by Gina LaManna
“You mean, when I picked up the pieces after that jerk destroyed her,” Chris said. “Shania, poor thing, was a mess when we first went out. I had to ask her to dinner three times before she finally agreed.”
“Because of Matt?”
“She thought they were getting married. He dumped her out of the blue. No signs. What sort of guy does that to a woman he supposedly loves?”
“Isn’t it better he broke things off with her rather than marry a woman he didn’t love?”
Chris gave me a disgusted look. “On the day they were supposed to go ring shopping?”
“I admit that would come somewhat as a surprise,” I said. “But I also don’t know the full story. I’m trying to find that out.”
“It doesn’t sound like you’re trying to figure out what really happened,” Chris said. “You’re just trying to clear Matt’s name. That’s different.”
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe Matt did it. If you’re so new here, how can you know him so well?”
I shrugged my shoulders, trying to keep neutral enough so as not to offend a possible important source of information. “I’m not trying to hide evidence; I’ll tell you that much. If I find something incriminating on Matt, I’ll turn it over to the cops.”
“I don’t know how much more evidence you need. It’s all laid out, perfectly clear.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Matt regretted his choice to let Shania go. He was trying to win her back, but when she turned him down because she was in love with me, he killed her.”
“How do you know he was trying to win her back?”
“It was obvious,” Chris said. “Shania told me about it. She said he’d texted her.”
I felt my lips part in surprise. “Really?”
“I’m not making it up.”
I tried to process this new information. Matt had said he hadn’t had contact with Shania in a long time. If that were true, then Chris was lying. If it were false, then Matt was lying. Why would Matt lie? And if he’d lied about being in contact with his ex-girlfriend, then what else had he lied about?
I hesitated, feeling Chris’s gaze pinned on me as I struggled to find a follow up question. “Well, that is new information to me. Amy didn’t mention it.”
“Amy?” Chris’s eyebrows shot up. “You talked to that psycho?”
I pursed my lips. “Amy is a psycho?”
Chris rolled his eyes. “She went a little off her rocker when Shania and I started going together.”
“I thought she helped get the two of you together?”
“She did, sort of,” Chris said dubiously. “Is that what she told you?”
When I nodded, Chris gave a wry laugh.
“Amy has been trying to get me to ask her out since high school,” Chris said. “She used to stop here, bring her car in for no reason, as an excuse to talk to me. One day, she swung by and mentioned something about this single friend of hers.”
“Shania?”
He nodded. “Then Amy asked if I’d want to get dinner with her, and I told her no again.”
“But it backfired?”
“Yeah,” he said. “She brought Shania in with her the next time, and me and Shania hit it off. It took a few times for me to get her out on a date, but it was all thanks to Amy that we met in the first place.”
“That must have been hard for her to watch,” I coaxed. “Did Amy ever try to break up your relationship out of jealousy?”
Chris blew a breath out. “You could say that. Shania was convinced it was all in my head, but it wasn’t. You can look through my phone. Amy used to text me. Way more than a girlfriend’s best friend ever should.”
I hadn’t gotten the whole ‘psycho vibe’ Chris was going on about when it came to Amy, but then again, Chris seemed quite sincere. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and set it on the table as if willing to let me scroll through the messages.
“Do you think Amy might have been angry at her best friend?”
“They were hardly best friends anymore,” Chris said. “If you’re talking about Shania and Amy, I mean. They started seeing less and less of each other, especially once Shania got over Matt.”
“She finally got over Matt?”
Chris’s eyes darkened a bit as they did every time Matt came up. “She sure did. We were together. Shania was in love with me, and if she hadn’t been killed, we would’ve ended up married. I’m sure of it.”
“Amy did say that after you and Shania got together, she started to become herself again. She started working hard to start her own business, got super motivated, things like that.”
