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

I supposed I had been gone from him long enough to commit murder. But if he didn’t trust me any more than that…
    “Are you sure they are my keys?”
    He pulled a set of keys from his pocket and I knew my face probably turned white. I recognized the keys. The key chain was mine and I had had the extra set in the drawer by the front door. “Ross must have taken them this morning.” My voice was merely a whisper.
    “Just stay away from him. If he calls don’t answer.” Kent stuffed the keys into his pocket.
    I had hoped that he would have given the keys back to me. Now they were considered evidence. This was looking worse and worse by the minute.
    Kent took my hand in his. “I promise we’ll figure this out.”
    I nodded.
    “I’ll call you later,” he said.
    Kent walked down the porch steps and climbed behind the wheel of his Crown Victoria. In a matter of minutes, my new relationship with Kent had turned cool. He had to do his job though. If Ross wanted to lie, then Kent had to look into his claims. I needed to pay Ross a visit and demand that he stop this. I wouldn’t let him blackmail me. He couldn’t force me to hire the best lawyer I could find for him. That would certainly put an end to my relationship with Kent. He wouldn’t understand if I helped Ross. I couldn’t blame Kent for that either.
    This was the kind of day that demanded chocolate. And not the baking kind either. I needed a candy bar or brownie now. I could justify eating it too because it had been a day from hell and the walk to Honeysuckle Supermarket would burn the extra calories. After grabbing keys and cash from my purse I locked the door and headed toward the supermarket. It was only a few streets away. The summer sun shone brightly, blazing down its heat, making me pick up the pace so that I wouldn’t have a heat stroke. Claire Ann still worked at the store and had probably just started the evening shift.
    The supermarket came into sight and I could almost taste the Snickers. Or maybe I’d get a Milky Way or a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Too many decisions in the candy department.
    I sensed someone walking close behind me so I glanced over my shoulder. Dread filled every vein in my body when I saw who was behind me. Ross’ mother was staring right at me. I knew this wasn’t a coincidence. Her personality was as pleasant and calm as a tornado. She’d never liked me and the feeling was mutual. I was no longer married to her son so I didn’t have to be nice.
    She wore her blonde hair tied back in a French twist. Her outfit was a black tank top with sequins and a white pair of Capri pants with black sandals. The woman’s demeanor was always unpleasant but she knew how to dress.
    “Raelynn, I want to speak with you.”
    I blew out a deep breath and then stopped. “What do you want, Doreen?”
    She marched around and stopped right in front of me. “Look what you’ve done to my son now. You’d better make this right. He told me what you did. I always knew you were a bad seed.”
    I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. This woman was blind to her son’s slimy ways. “I had nothing to do with what happened to Mr. Lexington. As for your son, I don’t know what he did. And I really don’t care.”
    She glared at me. “You are an evil woman. I’m sure they will soon find out that you did this to that poor man.”
    “I don’t appreciate your slanderous accusations,” I said.
    “ I knew he should have never gotten involved with you,” she repeated.
    A c rowd had gathered around us and were watching. Didn’t these people have anything better to do? This was the last thing I needed though after what had just happened. It was as if trouble followed me. It looked as if I would have to add ice cream to that candy to make this day better.
    “Doreen, I have to ask you to leave me alone.” I stepped around her.
    Apparently she wasn’t finished with this conversation though because she followed along behind me.
    “This is not the