COLLATERAL CASUALTIES (The Kate Huntington mystery series) by Kassandra Lamb Read Free Book Online Page B

told me not to contact you, but whoever killed him wouldn’t suspect anything from this. I mean it’s only natural that you would come here to pay your respects, and that I would talk to you for comfort, right?”
                Kate looked around nervously but no one was within earshot. What could she say to this woman to convince her that Miller had died of natural causes, or at least get her to let it go? There was nothing to be gained from the truth now. He was dead, and if Jill pursued his murderer it would just put her and their kids in danger.
                “The paper said it was an accident but I just overheard someone say that Miller had a heart attack. That must’ve caused his fall.”
                Jill snorted. “He didn’t have a heart attack. He was only fifty-two years old and healthy as a horse!”
                “I know it’s hard to believe but seemingly healthy people do have heart attacks. I know of at least two cases. One was an acquaintance of my first husband. The man was a runner, like Miller–”
                “Stop! I appreciate what you’re trying to do.” Jill paused and looked around herself. She lowered her voice. “But you and I both know that Miller was murdered.”
                What the hell could she say to that, without flat out lying?
                “I need your advice,” Jill said, “but we can’t talk here. Can I come to your office tomorrow? Do you think that would be safe? For you, I mean.”
                “You know what’s going on then?” Kate whispered.
                “Some of it. I need to figure out what to do.”
                Kate pulled one of her cards out of her wallet and slipped it to Jill. “Can you come at noon?”
                Jill nodded. “The funeral’s in the morning. When we get home, I’ll tell people I want to lie down. My folks’ll cover for me and watch the kids.” She stood up and took Kate’s hand. Kate rose and they walked back toward the coffin.
                Kate suddenly stopped, shaking her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t...”
                Jill squeezed her hand. “I understand,” she said under her breath, then in a normal voice added, “Thank you so much for coming. It really helps to know that Miller touched so many people’s lives.”
                Kate squeezed her hand back. “Be careful, Jill,” she whispered.
    ~~~~~~~
                At noon the next day, Jill Dawson perched on the edge of the loveseat in the corner of Kate’s office. Kate sat in an armchair facing her. Jill dispensed with the niceties. “I found an envelope in Miller’s best suit when I took it out of the closet to take to the funeral home. Writing on the outside said, ‘Jill, only open this if I don’t come home Friday evening.’ There were two anonymous letters inside along with a rather vague explanation of what they meant.” She handed Kate two sheets of expensive stationery, one of which she had seen before.
                “I was hoping you could fill in some of the blanks and help me decide what to do,” Jill said.
                “Knowing Miller, he told you what to do,” Kate said softly.
                Jill dropped her gaze to her lap. “There were instructions on how to access a bank account in the Caymans, and how to establish new identities. He said to take the kids and go away. Start over somewhere else.”
                She raised her eyes to meet Kate’s. “So my first question is, was my husband losing his mind?”
                “No,” Kate said. “I had my doubts, but not now. Did he say who the letters were from?”
                “Not exactly, but I think I know who he meant. He said he had to be vague, that he couldn’t say too much in writing, but that his past had, quote, ‘come back to haunt