“So, she didn’t lie about everything,” Chris said with a wry smirk. “That part is true. But Amy didn’t like it. She’s one of those friends who isn’t really a friend. She was a great friend when Shania was wallowing and struggling. But once Shania got back on her feet, Amy started getting jealous.”
“She said Shania cancelled dinners with her?”
“Probably.” Chris shrugged. “I don’t know all the details of their friendship, but I did tell Shania that I didn’t think Amy had her best interests at heart. Maybe Shania took my advice and was trying to separate herself from Amy.”
“What about Shania’s business hopes?” I asked. “What did you think of her big dreams?”
“I thought the whole thing was great. My Shania, she was talented. She was a great hairdresser, but she had a business savvy mindset, too. I volunteered to help her however I could.”
“Ah.”
“That’s not what Amy said?” Chris guessed. When I shook my head, he gave a snort. “Of course not. Well, I guess it’s up to you who to believe.”
Frankly, I wasn’t entirely sure who I should believe. Amy had seemed sincere in the bathroom at the Bachelorette Ball. I’d believed she’d been torn up at the loss of her friend, but could it have been more? Perhaps guilt?
Meanwhile, I’d come into the autobody shop expecting to dislike Chris. Amy had described him as jealous, petty, even. While I did sense a bit of jealousy when I brought up Matt’s name in the conversation, I also got the impression that Chris was upset at the loss of his girlfriend. And wasn’t it quite normal for an ex-boyfriend to bring up feelings of jealousy? Just because Chris wasn’t a fan of Matt’s didn’t mean he’d killed Shania over it.
Then, there was Matt. I bit my lip, wondering how much of what Chris had said about Matt was true. I didn’t want to believe any of it. But had Chris really imagined it all? Or was there some nugget of truth to his story?
“Do you think Amy was upset enough to have done something about it?” I ventured. “Either upset at her loss of friendship with Shania, or the fact that she couldn’t be with you?”
“That would be really messed up,” Chris said. “And it wouldn’t solve anything. Shania is gone, and I’m not going to run into her arms just because my girlfriend died. If anything, it’s the opposite. I can’t imagine being with anyone else. I’m not... It still feels surreal to go home and find that Shania’s not waiting for me.”
I bowed my head. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah,” Chris said softly. “Me too.”
“If you don’t think Amy had anything to do with Shania’s death—”
“I didn’t say that,” Chris said. “I just don’t know. I don’t know why anyone would want Shania dead. But like I said, the facts are already there. I’m not sure why the police haven’t made an arrest.”
“Who should they have arrested?”
“Matt.” Chris looked at me like I was an idiot. “I told you, it’s all laid out—easy as blueberry pie.”
“There’s no proof,” I said. “And no motive. Matt said he hadn’t had contact with Shania for some time.”
“Well that’s a lie,” Chris said. “Matt was supposed to meet with Shania on the day she died.”
I blinked and stared at Chris. “Excuse me?”
“She was going over to his place to talk with him,
” Chris said. “Then she’s found dead at his house, and he’s the only one there? It doesn’t take a genius to put it together.”
“Back up. How do you know she was supposed to meet him?”
Chris shifted uncomfortably. “I looked through her phone.”
“You have her phone?”
“Yeah,” he said. “She left it at my place the morning she died.”
“Why didn’t you turn it into the police?”
“They never mentioned it,” Chris said. “They asked me a few questions, I told them what I knew. I’d just lost my girlfriend. I’d forgotten about the phone until later that day, and then I just figured they’d arrest Matt. I mean, the man was standing over her dead body! How much more proof do you need?”
“Is there any chance you still have her phone?”
“Of course,” Chris said. “It’s at my place. You can have it if you like. I know I shouldn’t have snooped, but—”
“I’d like to take it,” I said. “And I’ll need to turn it into the police.”
“That’s fine,” Chris said. “I just want Shania’s killer to be found and locked up. She deserves that much at least.”
“I can’t agree more.” I stood. “Thanks for your time today, Chris. This has been very insightful.”
