Page 67 of Outlaw Ridge: Griff
Griff exchanged another glance with Lily. “Where are you hearing that?”
Everett gave a harsh laugh. “You think Outlaw Ridge keeps secrets for long? It wasn’t from your people—I’ll give you that much. But word spreads fast. And everyone’s already whispering that Margo killed Catherine.”
Griff tensed, every instinct on alert. “Why would they think that?”
“Because Margo blames Catherine for Hannah’s death and they figure Catherine helped Rhett frame Bobby Ray.”
“Did she?” Griff was quick to ask.
“For fuck’s sake, I don’t know. You think Catherine told me everything she did? Well, she didn’t,” Everett snapped before giving Griff a chance to reply. “She was always wheeling and dealing, and Rhett or Margo could have killed her.”
“You could have, too,” Griff pointed out. “And you could have killed Hannah. We know you didn’t have an alibi for the time of her murder.”
Everett cursed again. “See? This is why I told the sheriff and deputy no comment. Things get twisted.”
“Then, why call me and risk that?” Griff snapped.
“Because if someone kills me, I want you to arrest Margo and Rhett because sure as hell, one of them, or somebody they hired, is gunning for me.”
Maybe. Or it was possible Everett was just blowing smoke, trying to make himself look like a victim. Instead of a killer.
“Why do you think your wife was killed?” Griff came out and asked, figuring he wouldn’t get a straight answer from Everett.
Everett cursed. “The sheriff said Catherine was paying Rhett hush money, that Rhett knew about…my friendship with Hannah.”
“Your affair with Hannah,” Griff corrected.
The man made a sound that could have meant anything. “You asked why Catherine was killed, and I’m telling you. Because of that damn hush money.”
Maybe. But that brought Griff back to his earlier question of why would Rhett have killed the woman who was paying him? It was possible Catherine was on the verge of nixing the payments and that Rhett had either killed her himself or hired the thug to do it.
But Everett could have been the one to kill her.
Those photos in the parking lot could have spurred the argument from hell between them, and if Catherine had said she was no longer going to hide his secret affair, that was motive to kill her. Because admitting to the affair gave Everett motive to have murdered Hannah.
Too bad Griff didn’t know if those scenarios were true.
“Where are you now?” Griff asked Everett.
“No way I’m telling you that,” the man shot back. “I don’t trust the cops. One of you could be helping Rhett. For all I know, you’ll lead him right to me.”
Griff’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond.
“Just remember,” Everett said, his voice rising, “I warned you. Someone’s gunning for me. And if they succeed, it’s your damn fault. Do your job. Arrest a killer before he or she gets to me.”
Then the line went dead.
Lily let out a slow breath, setting her fork down as the silence settled between them. Then she muttered, “The man doth protest too much.”
Griff huffed a dry laugh. “Yeah. Either he’s trying to cover his tracks… or he’s just an asshole by nature.”
She arched a brow. “Could be both.”
“Could be.” Griff tapped out a quick text to Hallie, letting her know about Everett’s call—his paranoia and the accusations.
He hit send, then leaned back in his chair, staring at his now-cold dinner. “If Everett is innocent of Catherine’s and Hannah’s murders, he’s doing a shit job of acting like it.”
Lily leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “And if he’s guilty, he’s doing a great job of faking fear.”
