Bright New Murder by Traci Tyne Hilton Read Free Book Online Page A

together and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, then opened her eyes again. “You’re Bob and Pam Crawford’s boy, aren’t you?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He nodded.
    “Well then, you certainly understand the struggles ahead.” She returned Jake’s look of sympathy with one of motherly concern.
    “I do.”
    “Are any of Michelle’s family in the area?” Jane asked. She was grateful that Jake had joined her. He was a steadfast friend, for sure, but she didn’t want him to run away with the conversation. She’d never learn to do this if she relied on him for everything.
    Sasha shook her head. “No. When she retired, she moved to Nevada to live nearer her son and his family.”
    “What brought her to Portland?”
    “She had some work to take care of.” Sasha dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. “I’m sorry, I just can’t believe she’s gone.”
    “I understand.” Jake’s voice was low, and a little husky.
    “She had retired though, generally speaking?”
    “Yes, she had. Lucky thing. I wanted to retire at fifty-five too, but it’s not happening.”
    “What did she do before she retired?” Jane tried to match Jake’s naturally sympathetic tone, but her nerves made her voice shake. She did care about this woman who had lost her friend, but she was still scared to death of being recognized as a fraud.
    “Do you know Trillium Montessori? That was her baby.”
    “No…I’m sorry, I don’t.” Jane kicked herself for not having a notepad on hand. And yet, taking notes could ruin the mood.
    “It’s a preschool and kindergarten in Lake Oswego. She founded it about twenty years ago. My kids went there. That’s how I met her.” Sasha’s voice broke. Her eyes were red and her cheeks were stained with fresh tears.
    She wasn’t truly ready to talk yet.
    “Did she come back to town to check on the new administrator?” Jake asked.
    “No, she came to finalize some things about the sale. The sale of the school was what enabled her to retire early.” A light buzzing noise caught Sasha’s attention. She picked a phone off of the antique side table and checked the screen. “I’m sorry, this is Michelle’s daughter-in-law. I need to take the call.” She answered the phone, then stood up.
    Jake followed her lead.
    Jane considered the sale of the school. Could something have gone wrong with it? She’d have to find out who the buyer was, for sure.
    Jake took hold of her elbow gently and prodded her to get up.
    Sasha stood by the living room door, talking on her phone, but looking towards the foyer, eyebrows lifted.
    They left, nodding their goodbyes.
    The drive home was just as slow, since their conversation with Sasha had been cut short.
    Jake reclined his seat and closed his eyes.
    “My next step is to find out who bought Trillium Montessori.” Jane thought about telling Jake to take notes while she drove.
    Jake yawned.
    “Then I need to figure out if anyone the buyer knew happened to be at the party. As well as what might have possibly gone wrong with the sale.” Jane switched lanes. “And I need to find out if any of the guests had had kids at Trillium. They could tell me a lot about Michelle, I bet.” She needed to get over one more lane so she wouldn’t miss her exit, but the traffic was bumper to bumper and no one would let her through. She tried to pay equal attention to the cars in front of her and the ones to her side, but it felt like being in a pinball machine. Fear that she was going to kill them both tied for top place with fear that she would screw up the investigation. One of the two was going to give her a heart attack.
    Jake didn’t answer.
    “Do you have the guest list?” Jane tried to nose into the next lane, but the driver next to her laid on his horn. Jane wrenched the wheel and almost overshot.
    “Just take the highway the whole way.” Jake turned on the radio. “Smooth jazz, Jane, really?” He clicked it over to the Fish.
    “What about the guest list?”
    He