Page 8 of Deadly Sins: Gluttony
“You wonder if my brother’s choice to close the bakery shattered me enough to act against him.The truth is, the last time we spoke, it wasn’t pleasant.But hurting him?Never.He was my brother, and I loved him.That love hasn’t changed.”
Tears pooled in her eyes, and I stood, grabbing a box of tissues from an overhead compartment.I handed it to her and said, “You wouldn’t be here if you murdered your brother.If you were the killer, and you knew the sheriff wasn’t putting enough effort into solving his case, the last thing you’d want is for me to stick around here.Speaking of that, how did you hear about me?”
“From Harlan.He’s a police officer.”
“Ahh, yes.I remember him.”
“We’ve been dating for a few months.That night, after the bakery closed, he came right over.Said he wanted to comfort me, but I also think he was itching to tell me about the so-called hotshot detective who stood up to Briggs.”
“I wouldn’t say I stood up to him.I just didn’t allow him to intimidate me the way I imagine he does with others.”
I paused a moment, thinking about what else I hadn’t asked yet.
“Aside from you and your brother, was there anyone else your brother kept in contact with from this town?”
“He stayed in touch with Greg, and the few times he was in town, they got together.”
“I’m assuming Greg still lives here?”
“Sure does, over on Mulberry Street.Red house, white shutters.You can’t miss it.If you want a good place to start, I’d suggest coming to the funeral tomorrow.Even though my brother wasn’t close to most of the people in this town, they all loved our mother.I imagine everyone will be there.”
6
As Cade and I stepped into the funeral parlor, every head turned.From the stares we received, it was clear most in attendance knew who we were.I behaved like I hadn’t noticed, and we sat on a pew in the back, the perfect spot to keep an eye on everyone during the funeral.
Looking around, floral arrangements crowded the corners, their sweet perfume masking the faint scent of polished wood and candle wax.Rows of people had gathered, most dressed in black, their faces a mix of sorrow, suspicion, and curiosity.Some eyes slid away the moment mine met theirs; others lingered too long, unblinking, as though they had questions and thought I had answers.
My attention shifted to a clock on the wall.It was round and dusty, and something else … crooked.I had half a mind to hop out of my seat and fix it, satisfying my OCD.
I didn’t.
It wasn’t long before Briggs walked in, shaking his head as his eyes met mine.
Cade leaned closer and said, “Looks like the sheriff’s comin’ this way.”
“Yippee,” I said, frowning.
Briggs approached, hovering over me, and I detected the sour scent of whiskey on his breath.
“I heard a rumor that you two were still in town,” he said.“But why are you here?You didn’t know Gideon.”
“Haven’t you heard?”I asked.
“Heard what?”
“The night we met, you said you knew everything that goes on in this town.Seems there’s one thing you don’t.”
He moved a hand to his hip.“If there’s a point, I’d like you to get to it.”
“Gideon’s sister came to see me yesterday.She hired me to investigate her brother’s murder.”
“She …what?Why would she?It makes no sense.”
“More eyes looking into who murdered Gideon and why isn’t a bad thing.”
“We don’t need more eyes on the case.And as far as you’re concerned, you’d need a license to legally investigate.You were a detective in Utah, right?”
“I’m licensed in California.I grew up here.”
