Shopping is Murder (McKinley Mysteries Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page B

apologizing to Sean for declining on his behalf as well, but he understood her reasoning. They were gathering facts and needed their minds about them.
    “Was he after anything in particular? You had said he thought you’d find unique gifts here,” Sean said.
    “Not that he mentioned, just that he’d know it when he saw it.” She took a sip of her drink.
    “You really seem to think someone pushed him. Do you know of anyone who doesn’t—didn’t—like your husband?” Sara’s cheeks flushed red.
    “He did make it to managing partner at the firm. It went from Cook & Harmon on the letterhead to Cook & Hill.”
    “Impressive.”
    Nicole nodded and smiled at Sean for the praise. “He was an impressive man. And you know, we were married for twelve years and just as happy as in the first year. Actually, let’s say the second year. The first is always an adjustment.” She kept her gaze on them as she took another draw on the alcohol. “Or, maybe not for everyone.”
    “Did anyone feel like maybe they were slighted by his promotion?” Sean asked.
    “Yes, quite a few. Lawyers make no secret of it though. Besides, isn’t it normally the quiet ones who are the most dangerous?”
    “Not always, Nicky.” Sara got up and guided Nicole back to the couch. She seemed to be teetering next to the bar cart, her mind absent behind her eyes.
    Shock still had a firm hold over her. Her husband was alive just six hours ago and now he was gone.
    “Sara, maybe we should get going?”
    “Oh, please.” Nicole moved to get off the couch but Sara put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

    “Sean and I will check things out. You have my word.”

 

     
    Talking It Out
     
    SARA SETTLED BEHIND THE WHEEL and already had the engine turned on by the time Sean got into the passenger seat.
    “I take it you’re wanting to drive what’s yours?” He smiled at her.
    Her car, a Mercedes SLS AMG GT, had come in while they were in Europe and she was making up for lost time.
    “You betcha.” She ran her hands around the wheel, appreciating the texture of the leather wrap, and tightened her grip.
    Sean pulled his belt across. “There are a couple things not sitting well with me.”
    “And those things are?”
    “One is that Magnum claims he and Jerrod were alone when he mentioned jumping.”
    “We really need to find out his real name, because that nickname…”
    “What?” He shrugged and picked up where he had left off. “Nicole said she heard him say that too.”
    Sara took one hand from the leather and brushed away the notion. “He could have said it twice.”
    “Could have, but I’m not going to assume that’s the case. In the morning, we’ll get ahold of Jimmy and find out Magnum’s real name.”
    She snickered. “I think that’s a good idea.”
    “Anyway, this guy made it sound like Jerrod was over the railing not long after saying it. At the very least, he could have been the last to see him alive. Not to mention, if we get ahold of Jimmy maybe he’d share the camera footage from the mall with us.”
    There was pause and Sara ’s mind was whirling—was this truly happening? Her childhood friend had returned to her life but only as the result of a traumatic event.
    “I noticed your expression when you found out shopping in Albany was Jerrod’s idea. You think he came here to meet his death?”
    “That wasn’t actually what I was thinking.”
    “All right, now I’m intrigued.”
    “If it was his idea to come to Albany—was it that simple or was there more to it?”
    “Nicole said Jerrod thought they’d find more unique gifts here than anywhere else.”
    Sara angled her head to the side. “And you’re buying that? Albany has something that New York doesn’t?”
    “You think he had a specific reason to come here?”
    “ Absolutely, Sean, and I think that reason got him killed.”
    “Guess we’re not operating under the assumption he jumped.” His smirk sat crooked on his mouth.
    “You know, you think