Page 39 of Charlotte's Story
She narrowed her gaze. “You aren’t trying to do my job for me, are you, Charlotte?”
I shrugged. “Just trying to make sure that no one is going after my husband.” The word warmed me from the inside. William was mine, and I needed to protect him.
“Well, we spent quite a bit of time together when she’d come to visit her uncle in the summers, but we didn’t keep in contact a ton the rest of the year.”
“Can you tell us anything else about her?” I asked.
“Hmm.” Tessa fiddled with a lock of hair. “She was a fourth-grade teacher, but she told me she was hoping to move here after this school year ended. She wanted to come for good and find a place of her own since sometimes she and her uncle didn’t get along.”
“You mentioned that you were planning on seeing Dahlia after the wedding, right?” I asked.
“We were supposed to meet before my shift started, but she cancelled last minute.” Tessa frowned.
“She cancelled?” I exchanged a glance with William.
“Yeah, it was pretty abrupt,” Tessa continued, “so I went home after the wedding and spent the evening with my parents until I got called in for work when we found Dahlia’s body.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” William said.
She curled her hands into fists on the table. “Thanks.”
If Tessa was telling the truth, then she had an alibi for the time window of Dahlia’s murder. Or shemight. I still needed to check—but at least there was something to check now. I could still ask her about Lizzy’s text. “Also, this is random, but what was it that Dahlia found out that threatened your job?”
“How do you even—” She cut herself off and shook her head. “Not sure why anyone bothers trying to keep secrets here.”
I sat patiently, folding my hands in my lap.
She sighed. “Dahlia found out that I’d bewitched some snowmen to throw snowballs and yell at people as they drove by.”
“I remember when you did that,” I said. “It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time.”
“It wasn’t at first.” She bit her lip, then blew out a breath. “But then one of the snowmen startled an old lady so badly that she drove her car off the road and got into an accident.”
I winced. I’d forgotten about that. “Is that really enough to lose your job?”
“I don’t know, but I didn’t want it brought to the chief’s attention either way. Better safe than sorry, ya know?” She shrugged.
I chewed on my lip, running over her story. “We spoke to Dahlia’s uncle yesterday and he mentioned something about an ex-boyfriend,” I said. “Do you know who he is?”
She nodded. “Of course I do, and you know him too.” She turned to William. “I’m surprised you don’t already know considering you work with him.”
“Wait… are you talking about Brexton?” I gaped at her.
“I guess it wouldn’t hurt if you talked to him, but I don’t think he hurt Dahlia. It’s been years since they broke up.”
“That outcome wasn’t in my mental model of possibilities,” William said.
“Brexton didn’t say anything about dating Dahlia last time I talked to him,” I said. “So it looks like we need to pay our dear old junior pastor a visit.”
Chapter 10
“Thanksforallyourhelp, Tessa.” I put some money on the table. “We should go find Brexton.”
“Charlotte, wait.” She grabbed my sleeve. “Can I talk to you?” Her gaze darted to William, then away. “Alone?” she added in a whisper.
“Um, sure.” I waved him toward the door. “I’ll meet you outside. Just give me a minute.”
He gave me a wide smile. “Take as much time as you require. While I wait, I’ll purchase two cups of that spiced eggnog from the stand we passed. I noticed they were using nutmeg.”
