Page 55 of Homecoming

“Nah, you’re just a symptom of a larger problem for them.”

“Isn’t Ellery happy with Pete and the kids?”

“His injury has been a lot. It took a long time for him to get back up to speed, and they took a huge financial hit while he was out of work. They’re still digging out of that hole, and the inn is a constant source of strain for them. I’ve suggested she sell it, but it was her grandmother’s home, so there’s a lot of emotion attached to that decision.”

“I hate that everything is so hard for them.”

“I do, too, but they’ve got to figure it out. Try not to be hurt by what they said. You’re not the source of their unhappiness.”

“Thank you for coming after me and providing that perspective.”

“No problem.”

“So you’re really going to that wedding with Myles?”

“Don’t remind me.”

Chapter

Twelve

Dan metwith Hugo’s investigator friend, Carter Smith, at a lunch place on Route 102. Walter dropped him off with the usual instructions to text when he was ready to go home.

Carter was a big dude with thinning gray hair and a matching goatee. He shook Dan’s hand and gestured for him to have a seat.

“Thanks for seeing me,” Dan said.

“Got to admit I was a bit curious about the fancy lawyer.”

“I’m not so fancy.”

“Whatever you say. Your boys are in a world of trouble.”

“What’re you hearing?”

“Keith’s DNA is all over her.”

“He doesn’t deny they were together. Eyewitness reports have them dancing together for hours.”

“That’s not all they did.”

That was the first Dan had heard of proof Keith had sex with the victim. “Where’re they saying that happened?”

“In the bathroom at the bar.” Carter put a grainy photo on the table that showed Keith and a young woman wrapped up in each other outside the restrooms.

“Where’d you get that?”

“Got a buddy that works at the bar.”

If Carter had it, the cops did, too.

“Keith’s a regular there. Not the first time he’s been in trouble over stuff that’s gone on there.”

“What else has happened?”

“A few women complaining that he couldn’t take no for an answer when he’d been drinking. Bouncers removed him in those cases. He’s been in two fights there and was one fight away from being banned for life.” Carter leaned in, his expression earnest. “The thing is, they like him there. Everyone says when he’s not drunk, he’s the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.”

“Charming.”

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