Page 55 of It's a Wonderful Knife
I walked carefully, trying not to disturb the scene any more than it had already been disturbed. I gathered a few of the largest fragments of phone pieces and put them in one of the plastic bags. Maybe there would be usable prints, who could tell? Once I reached the body, I tugged a paper bag from my pocket and knelt down to grab the knife.
Shock rolled through me as I realized it was gone.
Chapter Eight
Maxwell
“Royce looked exhausted when he left,” Girdy murmured, watching the group of people milling around the living room.
“Everything is on his shoulders.” I frowned. “If I know Royce, he’s worried he’ll let everyone down.”
“I know you’re right.”
I scanned the room, taking in the different expressions. Some people, like Penelope and Hermina, looked petrified. But then there were the ones like Richard and Jax who didn’t seem that upset. They were standing in the corner, having a quiet conversation.
“Do you think one of the guests or farmhands killed Santiago?” Girdy asked softly. “Or do you think it was someone from the outside?”
“You mean the homeless person Amelia supposedly saw?”
Girdy’s gaze sharpened. “Supposedly?”
I shrugged. “We only have her word that there ever was a man staring in the window.”
“Santiago backed up her story.”
“But Santiago is dead.”
“You think he lied about seeing someone?”
“I have no idea. I just know we have no proof there ever was a homeless person outside her cabin. Santiago is the only person who could back up or deny her story, and now he’s dead.”
She frowned. “I thought you said Amelia was probably innocent?”
“Oh, I don’t think she killed Santiago, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t make up the story about the homeless guy.”
“Why would she?”
I sighed. “For attention. I think Amelia needs a lot of attention.”
Girdy studied the other woman. “Do you?”
“Yes. She likes people to notice her.” I still recalled how she’d enjoyed the attention after her Peeping Tom incident.
She watched Amelia as Elle and Chloe fawned over her. “Hmmm, maybe you’re right. She’s obviously upset, but she’s also eating up the attention.”
I shifted my gaze to Richard, who was still talking to Jax. “What do you make of those two?”
“Well… Richard is a jerk.” She tapped her chin. “Jax, I can’t figure him out.”
“Yeah, same. One minute he’s charming, and the next he’s not.”
She nodded. “Remember yesterday in the barn? When he was yelling at poor Leo?”
“Yes.”
“Jax implied he had a secret of some kind. What do you suppose it could be?”
“No idea.”
