The Prince and I: A Romantic Mystery (The Royal Biography Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Julie Sarff, The Hope Diamond, The Heir to Villa Buschi Read Free Book Online Page B
larger than the one I have now, and travelled the world in cramped airplane seats to do research in our respective fields. I thought life couldn’t get any sweeter.
Sitting with a hand on each knee, Emmeline lets out a sigh and I stop thinking about the past. It’s strange to have a lawyer pay me a visit. Strange to have one sitting on my refrigerator which is now humming voraciously. I ask Emmeline why she came in person and she informs me that she was walking by my apartment building on her way to work, so she thought she would just drop in.
“So you don’t think she did it?” Emmeline asks.
“Nah,” I reply. “Tatum was at the book launch party, too. I saw her on the stairway right before I found Sean. Although, of course, if the police believe Sean was killed by a hit man, then I suppose Tatum could have afforded it. She told me once she receives $19,000 a week in alimony from her second husband.”
“The police say the murder happened right before Tatum was seen coming down the stairs. Tatum was the last one to see him alive and she has no alibi for the ten minutes she was in the office with him because, of course, they were alone. From what the private investigator who works for me found out, Tatum claims Sean was killed after she left. Although the police are adamant that Sean was killed either during the time she was in the office with him, or very shortly afterwards. And there’s something else.”
I sit down on the edge of bed.
“The neighbor, the one who insiststhey argued a lo t — he says he saw a woman coming and going from their apartment at all hours of the day. He thinks they were having some kind of a ménage a t r — ”
I hold up a hand, “They were doing no such thing. There was no ménage .”
Emmeline Vance arches a suspicious brow. “Right, well you know them better than I do.”
“Yes, I do,” I agree solemnly. “And I can’t believe the police forced me to come back to New York as a person of interest only to turn around and arrest Tatum. Such a waste of time.”
“Yes, well,” Emmeline responds, “NYPD is as NYPD does. Anyway, there is one more thing. According to Mr. McKenzie’s will you are the inheritor of his cottage in Bourton-on-the-Water.”
What? My mouth falls open.
“I take it you didn’t know about the cottage?”
“I…no…I mean, we barely had money to rent an apartment larger than this. How could he afford a cottage in the Cotswold?”
“Oh good, at least you know where it is. Mr. McKenzie’s lawyer is mailing you the keys, so…” Emmeline Vance stands up and makes to leave. “Ms. Rue… Trudy, if I may, it sounds like there may be a lot of things you didn’t know about your ex. The cottage was purchased with cash about six month ago, so it’s yours free and clear.”
Well, I’ll be. She’s right. It does appear there are all kinds of things I didn’t know about my ex. How ironic that I was the one who introduced him to Bourton-on-the-Water and then unbeknownst to me, he ended up purchasing a house there.
As I show Emmeline out, I hope that I am done learning new things about my ex. Honestly, I’m not sure how many more revelations my poor heart can take.
Chapter 8
Since Tatum has been arrested for the murder, Emmeline works out a deal whereby I am free to leave the country as long as I continue to update Detective Puyn as to my whereabouts.
Before I leave for England, I visit Tatum. Her ex-husband, Tom Bouviers is refusing to post bail. In the city jail, I find Tatum looking dreadful. Her hair is uncombed and she wears a bright orange jumpsuit. We sit on opposite sides of a sheet of glass with a small mesh hole so that we can talk to one another. Tatum is so angry that a vein pulsates at her temple.
“I thought I’d never see the likes of you again, so much for our friendship,” she says heatedly.
I have no idea what she means by “so much for our friendship.” I think it goes without saying that if someone steals your
Sitting with a hand on each knee, Emmeline lets out a sigh and I stop thinking about the past. It’s strange to have a lawyer pay me a visit. Strange to have one sitting on my refrigerator which is now humming voraciously. I ask Emmeline why she came in person and she informs me that she was walking by my apartment building on her way to work, so she thought she would just drop in.
“So you don’t think she did it?” Emmeline asks.
“Nah,” I reply. “Tatum was at the book launch party, too. I saw her on the stairway right before I found Sean. Although, of course, if the police believe Sean was killed by a hit man, then I suppose Tatum could have afforded it. She told me once she receives $19,000 a week in alimony from her second husband.”
“The police say the murder happened right before Tatum was seen coming down the stairs. Tatum was the last one to see him alive and she has no alibi for the ten minutes she was in the office with him because, of course, they were alone. From what the private investigator who works for me found out, Tatum claims Sean was killed after she left. Although the police are adamant that Sean was killed either during the time she was in the office with him, or very shortly afterwards. And there’s something else.”
I sit down on the edge of bed.
“The neighbor, the one who insiststhey argued a lo t — he says he saw a woman coming and going from their apartment at all hours of the day. He thinks they were having some kind of a ménage a t r — ”
I hold up a hand, “They were doing no such thing. There was no ménage .”
Emmeline Vance arches a suspicious brow. “Right, well you know them better than I do.”
“Yes, I do,” I agree solemnly. “And I can’t believe the police forced me to come back to New York as a person of interest only to turn around and arrest Tatum. Such a waste of time.”
“Yes, well,” Emmeline responds, “NYPD is as NYPD does. Anyway, there is one more thing. According to Mr. McKenzie’s will you are the inheritor of his cottage in Bourton-on-the-Water.”
What? My mouth falls open.
“I take it you didn’t know about the cottage?”
“I…no…I mean, we barely had money to rent an apartment larger than this. How could he afford a cottage in the Cotswold?”
“Oh good, at least you know where it is. Mr. McKenzie’s lawyer is mailing you the keys, so…” Emmeline Vance stands up and makes to leave. “Ms. Rue… Trudy, if I may, it sounds like there may be a lot of things you didn’t know about your ex. The cottage was purchased with cash about six month ago, so it’s yours free and clear.”
Well, I’ll be. She’s right. It does appear there are all kinds of things I didn’t know about my ex. How ironic that I was the one who introduced him to Bourton-on-the-Water and then unbeknownst to me, he ended up purchasing a house there.
As I show Emmeline out, I hope that I am done learning new things about my ex. Honestly, I’m not sure how many more revelations my poor heart can take.
Chapter 8
Since Tatum has been arrested for the murder, Emmeline works out a deal whereby I am free to leave the country as long as I continue to update Detective Puyn as to my whereabouts.
Before I leave for England, I visit Tatum. Her ex-husband, Tom Bouviers is refusing to post bail. In the city jail, I find Tatum looking dreadful. Her hair is uncombed and she wears a bright orange jumpsuit. We sit on opposite sides of a sheet of glass with a small mesh hole so that we can talk to one another. Tatum is so angry that a vein pulsates at her temple.
“I thought I’d never see the likes of you again, so much for our friendship,” she says heatedly.
I have no idea what she means by “so much for our friendship.” I think it goes without saying that if someone steals your
Similar Books
My Texas Sweetheart (book one)
Pauliena Acheson
Charmed by His Love
Janet Chapman
Cheri Red (sWet)
Charisma Knight
Through the Fire
Donna Hill
The Hen of the Baskervilles
Donna Andrews
Can't Shake You
Molly McLain
A Cast of Vultures
Judith Flanders
Wings of Lomay
Devri Walls
Five Parts Dead
Tim Pegler
Angel Stations
Gary Gibson