Page 79 of The Cottage on Plum Island
“Thanks!” Jennifer said, holding the items up. “Is this all you wanted to talk to me about?”
“I was hoping to get you to stay for dinner at my house,” Andrew admitted. “But I can see you’re in a rush to leave Boston.”
“Aunt Betty has a broken leg, and I can’t expect Liam to be the only one looking out for her,” Jennifer explained.Why am I looking for excuses?“And Aunt Betty likes me to be home formy birthday.”
“I understand.” Andrew smiled, although his eyes flashed with disappointment. “Before you leave. Could you tell me what evidence you gave the police that cleared Harley’s name?”
“Sure.” Jennifer nodded, fishing her phone from her purse. She scrolled through it to find the video she sent to Andrew. “You’re not going to like it, though, as it doesn’t look good for your new client and his aunt.”
Andrew’s brows rose at the mention of Duncan and his aunt. He pulled out his phone and looked at the video Jennifer had sent him.
“No, it doesn’t.” Andrew’s eyes narrowed at the screen. “Now I know why the police questioned me on an old case of mine.”
“Old case?” Jennifer hoped she looked convincing enough.
“Nothing!” Andrew shook his head, pocketing his phone. “I’d better get into the interrogation room with Duncan.” He looked at Jennifer for a few seconds as if contemplating saying something before nodding. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Sure,” Jennifer said, nodding and holding up the items he’d given her. “Thank you for these.”
“I hope you enjoy the rest of your special day,” Andrew told her before walking off.
Jennifer watched him walk back down the hallway he’d come from.
“What do you have there?” Harley’s voice made her jump again. “You’re very jumpy today.”
“Do you blame me?” Jennifer breathed out, putting the present and what felt like a heavy card in her purse. “This was supposed to be a simple trip to Boston to have a DNA test and spend some time with my new friend on my birthday.”
“Instead, you got dragged further into your family and mine’s drama,” Harley reiterated. “With a murder thrown in and my ex-wife befriending you and pulling you even further down the rabbit hole.”
“Something like that.” Jennifer nodded. “Shall we get out of here? There’s a burger place across the road we can stop at. I’ll message Harriet and let her know I’ll be late.”
“She’s not going to be amused by that.” Harley gave a lopsided grin as they walked out of the police station. “Harriet strikes me as a person who likes punctuality.”
“Nah!” Jennifer waved it off. “She’ll be fine. Besides, I organized a surprise for her with compliments of Andrew Gains.”
Harley frowned at Jennifer for a minute before a thought dawned on him. “You didn’t!”
“If you’re talking about putting five bottles of Krug Clos d’Ambonnay on Andrew’s Langham Hotel tab.” Jennifer smiled smugly. “Then I most certainly did.”
“Well, now that his father’s deceased, I believe Andrew Gains is worth a few million in pocket change,” Harley informed her.
“Have you been internet searching the Gains family?” Jennifer looked at him suspiciously as they crossed the street to the diner.
“I may have looked them up,” Harley shrugged. “Just like I know, through your own admission, that you internet searched the Wesley and Hanover families.”
“Wow! You’ve been hanging out with Andrew way too long.” Jennifer shook her head as they were seated at a booth near the window that looked onto the police station. “You sounded like an attorney—by your own admission.“ She put on a deep voice.
The server placed menus in front of them.
“Would you like to hear the specials?” The young woman asked them.
But the server’s question was directed to Harley, who her eyes were devouring, sending a wave of an emotion Jennifer didn’t quite recognize through her. It felt like a spurt of anger that made her want to slap the woman.
Whoa! What the heck is that about?Jennifer found she was gripping the paper menu so hard she’d torn a part of it.Oops.She put the menu on the table and straightened it.
“No, thank you,” Harley answered the fawning server. “I’d like a burger, fries, and a bottle of water, please.” He closed and handed the menu back to look at Jennifer. “Are you ready to order, or have you not finished murdering the menu yet.”
“It’s such a flimsy paper menu,” Jennifer observed. “It nearly fell apart in my hands.” She smiled at the server, trying not to grin.