“Do you think that will be enough?” he asked. “Is that the evidence you need to arrest Matt?”
“I don’t know,” I said grimly.
We parted ways after exchanging cell numbers so we could arrange a time for me to pick up Shania’s phone. I hopped into my car, completely forgetting that I needed to have it fixed. Then I also completely forgot I had Allie waiting for me in the lobby.
I texted Allie to meet me in the car, and while I waited, I wondered. Had Matt been lying this whole time? And if so, why?
Chapter 16
I dropped Allie off at Something Old, but I didn’t linger. I had a shift the next morning, so I figured I’d be back soon enough. Plus, I didn’t want to hear any more about my new car from anyone, and my mother’s shop was a petri dish for gossip, second only to June’s cafe. Everyone would be discussing Jenna McGovern’s completely unstylish new vehicle. How embarrassing.
When my mother waved out the front door at me, I waved back, then reversed as quickly as I could without hitting any of the shoppers. I pretended not to hear as she hollered my name across the parking lot. Instead, I turned toward home. I needed some time to clear my head and process the new information I’d learned from Chris Tucker. Then, I had to decide what to do about all of it.
I uneasily skirted the precinct by taking the long, long way around back to my house. I debated stopping by June’s to pick up a bite to eat, seeing as it was well after lunch and all I’d had to eat was an ice cream cone and the stale cookie Allie had tucked into her purse from the autobody shop. It was a well-rounded breakfast if I was considering a menu of desserts, but I was craving real food.
Still, my desire to get home—alone—was much stronger than my desire for food, which said a lot. If I was lucky, I could scrounge up a few slabs of bread to make a sandwich or a slice of frozen pizza that could count for lunch. Later tonight, I could beg my mother for a homecooked meal, or better yet, I could order takeout and not worry about having to do dishes.
The only problem was that Sunday night takeout in a town the size of Blueberry Lake was an elusive thing. The only place open was the Blue Tavern, the local bar. So, I could get chili cheese fries or beer nuts, and then, only if Frankie—the local cabbie—hadn’t already started dipping into the two-for-one late night happy hour special.
As I pulled onto my street, it became clear to me that the real reason I was avoiding everyone was because I didn’t know what to say to Cooper Dear. I’d promised him that if evidence turned up that pointed toward Matt not being as innocent as I believed, I’d turn it over. That I wasn’t out just to “clear Matt’s name”, but to find justice for a woman who’d been killed.
Whether or not I truly believed Chris’s story, he’d said some troubling things about Matt and his relationship—or lack thereof—with Shania Boot. Had he been trying to keep in touch with her? And if Chris did have Shania’s phone, then what would we find on it?
I told myself I would pick up Shania’s phone first thing tomorrow after my shift at Something Old. Then, I’d drive it straight over to Chief Dear. I’d only maybe take a quick peek through Shania’s text messages and phone call log on the way. Her phone had been ‘missing’ for days, so what was a few more hours?
It was a win-win-win. Cooper would get his phone, I’d get the evidence off my chest, and we’d be one step closer to finding Shania’s killer. I just hoped that step didn’t take us in the direction of my next-door neighbor.
As I pulled into my driveway and parked, however, my next-door neighbor moved to the top of my mind. My Cruiser wasn’t the only vehicle stopped in front of my home. I climbed out slowly, making my way around Matt’s truck as I headed up the front walkway and into the house.
“Hello?” I called from the front door. “Matt?”
When there was no answer, I let myself inside and dropped my things on the chaise lounge that had recently taken on a second identity as a clothes and purse hanger. Once I straightened out this murder case, I would think about redecorating. Also, once I got some more money, seeing as I was a bit wiped out at the moment.
I’d clean up my belongings, stock my cupboards with food—having food around would go a long way in helping me become independent from my mother. And Matt. And Cooper. And June. Between the four of them, I’d mostly been kept stuffed for the last six weeks. The only downside was the tightness of my pants. Either I’d started shrinking my clothes in the dryer, or June’s muffins were doing a number on my waistline.
