Page 9 of Midnight Secrets

I pressed my lips into a tight line and nodded. Not that he saw me. I wanted to say more and call him out on his rudeness, but I didn’t figure that would endear me to him. Plus, I really did just want to leave. “Officer Turner?” I turned to the younger man. “Would you be so kind as to move your squad car so I can get my vehicle out?” I gestured to my Land Rover.

“Oh, yes. Of course. Sorry.”

“No problem. I know you’re just doing your job. Thank you.” As he hurried away, I took a deep breath and blew it out, trying to settle my nerves. Striding to my car, I debated just going home. My concentration was shot. All I could think about was Mrs. Hammond lying on the floor in a pool of blood. I didn’t even know how the woman died. Was it a stabbing? Gunshot? And where was Mr. Hammond? I hoped he was okay.

Shaking my head, I unlocked the car and got in. For a moment, I just sat there and stared at the house. How was I supposed to work the rest of the day?

Oh, come on, Claire. You’re a professional.

Damn straight, I was.

Squaring my shoulders, I pushed the button to start the engine. As a professional, I had obligations. And besides, working would help control my thoughts. If I went home, I’d just spend the day worrying and wondering.

With a nod to myself, I put the car in gear and backed out of the drive. Work it was.

CHAPTER 5

Claire

“Knock, knock.”

Mina’s sing-song greeting and the quick rap of her knuckles on the door brought my head up.

“Mina. Hi.” My shoulders sagged as I realized why she was here. “I’m so sorry. I forgot about lunch.” I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was just after one-thirty.

“I figured, so I thought I’d come down and bring you an afternoon pick-me-up.” Mina held up the two paper cups in her hands, an oversize purse hanging from the crook of her elbow as she walked in and sat down across the desk. “One white chocolate mocha with a shot of caramel.”

“Oh, bless you.” I accepted the cup and took a sip. “Mmm, yum. Thank you.” My adrenaline—and caffeine—high from this morning had worn off, and now I struggled to stay awake. Who would have guessed finding a body could make a person so tired.

“Okay, what’s that look?”

My forehead wrinkled. “What look?”

“The one that says you’ve had a terrible day. The last time you looked like this, Adam Nielsen dumped you and you lost out on a sale to Miranda Bennett in the same day.” Mina tipped herchin down to pin me with a look. “I know there’s no man in your life to dump you, but Miranda? What did she do?”

I sighed. “It wasn’t Miranda.” I actually hadn’t had many dealings with the other realtor lately, thankfully. I couldn’t stand that woman. “You really don’t know why I look like I had the worst day ever?” I raised a hand and drew a circle in the air by my face with one finger.

Mina shook her head, a curious frown now lighting her face. “No. Should I?”

My eyebrows lifted, and I nodded. “Yeah.” I figured the gossip mill would have been in full swing by now. “So, I went to the Hammond house on Autumn Creek Road this morning to meet Lynne for staging.”

“Right. I remember you mentioning that over the weekend,” Mina said, lowering her cup after taking a drink. “I take it that’s why you blew out of my coffeeshop like a house afire. Did something happen? Was Lynne not there?”

“No, Lynne was there, but something did happen.” I felt tears press at the backs of my eyes again and took a quick breath. “I don’t know how you don’t know about this, but I found Mrs. Hammond on the floor in the master bedroom. She’d been murdered.”

Mina gasped. “What? Oh my gosh! After the morning rush, I closeted myself in my office to get some work done. I had no idea.”

It still surprised me she didn’t know. Gossip flew through The Cozy Cup faster than a peregrine falcon.

“You’re sure she was dead?”

“Considering she was in a pool of blood, her skin was the color of chalk, and they brought her out in a body bag, yes, I’m sure.” I pressed a hand to my belly, willing the nausea away as I remembered Mrs. Hammond’s appearance.

Mina winced. “Sorry. I’m just surprised. Do the police have any leads?”

“I don’t know. I gave my statement, then left. I haven’t talked to the detective since then.”

“Hmm.” Mina stuck a nail between her teeth and looked to the side, then dropped her hand. “Who’s handling the case?”

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