The Lady Who Sang High: A Reed Ferguson Mystery (A Private Investigator Mystery Series - Crime Suspense Thriller Book 7) by Renee Pawlish Read Free Book Online Page B

smiled. “I can’t tell you the number of boyfriends he’s scared off, letting them know what would happen if they didn’t treat me right. If I had money trouble, he was there. And what’s going to happen to Blue Light?” She rested her elbows on the desk and put her head in her hands. “Oh, I don’t even know where to begin with all that. He took care of the business side.”
    “What about Wes and Heath?”
    She looked up at me. “Yeah, except I don’t trust either of them.” She moaned. “Oh, I hate dealing with those two.”
    “Wes was just like you described him.”
    “Yeah, he’s a piece of work.”
    “When is Heath coming in?”
    “Tomorrow.”
    “Will they be able to take care of things?” I hesitated. “In Jude’s…absence?”
    She blew bangs out of her eyes. “I think so. Oh, man, this is terrible.”
    “I’d like to talk to both of them.”
    “Why?”
    I shrugged. “They stand to gain from this.”
    “You think one of them would commit murder? Why would either one want to kill Jude? They’re partners with him…us.”
    “If they sold your new way of growing to a competitor, they pocket all the money,” I said. “Everyone’s a suspect now.”
    I thought about my conversation with Ivy. Right now, she was at the top of my list.
    She surprised me by saying, “Including you.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “You went out to the alley. You could’ve killed him.”
    I nodded slowly. “That’s true, but why would I do that?”
    “I don’t know.” She sighed. “Ignore me, I’m not making sense.”
    “It’s okay,” I said. “What’d the police ask you?”
    “How I found out about Jude. Where you were. Did Jude have any enemies, or money trouble, or any other trouble that would make someone want to kill him.”
    “And?”
    She shook her head emphatically. “Everyone loves Jude. Loved.” Her voice cracked. “Why would anyone do this?” She snatched a tissue from a box on the corner of her desk and dabbed her eyes.
    I remained silent while she composed herself. Then she threw me a determined look. “I still want to retain your services.”
    “To find Jude’s killer.”
    “Yes.” Her jaw locked.
    I thought for a moment. “I’ll need to dig into everything. All of Blue Light’s records and finances and Jude’s personal finances. I need to look in his office and his home.”
    “You’ll have full access to everything.”
    “You might not like what I find.”
    “Why would you say that?”
    “If Jude wasn’t robbed, then why did someone want to kill him?”
    “I don’t know. Everyone liked him,” she repeated.
    I tilted my head.
    “What?”
    “I’ve been here one day and I know that isn’t true.”
    She gestured toward the door. “What have they been saying?”
    “They’re not necessarily fond of him.”
    “Who?”
    “It doesn’t matter who,” I said. “But if some of the employees had problems with him, so could others.” And if Ivy wanted to rip them off, she might’ve killed Jude , I thought.
    “I guess you’re right.” She slumped down in her chair.
    “Why were you arguing with Jude today?”
    “You heard that?” She blushed, then stood up and started pacing. “Man, I could use a joint now.”
    “I need you clearheaded.”
    “I’m just saying…” She stopped and a hand flew to her mouth. “Oh man, do you think the police knew I was high?”
    “Probably.”
    “Oh, great. Now they won’t take me seriously.”
    “They’ll take murder seriously,” I said.
    She went to the credenza in the corner, pulled out a bottle of Scotch and a glass. She cocked an eyebrow. “If I can’t get high, then just one?”
    I shrugged. She poured a little into the glass and tossed it back.
    “Oh, where are my manners?” She held up the bottle. “You want one?”
    I shook my head.
    “Yeah, right. You’re on the job.”
    She snickered, then poured a little more in, put the bottle back and sat down at her desk again. She was on edge, and I wondered how long