Unraveled by Maggie Sefton Read Free Book Online Page B

“Yes, sir. Turner was all business all the time. He’s been buying and selling properties for years, and he’s quite successful. He likes . . . uh, liked to buy low and sell higher, if he could.” She gestured to the cabin. “This was a property he acquired through a defaulted loan, and he wanted to make a good deal on it because of the location. As you can see, it’s a beautiful setting.”
    Peterson glanced around. “Yes, it is. Did you have a buyer yet?”
    “As a matter of fact, we did. That’s another reason I invited Kelly up here, because it was one of her business clients who gave us a purchase offer only three days ago. Arthur Housemann of Fort Connor.”
    Peterson scribbled in his notepad, then glanced up at Kelly. “Had your client mentioned he was making an offer, Ms. Flynn?”
    “Yes, he had. He said he’d been looking for mountain properties when this came on the market.” Kelly deliberately didn’t add Housemann’s long-term fascination with the property. She didn’t feel obligated to reveal everything that was said in their conversation.
    “Had you spoken with Turner today, Ms. Stroud?”
    “No, I hadn’t,” Jennifer answered. “I was simply driving up here to put a SALE PENDING banner across the sign, and I thought Kelly would enjoy the drive.” Jennifer paused, then continued. “On the way up here, however, I had a call from Turner’s assistant who told me that Turner had an appointment scheduled here this morning with a Mr. Birmingham who wanted to make an offer on the property. Apparently this man left a message on the office voice mail.”
    Peterson peered at Jennifer. “You mean he didn’t contact you? Earlier you’d said you were Turner’s real estate agent. Why didn’t this Birmingham contact you through your agency?”
    Jennifer gave him a wry smile. “That’s what I’d like to know. And why Turner would meet with a new client without letting me know. The property is clearly listed by my company, and I’m the selling agent.”
    Kelly decided to jump in at this point. “That’s exactly right, Detective Peterson. We drove up here and saw Turner’s truck. I waited on the front porch and Jennifer walked in and found him dead.”
    “And there was no one else here?” Peterson asked Jennifer.
    Jennifer hesitated. “No, sir, but as Kelly and I drove along the canyon road, we saw a blue truck come out of this driveway and turn in the direction of Fort Connor. I think I recognized the woman driving the truck. It was Turner’s wife, Renee.”
    Peterson stared at Jennifer with interest but said nothing. He simply wrote in his notepad. “Had you met her before, Ms. Stroud? You said you recognized her.”
    Jennifer glanced away, and Kelly could tell her friend was uncomfortable. “Yes, I’d seen Mrs. Turner come into her husband’s office while I was there going over the listing contract. She’d . . . she’d been showing up at the office several times recently. Our real estate offices are on the same floor as Turner’s office, so I’ve seen her several times. And, Turner’s assistant, Anita, told me that Turner and his wife are in the midst of a divorce right now.”
    Again, Peterson watched Jennifer, then scribbled down everything she said. “I see,” was his only comment.
    But Kelly spotted Peterson’s unmistakable signs of the detective’s piqued interest. After watching Peterson in action for three separate investigations, Kelly had begun to recognize his body language. Not so, the formidable and less friendly Lieutenant Morrison of the Fort Connor Police Department. He and Kelly seemed to square off whenever they met.
    “Turner never mentioned the divorce to me,” Jennifer said earnestly.
    Kelly decided to venture in again, even though it was none of her business. Simply to shift Peterson’s focus away from Jennifer for a minute. Let her catch her breath. “You know, that gun he used looked kind of old to me, Detective,” she said. “I’m not an