Page 136 of Kiss Marry Kill
I grimaced. “Because the owner of the card died several days ago.”
The color left his face, and he shuddered. “Really?”
I nodded.
“Oh, God,” he yelped, and he bolted.
I watched him go, shaking my head. I turned to Hank. “Is the bank manager in?”
He nodded. “Yeah.” He gestured to a middle-aged woman who stood nearby, looking frazzled. “Mrs. Lennard is the manager.”
She broke from the crowd. “Sheriff, I’m the manager. What can I do for you?”
“I’m gonna need the card out of the machine. It’s connected to a murder case.”
“Oh, dear.” Mrs. Lennard shuddered. “How absolutely horrible.”
The next hour was spent retrieving the ATM card and talking to people at the Pancake Cottage. I’d hoped maybe the security footage from the eatery would have captured the person who’d dropped the card, but the camera in the back of the establishment wasn’t working.
Just as I was leaving The Pancake Cottage, my cell buzzed. When I saw it was Maxwell, I smiled. Talking to him would be a welcome break from the craziness of the day. “Hello?”
“Royce?” Maxwell sounded uneasy.
“Yes. Is everything okay?”
“Um… I’m not sure what to do. Janelle called me, hysterical that she’d seen Kimora again.”
“Where?” I moved quickly toward my car.
“At her house. In her actual bedroom.”
“Seriously?”
“That’s what she said. I’m heading there now.”
“You should’ve waited for me. Why are you rushing over there?”
He sighed. “She sounded so hysterical. I didn’t dare wait.”
“I’m on my way. Don’t do anything risky. Just wait for me.” As I spoke, I backed out of my parking space. “Do you understand me?”
“Trust me, I don’t want to do anything risky. I just don’t want Janelle to fling herself out a window in hysteria.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
I drove like a bat out of hell, anxiety balling in my gut. I hated that Maxwell kept being dragged into this case because of his concern for Janelle. Somebody had murdered Archie, and I didn’t want Maxwell anywhere near that.
When I parked in front of the Raidens’ massive home, behind Maxwell’s car, it suddenly occurred to me I probably wasn’t welcome. Michael and Angela Raiden had made no bones about the fact that they resented me and my investigation. But my priority was Maxwell, so I climbed from my car and strode up to the front door.
The door opened, and thankfully, Janelle greeted me, not her parents. Maxwell stood behind her, looking worried.
Janelle called out, “Sheriff. Thank goodness you’re here. I saw her again. Kimora, she was in my bedroom, going through my jewelry.”
“Where is she now?”
“She ran out the back of the house. I know it was her! She’s wearing jeans and a hoodie, but I know it was her,” Janelle screeched.
“Stay here. I’ll look around.” I left them and hurried toward the back of the home. There was a large wraparound porch, and I ran along the base of that, keeping my eyes peeled.
