Not Quite Clear (A Lowcountry Mystery) by Lyla Payne Read Free Book Online Page B

would know that the evidence would lead back to me, and I don’t believe he would want that to happen.”
    “You don’t sound sure.”
    “I’m not. I just met him so I’m going on instinct.” I pause, biting mylip. “I think…you should take a look into Clete Raynard.”
    His eyebrows go up. “The moonshiner?”
    “That’s him.” My eyes roll heavenward, asking for divine protection. This part is going to go over like a lead balloon. “He may have insinuated that he has a beef with you, or is hell-bent on either getting you to back off their activities. Or replacing you. He wasn’t specific.”
    Travis’s big, storm-grayeyes bug out. His palms press into the desk, as though maybe the contact is all that’s stopping him from throttling me. “When were you going to tell me this?”
    “Obviously never.”
    “Graciela…”
    “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to get involved. But I think he’s stealing the drugs from the hospital, along with whatever was taken from the bank safe, and is using the whole ghost angle because he thinksit gives him something to hold over my head.” I shrug. “He wants to be able to pull the strings of everyone in town, as if we’re all a bunch of puppets.”
    “And he doesn’t have a way to control me so he’s resorting to threats,” Travis muses.
    “Something like that. I don’t know. But it’s a place to start.” I pause, considering. “Unless you want to learn how to dance.”
    “I don’t think so.” He chewson the serious part of my suggestion with as much thought as Clete has ever given gnawing on a lip full of tobacco. Then he nods, a gleam in his eye that means he’s on the case. I hope.
    “Thank you, Graciela. We’ve been running up against brick walls with this one, and with the body showing up at your place yesterday, things have gotten a little busy.”
    “Where’s Will?” I ask because it soundsas though the Heron Creek PD needs more hands—a sad state of affairs, indeed.
    “He’s out on the autopsy.”
    “Yuck.”
    “Why do you think I sent him?” Travis smiles, a real one this time.  
    “So are you going to tell me what you know about Mrs. LaBadie’s death?”
    “You and Amelia will be briefed, along with William and Melanie, since you were involved in the previous case against the woman. We honestlydon’t know any more at this point. Have the state police contacted you?”
    I shake my head. “Not yet, but we’ve been out of the house all day.”
    “Yes, Amelia told me she had a meeting with her attorney. How did that go?”
    “She’s a ballbuster, so that’s good. It’ll be nice to watch someone tear Brick a new one for a change.”
    “Thanks for the mental image.”
    I shrug. “It’s true. I don’t know, though.She says we need more than Amelia’s sweet face and terrible story—we need something to cast doubt on the Middletons’ fitness as guardians.”
    “Hmm.” This time, the gleam in his eyes seems to say that he’s guessed where this is going. “Please don’t make me arrest you again, Graciela. I’m starting to like this job.”
    That earns him a snort, and I pat his arm. “Beau’s more bark than bite. Don’t worry.”

    “That’s easy for you to say. You have more tools at your disposal than I do.”
    “Why, Detective Travis! Was that an inappropriate reference?”
    “You’ll never know.” His smile fades. “Take care of yourself. And your family. This has a rotten stink to it…all of it. I don’t know what’s going on in this town, but I’m worried.”
    “You’re not alone. And I’m doing my best.”
    “As am I. Let’s just hope it’sgood enough.”

    I meet Mel at Debbie’s for a late lunch, feeling a wash of relief at seeing her face on the other side of the booth. She’s pregnant, red-cheeked, and looks too serious with her hair pulled back in a knot to match her pencil skirt and white blouse, but there’s so much comfort in her presence that I want to pull it over me and use it