Flea Market Fatal by Brianna Bates Read Free Book Online Page B

hoping to get some tidbit of information she could further explore. "They weren't on the best of terms, I thought?"
    "Nobody getting a divorce is on good terms," Florence said. "But they came to a divorce agreement quickly. Loretta earned about as much as Albert, so alimony wasn't really at issue. And even if it had been, she was upgrading from a financial perspective by getting together with Gordon the attorney. He probably earns about ten times what Albert makes."
    So there was really no motive there. Missy shrugged it off. At least she had an angle to explore with Cooper Merritt. She made a little more small talk with Florence, before the other woman announced she really had to get down to work. She could only spare seventy-five minutes for scrapbooking this morning as she was behind in her billables and needed the rest of the weekend to get ahead in her legal work.

Chapter Ten
     
    Missy got held up longer than she wanted at the crop, helping Bev with what was still her first page of the day. After giving her some ideas about the layout, Missy thanked everybody for coming and met Noreen in the parking lot with her stuff. Cody bounced alongside of her and automatically jumped into the back of Noreen's car.
    In the passenger seat, Missy took the phone out to call the vet. But before she could dial, her phone rang.
    The name on the caller ID worried her. Mom. They’d just talked so if Mom was calling back this quickly, it meant something was up.
    “Mom, is everything okay?” She shot Noreen a nervous look as her friend started the engine.
    Mom said, “I just got a call from Tyler Brock. He’s on his way over.”
    Missy shook her head. Mom was almost sixty and had bad arthritis in her hands. It was literally impossible for her to have strangled Switzer.
    “We’re coming over, Mom.” She nodded at Noreen, who promptly threw the car in reverse and peeled out of the parking lot.
    ***
    They arrived just as Tyler did. Noreen got into the driveway first, then Tyler parked next to her. He pulled up so he was even with Missy. Through the window he gave her a smile and it was like stepping into a time machine. The years melted away and Missy was back in high school, hanging out behind the bleachers after field hockey practice with him.
    Tyler had always had such a dreamy smile. It was actually her favorite part of his look. The broad shoulders and trim body were great too, but she could have gotten by on the smile alone.
    “He’s looking pretty hot,” Noreen said.
    Missy was about to agree, when she remembered why they were here in the first place. Tyler had come to question her mother about Switzer’s death. When a confused look passed over his face, she realized she’d just been staring at him. Missy put on her poker face and got out of the car and waited for him, determined to challenge him before he even went inside.
    Tyler slid out of the car and quietly shut the door. After he faced her, they stared at each other for a moment. Noreen got out and let Cody out. The dog came around the corner and sat in front of Missy, practically sitting on her feet.
    Tyler smiled at her. “Hey, Missy. Looks like you two are getting along.”
    Cody wagged her tail.
    Missy pursed her lips. “What are you doing here?”
    The smile slipped off him. “Official police business . I have to speak to your mother.”
    “She didn’t do anything. She can barely make a fist with her right hand, her arthritis is so bad.”
    Tyler frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that. My mother just had to get her knee replaced.”
    For a moment they stood there silently, watching each other. The awkward moment stretched out, till Missy realized she was being impolite.
    “Sorry to hear that.” Missy had never gotten a good vibe from Tyler’s mother. The woman had looked down at her like she wasn’t good enough for her son. Missy didn’t know why, but thought it was because of her weight or the fact that her father couldn’t seem to hold a