Page 38 of Crazy In Love (Secrets of Suburbi 3)

"You don't want anyone suspecting you. That's all I’m saying." She patted my hand again and let go. "Speaking of suspects, I'm missing another lawn gnome. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

I had my suspicions. But I didn't know for certain. I shook my head.

She sighed. "Oh well. Cute dog, by the way. I saw you pick him up at the holiday adoption drive at the mall yesterday. I didn't realize you even liked dogs."

Crap, crap, crap! I'd told Detective Torres I'd had Snuggle Muffins for a couple weeks. I needed to make sure Sally didn't say anything to make it seem like I was lying. Even if I was. "You're mistaken. I've had him for a few weeks."

She tilted her head to the side. "No. You got him yesterday. I saw you, Ensley. At the mall. At the adoption drive."

You already said all that. "It must have been someone else. I have one of those faces. And one of those dogs."

"Alright, dear. My lips are sealed. Just...don’t make a fool of me like Adeline or Violet did."

I'm going to have to kill Sally.

"I know you're one of the good ones."

Maybe I'll have to kill her. "Thanks." I was pretty sure it came out as more of a question.

"And if you want to win the decoration contest, you should hire an actor. Maybe put a sexy elf man in your front lawn?" And with that comment she waved and continued on her merry way.

She knew my husband and I weren't in a good place. She knew I just got Snuggle Muffins. What else did she know?

Chapter 14

Sunday

I was crouched in the bushes on the side of Charlotte's house. Eavesdropping. Because apparently I was a stalker now too. I needed to know what Sally knew. I needed to know if I could trust her. But all I could think about were the spiders probably all over me. Every inch of my skin itched.

I leaned forward and strained to hear her conversation with Sally. My name was in both of their vile mouths. And when I concentrated on them talking instead of the spiders, I could just make out their words.

"Do you think that maybe Noah just...left?" Charlotte asked.

"I think it's possible," Sally replied. "But it's also possible that something happened to him. Something...bad."

I leaned through the foliage so I could stare daggers at her. What the hell, Sally? I thought she had my back.

Charlotte shook her head. "It's so frightening. What if she...what if she did something sinister to poor Noah?"

Poor Noah? He was a lying, stealing, cheat! What happened to women sticking together and all that bullshit? They should have my back. Not be gossiping behind it.

"We've known Ensley and Noah for a long time. Do you really think she'd be capable of hurting him?"

"I think that I don't trust anyone in this neighborhood anymore." Charlotte sighed. "Except you of course. And Phoenix and Rosie. And the other women in the book club."

That was pretty much every housewife in this neighborhood but me. Bitch.

"I've been talking to my husband, and I think we're going to bring up the possibility of a neighborhood watch at the next civic association meeting."

"What a wonderful idea," Sally said. "A proper lookout would certainly make me feel more comfortable."

That was the last thing I needed. A bunch of nosy neighbors snooping around...oh, wait. They already did that! This conversation was pointless. Neither of them knew anything. And honestly it didn't seem like either of them was necessarily out to get me. They just wanted new gossip. And it just so happened I was a hot topic right now.

I sighed and climbed out the back of the bushes, slapping my arms to remove any spiders. And then I started hitting my ass too as I stepped onto the sidewalk. That's when I knew I'd messed up. Not because I was smacking my ass in the middle of my neighborhood. But because Detective Torres was standing there with his arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face.

Shit. How long had he been watching me? I glanced behind me at the bush I'd just crawled out of. Was it at all possible he didn't see me come out of there? Based on the expression of his face...negative. I cleared my throat. "Hey, Detective Torres. How are you today?" Smooth.

"Ensley, do you want to tell me what you were doing hiding in your neighbor’s bushes?"

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