Page 74 of All You Want
“I think they’re doing just fine. It’s better if we speak in private.” I steer her up the stairs to the Weeping Widow Walkway. “I’d like you to help me with the investigation. You can speak to people here better than I can. Find out if Viola was doing research for anyone.”
“Okay, anything else you want to know?” Tami unlocks the suite door and gives me a smirk, but doesn’t step aside to let me in.
My heart does jumping jacks, and sweat dampens my forehead. Is she flirting or dismissing me? Suddenly, every piece of body language is important, and I hope I’m not misreading her.
“About what I said last night.” I take her hand. “I meant every word.”
A pink blush travels up her cheeks, and she wets her lips. “About me? Why the big change?”
“There wasn’t any change. Only I didn’t admit it before. I know your dad was paying off Weaver, and I suspect it has something to do with you. Evan’s missing, and he threatened you last night. Tell me again, Tami. What is it he’s holding over you?”
She yanks her hand from mine and snaps her jaw shut. Her eyes narrow. “Why, Todd, you creep. I almost believed you meant what you said, but all you’re after is digging up dirt on my family.”
I shake my head wildly, uncomprehending. How is it she twists things around so easily?
“I want to clear your guilt, so no one can hold anything over you. Don’t you get it? If Evan’s threatening you, how do I know he didn’t kill Viola when she got too close to the truth?”
“Viola’s research had nothing to do with Evan. Nothing. She was trying to figure out who owned this property before Diana’s grandmother claimed it. She was looking into genealogical records to trace all of the so-called ghostly residents.”
“Did she come up with anything?”
“She’s dead, Todd. Don’t you care that she’s dead?” Tears swim in Tami’s bleary blue eyes. “She must have found something because someone killed her.”
“Right, so if it’s Evan, you need to tell me everything. You and he seem to have a history, and he has access to the security cameras and the control room.” I remember him walking around with Tami in his trench coat, and then it hits me. “He had a baseball bat he used to carry around to drive off the raccoons. Maybe he’s the one who put the raccoon in your mailbox.”
Tami’s face whitens, and she blinks, drawing away from me. “Why would he want to terrorize me when he wants to be partners? The bat could have come from anywhere.”
“Okay, suppose he didn’t commit the murder, I still think he knows something or saw something. I can tie him with the murder weapon, the security camera, the sound effects, and his threats. Maybe he wants to drive you away from the hotel and have you sell it to him for a lowball price. What does he have on you?”
“Seems you’re more interested in my little secrets than finding the killer.” Tami sounds defensive, and it gets my goat. Why is she automatically taking his side instead of pursuing the killer?
“No, but I do have to look at all the suspects, and right now, Evan had means, the murder weapon, and opportunity. What I don’t have is motive, and I’m thinking it’s tied up with you.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. What Evan knows has nothing to do with Viola.” She shoves me from the doorway. “And Viola’s death has nothing to do with Weaver and my dad or Mooma.”
“Mooma? What brings this up? Tell me about Mooma.” I lower my voice and tip her chin up to look at me.
“Mooma’s death is the deal between my dad and Sheriff Weaver.” Tami’s voice is dull and listless. “My dad thinks I don’t know, but I fell asleep with my dolls under his desk once, and I heard him talk to Sheriff Weaver. They say I was the one who poured the fatal cup of tea.”
“You didn’t know.” I hook my arm over her shoulders and pull her close. “You were just a kid.”
“But it doesn’t matter,” she whispers. “It’s my fault for always playing tea party with her.”
“I’m sure you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Except someone used the tea party to hurt Mooma, and I was the one who poured the tea that day. I wanted to serve her, because she always served me.” She dabs the corners of her eyes.
“I’m sure everyone understands. Actually, there’s no crime because they never found the body.”
“But that’s only a technicality.” Tami covers her eyes and starts sobbing. “Dad and Sheriff Weaver say no one can trace it to me, that they never found the teacup with my fingerprints, but it doesn’t matter. Everyone whispers, and they talk about me behind my back. No matter how hard I try, there are always those who believe the worst about me.”
“Is that why you left home so young?”
“Yes.” Her voice is small.
“But you came back.”
“Yes, because I can’t bear my parents being alone in their old age.” Tami wrings her hands. “And I’m pretty much resigned that no man in town in their right mind would marry me. Including you. You were playing with me last night. Teasing me. How dare you, Todd Colson.”
