey, I was wondering. Have you read the paper today?”

“No, not yet. I promise I will, though. I’m sure it’s great.”

“Ha ha. No, it isn’t. Do you think Ray’s read it?”

“Doubt it. He was with me last night. All night.” Adam sounded warm and happy. “He left the hotel a few minutes ago. To be honest, Jasper, I don’t think he’ll read it at all.” Adam added gently, “He’s not a fan.”

“Yeah. Me neither.”

It didn’t look like Ray and Amalie’s conversation was going all that well. Her expression had gone from wary to uncomfortable, and was settling into unfriendly and suspicious.

“Here’s the thing, Adam,” I said. “We may have a problem.”

“What are you talking about?” His voice sharpened.

“Okay, shit.” Rip it off, Connolly. “The article I wrote about Raycouldbe interpreted asmaybea suggestion that hemightperhaps have been arrested? And also he might be a serial killer? Going on the general mood of the coffee shop, which is where Ray and I both are right now, by the way, I’m thinking that most of Chipping Fairford has gone ahead and interpreted that way.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, everyone went quiet when he walked in, like he was the last human on earth walking into a vampire bar?”

“Likewhat? Never mind. Hang on. Misha?” His voice faded as he held the phone away and talked to one of his colleagues. He came back to me. “I’m coming over.”

While I’d been the one to call Adam, I wasn’t exactly keen to see the disappointment on his face when he looked at me. “Ray’s talking to Amalie right now. He seems pretty cool. Chill, even.”

“Ray? Chill?”

“Oblivious?”

“That I believe.” Adam sounded like he was walking fast. “See you in a minute.”

He hung up.

For a moment there, I actually thought that things would be all right. Ray would order a coffee—hopefully to go—he’d leave, and the drama would fizzle out.

The hotel was a short distance away. Unfortunately, before Adam showed up, the conversation between Amalie and Ray got heated. His voice rose. So did hers. She must have had a copy of the paper with her, because Ray suddenly leaned forward, snatched a newspaper up from the counter, and held it in front of his face.

His lips moved as he read the headline. The paper trembled in his shaky grip, then he threw it down.

“I wasn’t arrested,” he said, loud and clear for everyone to hear. “I amnota murder suspect!”

I slunk low in my seat. Come on, Adam, I thought. Any time now would be good.

Ray turned the paper on the counter to face Amalie, and poked it. “Do you see any handcuffs? No? That’ll be because I am not being arrested!”

“It looks like you are, though. He’s got his hand on your head. He’s putting you in the back seat.”

“Because he’s a dick! I’m not a murder suspect!”

“Uh-huh.”

“This is ridiculous. I’m going to sue. Defamation of character. Libel. Slander?”

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