I sighed, turned around to investigate what Matt’s car was doing in my driveway, and gasped when I spotted a figure standing in my doorway. It took me a long moment to realize the very figure in my door was the one I’d intended to go looking for in my yard.
“Matt,” I said, trying to hide my startled reflex. “What are you doing here? I saw your car out front and called your name, but I didn’t see you anywhere. I was just coming out to hunt you down.”
His lips turned up in a smile as he opened my screen door and stepped inside. “I hope you don’t mind I let myself onto your property. I wanted to take a little initiative to say thanks for all you’ve done lately.”
“Initiative? What sort of initiative?”
Matt beckoned for me to follow him. “Come this way. I’d prefer to show you.”
I must have hesitated, and Matt must have sensed my hesitation.
“If that’s alright with you,” he said, suddenly looking unsure. “Maybe this was all a horrible idea.”
“No, no. I’m sure it wasn’t,” I said, trying to mask what must have been a complicated expression. “I’m just not sure what you mean.”
Matt gave a smile and a wave for me to follow him outside. I gave a sigh of relief. Apparently, Hollywood hadn’t magically given me special talents as an actress. My expression had clearly betrayed my uncertainty, which probably annoyed me more than it had annoyed Matt.
Of course I didn’t believe Matt had it in him to kill anyone. Especially not someone he’d once cared about. But there were questions I needed answered, and I wasn’t sure how to broach those questions without ruining my relationship with my friend.
Maybe my mother is right, I thought as I climbed down the front steps. I picked my way—in my super cute wedges—behind Matt and wondered if I should have stayed out of this entire case. Apparently, I wasn’t getting any closer to solving the actual murder, and in poking my nose into the details, I’d ended up with an ugly new car, an annoyed chief of police watching my every move, and a mother who thought I had a death wish.
If I didn’t watch out, I’d ruin my relationship with my neighbor-slash-caffeine-provider, too, which might be the most dramatic of all fallouts. I didn’t function well without caff
eine, and my attempts to make my own coffee had been pitiful as of late.
“I see you got a new car,” Matt said as we stepped onto the driveway.
“Yeah,” I said. “I did.”
“Interesting choice.”
“It was the one that didn’t explode.”
“Ah,” he said with a lift in one eyebrow. “Then I think you made the right decision.”
I grinned at him, then picked up my feet extra high as Matt stepped onto the grass. “Are we, like, hiking?” I asked. “I’m just wondering if this footwear is fine for where we’re going.”
Matt looked at my feet. “Do you always wear heels out to your yard?”
I blinked. “Why would I ever go out to my yard?”
It was Matt’s turn to laugh. “You’re fine wearing those. I just want to show you something. But if you have boots...”
“Actually, I can do you one better.”
I ran back inside, changed into a pair of light-blue rubber boots that I’d recently ordered online. April showers bring May flowers, and all that, I’d told myself. Plus, they were simply adorable.
“Okay.” I heaved a gigantic breath. “I’m ready now.”
Matt gave my feet one quick glance and managed not to comment on my footwear. “Great. Follow me.”
Matt took my hand as we stepped onto the grass, which was still slightly muddy from the melted snow and rainfall we’d been seeing as winter transitioned to spring. The day was quite lovely, objectively speaking. The sun shone on our shoulders, and the breeze was crisp but balanced by the warmth. It felt like summer was within reach.
I inhaled and exhaled a few large breaths of fresh air, completely distracted by the sheer joy a sunny day could bring in a climate like this—where sunshine and non-freezing temperatures were a rarity, not a norm. I was so caught up in my deep breathing exercises that I was completely oblivious to the point of our little adventure until Matt squeezed my hand and stopped walking.
“What do you think?” he asked. “It’s not much, but I’ve only been out here an hour or two. I’m starting to clear the old away, and then we’ll bring in the new. Plus, I was thinking—”
