Honeysuckle Homicide (Trash-to-Treasure Crafting Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page A

was murdered, but that would be someone’s first thought, right? After all, Honeysuckle had just experienced a murder and I knew everyone was still on edge.
    “They don’t know for sure that he was murdered,” I said.
    “My name is Darcy Parish.” She stuck out her hand.
    That was where I knew her from. She was a realtor and had an office across the street. When I spotted a ‘for sale’ sign with Luke’s picture on it in someone’s front yard, it was a sure bet that the next sign I saw would be one of Darcy’s. It was as if they were in competition with each other.
    “Raelynn Pendleton,” I said, shaking her hand.
    “That’s right. You inherited Mrs. Winter’s place. It’s such a beautiful house.” She pulled a card from her pocket and handed it toward me. “If you ever want to sell it give me a call.”
    I couldn’t believe she was trying to get business as we stood outside a crime scene. I took the card. “Thanks. I don’t have any plans to sell.”
    She smiled. “Well, if you do…”
    “I’ll make sure to let you know.”
    Darcy glanced in the direction of Luke’s office. The police moved in and out of the building. “It’s such a shame. We had a friendly competition going on. Who will I compete with now?” She wiped a tear away with a shaky hand. “I was just coming over to wish him luck on his new listing.” After a brief pause, she said, “Okay, I have to go now. See you later.”
    Darcy sashayed across the street as if she’d just gotten the best news.
    “I thought about using her to sell my house,” a female voice said.
    T he woman stood near me. She had wavy ash-blonde hair and wore pink knee-length shorts and a white shirt.
    The woman crossed h er arms in front of her chest. “Luke Lexington talked me into using him though. I regret that decision now.”
    “Why is that?” I asked.
    “I honestly believe he stopped people from looking at my house just so a friend of his could come in and offer us a low amount. We thought no one was interested so we sold. Later we found out people had wanted to see our home, but he had stopped them. I believe he was being paid by the buyer. The guy would turn around and sell the house again with Luke and make more money.”
    “That’s terrible,” I said.
    The woman nodded. “Yes, I’m not bitter though. What’s done is done, right?”
    “Yes, I suppose. I’m Raelynn Pendleton.” I offered my hand.
    The woman shook my hand. “Connie Dayton.”
    Claire Ann had made it to my location in record time. Her eyes were the size of saucers as she approached.
    “My friend is here. Nice to meet you, Connie.”
    Connie smiled. “Same to you.”
    I stepped down the sidewalk toward Claire Ann.
    “Raelynn, how did this happen?” she asked.
    At least she didn’t pull out her recorder and try to get an interview. No, she’d wait and do an official interview later.
    Kent was busy with the officers collecting evidence from the scene, so I motioned for Claire Ann to follow me. “Let’s walk to my place. I’ll explain there,” I said.
    During the trip home I filled Claire Ann in on the incident and all that I knew, which honestly wasn’t much. I hoped to have more details from Kent soon.
    As we stepped through the door, Claire Ann said, “No offense, Raelynn , because I know you loved him at one point, but that rat Ross is probably behind this.”
    I placed my keys and purse on the table by the door. “I know , Claire Ann. No offense taken. It would be a logical thought that he would be involved, but as low as he is, I still don’t think he had anything to do with the man’s death.”
    Claire Ann crossed the floor and then took a seat on the sofa. “I guess you would know Ross pretty well since you were married to him. But if he didn’t do this then who did?”
    I sat on the chair across from the sofa. “I have no idea. I really didn’t know Luke Lexington well, did you?”
    “He sold my parents’ house for them. Got top dollar too. Other