Page 126 of Not That Ridiculous

Liam looked at Phil consideringly. “Could be. Okay. Are you ready to go?”

“If I must. How long are you kicking me out for?” I followed Liam into the hall.

“Can’t say yet. As soon as we’re done processing the scene and forensics has collected everything they need, I can officially release it.”

“Give me a hint.”

“Day or four,” he said promptly.

I blew out a breath. “In other words, it takes as long as it takes.”

“Pretty much.”

Great. The Premier Lodge was the nearest hotel. I could try to get a room in one of the local B&Bs, or in one of the Airbnbs that were slowly taking over the most picturesque cottages in the centre of town, but those would come withhostswho wanted to talk.

I was not in a sociable mood.

Premier Lodge it was, even though the cost of a room per night was bonkers for a hotel built on the edge of a light industrial park that boasted views of mostly concrete as far as the eye could see.

I spotted my overnight bag waiting by the hall table, and picked it up. “Do you need a key?” I said. People were going to be coming in and out.

“You already gave me one when I moved your car for the ambulance.”

“I did?” He moved my car?

“Yes.”

“Sorry. It’s been a day. A shitty, shitty day.”

“I know.”

I tightened my hand on Phil’s lead, and stepped outside. “Oh, look. It just got better. Anaudience. If Jasper writes an article about this and accuses me of being a murderer like he did to Ray, I will sue you both.”

“No you won’t.”

“I will. I’m not as nice as Ray.”

“I know that. You still wouldn’t sue. Besides, he won’t write an article. He retired from being a journalist years ago.” Liam’s expression remained flat but his voice carried a hint of amusement when he said, “He has other creative outlets these days.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Police vehicles clustered at the bottom of my drive and the area had been cordoned off. An officer stood by the metal barriers chatting up the paramedic who had taken my blood pressure and frowned at the results. I supposed the ambulance was hanging around to take the bodies…wherever it was they took dead bodies. Hospital morgue, probably.

There wasn’t exactly a crowd out here, but I’d also never seen this many pedestrians going up and down my quiet street before. Suddenly, everyone was in a mood for a walk. Nosy bastards.

I wasn’t thrilled about being booted from my own home, but I didn’t think I’d have chosen to stay the night, even if it had been an option. “I hope they’ve got a vacancy at the Lodge,” I said, heading for my car. I didn’t get far.

“You’re not staying at the Lodge. Don’t be daft.” Liam took my bag off me and strode down the drive in the opposite direction.

I hurried after him, sidled through the barrier when the officer lifted it aside for me, and came to a stop three doors down from my house where a familiar car was parked.

Not Kevin’s.

It was Ray’s little green Nissan Leaf. Adam Blake was leaning against the side, his ankles crossed and sharp eyes on mine as I drifted to a halt beside Liam. “Get in, loser,” Adam said. “You’re coming with me.”

After the day I’d had? “Yeah, okay.”

23

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