Page 34 of Little Hidden Fears

“He did. He pled guilty, went to prison, and he’s out now. And here’s the strangest part—Zoey just admitted to me that she went to see him after his release. Her original plan, she said, was to threaten him if he ever came near Noelle again, but when she was face to face with him, he was full of humility, like he’d found Jesus and changed his ways. Zoey bought it. She doesn’t think he was involved with Noelle’s murder.”

“What doyouthink?”

“Many sociopaths are skilled in the area of deception. I want to meet this guy and see what I think of him myself. He may have fooled her. He won’t fool me.”

“I’ll see what I can find out about him,” Hunter said. “Anything else?”

“I want to know all the names of the staff members at Royal Palms.”

“The tennis club? Why?”

“Noelle taught lessons there once a week. During a recent lunch date, Noelle told Zoey she’d heard from one of the female employees that another employee—a male—was embezzling funds.”

“Does this woman have a name?”

“Noelle didn’t give it.”

“What about the man’s name?”

“Problem is, Zoey can’t remember it.”

Simone ran a hand through her hair, shaking her head as she said, “This is a lot to take in. But we’re off to a good start with these leads.”

“We are, and now it’s time we get to work.”

CHAPTER 14

“Forgive me for stopping by without calling first,” I said. “I was in the neighborhood, and I just wanted to offer my condolences for your daughter and son-in-law.”

The woman narrowed her eyes and said, “It’s clear you know who I am, but who are you?”

In my anxiousness, I’d managed to skip formal introductions.

I took in a deep breath and tried again.

“I’m sorry if I got ahead of myself just now,” I said. “My name is Georgiana Germaine. I was hired by Zoey Morgan to investigate the death of your daughter.”

“Ah, yes. Zoey stopped by yesterday. She told me she’d hired someone, but she failed to give me your name.”

Noelle’s mother looked to be in her late sixties, and she was on the slender side, with long, frizzy, silver hair that cascaded halfway down her back.

I found her stunning.

“I appreciate you taking the time to stop by, but now isn’t the best time for a conversation,” she said.

I removed a business card from my wallet and handed it to her. “Before I go, I’d like to leave you my card, so you have my contact information. Call me anytime.”

She nodded, and just as she was about to slide the card into her pocket, she hesitated, muttering “Germaine” under her breath.

I wasn’t sure why, but I respected her wishes about cutting our visit short, and I nodded and walked away. I was halfway back to my car, when she called out to me, saying, “Miss Germaine, a moment of your time if you don’t mind.”

I turned back.

“I’m aware you have just taken the case,” she said. “Even so, I’d like to know whether you have any leads yet.”

“A few.”

She glanced at the gold watch on her wrist. “Why don’t you come inside? I can spare a few minutes before I pick up Kiera. She’s over at my son’s house, playing with her cousins. I’m Joanie, by the way.”

---