Money Can Be Deadly (Sage Gardens Cozy Mystery Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

directly. “There was nothing that you could have done.”
    Samantha nodded a little, but she didn't really agree. If she had slept with her window open she might have heard screams or an argument. If she had gotten up to use the bathroom, she might have noticed someone running past her window. Instead, she had been oblivious to the fact that someone was being murdered just outside. It seemed impossible to her that she had gone about her morning, making tea, walking down to the water, without ever sensing that something wasn't right.
    “There was nothing you could have done,” Walt repeated Eddy's words. “What happened wasn't good, but you know, it seems like Vince made his own bed.”
    “What does that mean?” Samantha asked. She looked at Walt intently.
    “I mean, he was probably involved in drug dealing. That's not exactly good for your health.” Walt sat back down at the table.
    “Walt, I didn't expect you to be like that.” Samantha frowned with distaste.
    “Like what? Statistically speaking those that engage in criminal behavior run a much higher chance of meeting an untimely death. It's just math.” He looked up at Samantha with a puzzled expression. “Did I say something upsetting?”
    “I think that Samantha just means that Vince is not a statistic, he's someone we all knew,” Eddy explained.
    “Samantha, I didn't mean to offend you.” Walt looked at her with concern.
    “You didn't, Walt, it's okay. I think this entire experience is catching up with me.” She stood up from the table. “I'm going to head home. It's been a long morning for me,” Samantha muttered. She was still annoyed with Walt. He was brilliant, but sometimes his intelligence seemed to limit his empathy. Eddy watched as she walked out of the villa. Samantha's shoulders were slumped with the weight of the burden that she was carrying.
    As Samantha walked towards her villa, she noticed some commotion near the office. There was a police car, as well as two officers talking to the gardener. Samantha stared as the two officers stepped closer to the gardener. Simon was a gentle giant, well over six foot and with a forehead as broad as a billboard. He didn't talk much, but he worked hard at keeping the grounds tended. She couldn't imagine what business the officers would have with him.
    “If you're going to stare, you might as well get closer.” Eddy stepped up from just behind her.
    “Eddy, what have I told you about sneaking up on me?” Samantha shot him an annoyed look.
    “It's not my fault that your observational skills have become rusty over the years.” Eddy smirked.
    “Oh trust me, there's nothing rusty about my observational skills. But I've become accustomed to people not popping up out of nowhere.” She looked back at the officers in time to see them handcuffing Simon. “What are they doing?”
    “Looks like they have a suspect in mind,” Eddy's voice grew grim. He didn't look any more convinced than Samantha was. “Maybe, we should find out before they drive off.”
    “That's ridiculous!” Samantha frowned as she watched the officers restrain Simon. “Simon would never hurt anyone. You're right, let's go see what's going on.”
    Samantha and Eddy walked towards the police officers. Simon was barely holding back tears. “But I didn't do anything. I didn't do anything,” he kept repeating. Samantha could hear the tears in his voice. Her heart ached for him as she knew that he had to be terrified. “I don't know how it got in there, honestly I don't.”
    “We'll figure that out when we get downtown,” the officer said sternly. He steered Simon towards the police car. The problem was he was quite large and his hands were cuffed so it was difficult to get him into the backseat of the patrol car.
    “What's the meaning of this?” Samantha demanded. She walked right up to the officers.
    “Samantha,” Eddy chastised. But it was too late. The officers had just managed to get Simon into the backseat. They both