Hometown Detective. Jennifer Morey

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      While her beliefs opposed his, his light eyes and the intensity in them that had more to do with attraction than conviction kept her from backing away. She knew as well as he that the two of them did not see eye to eye on life in general, but that ceased to matter.

      As though he chose not to think too long on it, he pulled her head closer and kissed her.

      * * *

      The next day, Roman walked with Kendra toward a country club where he’d learned Bear—aka Glenn Franklin—enjoyed a weekly brunch with his parents, Hudson and Melody. He hadn’t slept much after Kendra had left. The temptation to have a cigarette hadn’t helped. She’d left shortly after he ended the kiss. He’d been surprised he’d had to end it, first of all, and then not surprised when she’d stuttered an excuse and hurried out of the hotel room.

      Heat and tension simmered, invisible and without sound. She wore a cheery sundress with a cardigan sweater to ward off the morning chill. The bright colors reminded him of what she needed to live—everything his life could never give her. He’d thought long about that last night. If the two of them ended up together, the grisly nature of his work would drag her down into a black cesspool. She’d have to escape as she did every day to her Christmas shop. She’d live her dream and deny the reality of his world. How many cop or detective shows had he watched where the hero could never stay married?

      White blooming dogwoods lined the parking lot and thick, lush bluegrass trimmed along a curving sidewalk stretched to a fence enclosing a pool area. The sun shone in a deep blue sky, mocking Roman with its bright merriment.

      “They aren’t going to let us in,” Kendra said.

      Inside the clubhouse, Roman followed Kendra into a small lobby. A young woman stood at a podium, wearing a black skirt with matching suit jacket, with her dark, smooth and shining hair up in an unforgiving bun. She gave them a work-required smile and asked, “Two?”

      “We’re here to talk to someone,” Roman said.

      “You aren’t a member?”

      “We won’t be long.” Putting his hand under Kendra’s elbow, he guided her into the restaurant area.

      “Sir, you can’t go in there if you aren’t a member.” The woman followed.

      Roman spotted Hudson and Melody Franklin. Melody was dressed as before, this time in a navy scoop neck, knee-length dress, with her stylish hair combed to a sharp-edge, the front tips brushing her collarbone. She tucked the left side behind her diamond-studded ears, her wedding ring big and gaudy. A woman of perhaps sixty, she kept herself in great shape, as did her husband. He wore a dark suit and tie, his salt-and-pepper hair cut short. He read from a menu with reading glasses.

      “I don’t see Glenn,” Kendra said.

      “We’ll talk to them first.” There were three settings on the table and all looked to have been touched. Before the empty chair, a crumpled cloth napkin sat beside a plate and crooked silverware, and the water glass was three-quarters full.

      As Roman weaved between tables ahead of Kendra, he spotted Glenn returning from the men’s room, his big body taking long strides and the lapels of his silky jacket flapping.

      “Mr. and Mrs. Franklin?” Roman queried.

      Melody looked up, not appearing surprised someone would approach their table. They were a couple in the public eye. Hudson studied Roman and then Kendra as though trying to identify them. Glenn arrived at the table, briefly eyeing them with annoyed blue eyes before sitting.

      “I’m sorry, sir.” The hostess stopped near Hudson, looking frightened. “They barged right in.”

      Hudson held up one hand as though to soothe the girl. “It’s all right, Emily.” Then he looked up at Roman. “What brings you to our club so urgently?”

      “I wouldn’t call it urgent so much as a good opportunity to catch you and your son.” As the hostess reluctantly turned and headed back toward the entrance, Roman introduced Kendra and identified himself as a private investigator.

      “Private investigator?” Melody asked.

      “Yes. I hired him to look into the death of my twin sister, Kaelyn Johnston.”

      “Oh, yes, I remember that,” Melody said with eyes expressing sympathy. “That was so long ago.”

      “I tried for years to get police to look into her death in more detail but no one ever did with any real effort, so I finally decided to get outside help.”

      “You think she was murdered?”

      “Yes. That’s why we came to see Glenn.”

      Glenn looked up from the menu he had picked up, having dismissed them as soon as he sat down.

      “I’m sorry...what?”

      “Did you know Kaelyn Johnston?”

      He glanced from Kendra to Roman. “Why are you asking me?”

      “You did know her then?” Roman asked.

      “No. I knew of her, though.”

      “Kaelyn spoke of you, which is why we wanted to talk to you.” Roman turned to Kendra, cuing her to interject.

      “She called you Bear.”

      Glenn’s eyes shifted toward his parents and then back to Kendra. “She never mentioned a twin sister to me.”

      “You did know her?” Melody asked, growing concerned, as though the thought of her son lying about knowing Kaelyn offended her.

      Glenn ignored her and continued to stare at Kendra.

      “She was planning to move back to Chesterville,” Kendra said, “to escape her husband. She must have failed in her attempt. Did you know she was coming back here?”

      Glenn again said nothing, although he blinked in a telltale way.

      “You did have an affair with her,” Roman said. “Didn’t you?”

      Glenn had to see it would be pointless to deny the affair. His lack of response revealed as much.

      “My Bear didn’t have an affair with anyone.” Melody turned to her son. “Did you, Glenn?”

      Glenn glanced at his mother, and then lowered his eyes. Again, his lack of response answered for him.

      “You didn’t.” Melody’s distress intensified. “What about your wife?”

      “I had no intention of leaving her.” He looked at Kendra. “I’m sorry. I was going to break things off with your sister, but I didn’t get the chance before she...”

      “Thank you for not saying ‘committed suicide,’” Kendra said.

      Melody’s mouth still hung open in shock. “Do you have any idea what this could do to our family? Any chance you have of following a successful political career would be ruined if news of this СКАЧАТЬ