Page 18 of Ghostly Bother
Lance swallowed and told Angus everything.
Angus shook his head. "There's no point in telling Mel unless we need to confirm paternity. For now, I don't think we'll need to." Angus took a drink, then asked, "You don't think your husband realized you were pregnant and decided to kill you?"
Eden laughed. "Michael? Nah, he wouldn't hurt me. He might have gotten angry, but he wouldn't have killed me over it. He likes the money I make. He wouldn't give up a good thing."
"You were going to have to tell him about the baby," Lance said.
"I didn't mean to let it get this far. I was going to have an abortion, but then Mel got arrested and I hesitated, thinking he might want to have a child since he'd be locked up and never get a chance to have another. I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I knew Michael would find out eventually, but I could smooth that over, especially since Mel's no longer around."
Lance couldn't believe what she was saying. How horrible of a person was she? Did she really think she could get away with anything and everyone would just forgive her? It baffled his mind. "What about the rumors of pay for play going on in your office? Did you take bribes for contracts?"
Eden looked at Lance, then at Angus. "Maybe a bit. It's going to come out now anyway. That's why I was supposed to meet Lucas. He was bringing me money so he could get the contract on the new rec center we're building. It wasn't a big deal."
Lance and Angus exchanged a look, and Lance wondered how many other deals were made. "Can you give us a list of contractors you screwed over?"
Eden laughed. "No. I don't pay attention to that. As I said, it didn't happen often. Just a time or two on major projects."
"I heard rumors you even took bribes from car dealerships when you bought the Mayor's Office that new fleet of cars." Angus raised a brow.
Eden waved him off and stood back up. "Listen, if you're just going to sit there and accuse me of stuff, I'm not going to stick around."
Before Lance could even repeat her words to Angus, Eden rushed through the wall and was gone. "She just left." Lance stared at the wall Eden had floated through. "She is horrible."
"Yes, she is." Angus picked up his sandwich. "Well, at least we'll get a quiet night."
"Hush. Don't jinx it." Lance smiled as he leaned over to give Angus a soft kiss. "Looks like you'll have to work this case out the old-fashioned way. Doesn't seem as if she's going to be much help."
"It's just as well. I'm not sure I'd trust anything she tells us. I don't want to think about her anymore tonight. After I finish this amazing meal you made us, I'm going to curl up on the couch beside you and forget everything else."
"You're welcome for dinner, though it's hardly amazing." Lance smiled, hoping that unlike last night, they could get lost in a show together without the phone or Eden interrupting their time together.
CHAPTER SEVEN
"We seriously only have one body waiting?" Lance asked as he tossed his trash in the can.
"Yep, that's it. I don't remember the last time we were caught up on autopsies." Kyle put his leftovers in the fridge.
"It almost makes me nervous." Lance glanced at his phone to see it was just after one in the afternoon.
"We haven't got a callout all day." Kyle shrugged. "Which is good since you're the only one here to go pick up and do autopsies today."
Lance nodded. For most of the week while Sam was gone, they had Harold Robbins doing pick-ups during the day so Lance wouldn't have to leave the office. Harold was retired, but kept his license up to date to fill in when the office got overwhelmed, He had a doctor's appointment this afternoon and wasn't working.
"Sure the phones are working?" Carrie grinned.
"Gretta said they were. She's up there working on a new filing system. She has files laid out all over the office, but I have to admit we needed a new system. Kathy knew where everything was, but if one of us needed a form, they were impossible to find. Gretta's bringing our office up to date. She's got all kinds of new ideas." Kyle stood against the counter, drinking his bottled water.
"If we only had the budget to get her the new equipment she wants. I'd love to get a new computer system in here." Lance washed his hands.
"Maybe once we get a new mayor in there…" Carrie held up crossed fingers.
"It can't get worse," Kyle said.
Lance hoped they were right. His fear was that someone who was just as dirty as Eden, maybe someone who had been working with her to pull off her scams, would take her place for the time being. He wasn't planning on any budget changes at the M.E.'s office any time soon. "Everyone ready to work?"
"I'll go set up." Carrie headed out.
"I'll help." Kyle hurried after her.
