Ax to Grind by Amelia Morgan

“Yeah.  She couldn’t believe Ethan had gone back on his word and decided to stage Wyatt’s play instead of hers.  Ethan was always doing stuff like that, though.  He had a bigger soft spot for his loser kid than he ever had for Paige.”
    Another scoop.  No wonder Paige had lied to Meg and Connor.  She was practically drenched in motive.  Paige had some serious explaining to do.  But first, Meg had to finish up with Wendy. 
    “I can understand how maddening that would be.  Thank you for your help,” Meg said. 
    While Meg was caught up in exposing Paige’s lies, Connor stepped in with a question of his own. 
    “Just one more thing.  Did Ethan call Paige at all after she came over to your place?” Connor asked. 
    Wendy wracked her brain.  “No, he didn’t.  As a matter of fact, I don’t remember Paige getting a call or text of any kind all night.”
    So maybe there was some actual truth to Paige’s story.  Perhaps she really had forgotten her phone at home. Unfortunately, she’d thrown in plenty of lies into her story as well.   

 
    Chapter Fifteen
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    After finding out Paige’s alibi was shakier than a tent in a hurricane, it was time to pay her another visit.  As Meg and Connor drove back to her house, they were buzzing, although for different reasons. 
    Connor’s eyes were as wide as could be.  “That was some seriously impressive work.”
    Meg was focused on the upcoming showdown with Paige.  “I have a feeling we’re going to have to find a few more rabbits to pull out of our hats.  Paige is such a big liar; I’m surprised her pants weren’t on fire.”
    “That being said, I’m glad I let you take the lead.  I would have gone with a much different approach, and may not have gotten quite the same results.”
    “Never underestimate how effective confusing a suspect can be.”
    “Are you giving me tips on how to be a detective?”
    “I know you like doing things by the book.  I’m giving you tips on how to write a different kind of book,” Meg said. 
    “Clearly.  Remind me to never doubt your tactics again.”
    Meg smiled.  “Trust me, I won’t.”
    Connor chuckled.  “I’m sure you won’t.  I’m curious, though.  What made you go at it that way?”
    “Sometimes you have to fight lies with craftier lies.”
    Connor bit the corner of his lip.  “I guess the question is, who knew you were such a good liar?” 
    She shook her head.  “The real question to me is, what was Paige really doing last night?”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    ***
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    It was safe to say Paige wasn’t happy to see Meg and Connor’s faces again, no less so soon after their last confrontation.  This time, Paige didn’t even pretend to be nice.  She skipped over small talk entirely and went right to open hostility. 
    “Why are you here?  I already told you everything that happened,” Paige declared. 
    Connor wasn’t about to let himself be sassed by a murder suspect.  “Unfortunately, a lot of what you told us wasn’t the truth.”
    Meg jumped in.  “Why did you think you could get away with lying to us?”
    Paige became defensive.  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “Let me refresh your memory.  Your friend told us you didn’t get to her house until just after midnight.  That’s plenty of time to have committed the murder before heading over to see your friend,” Meg pointed out. 
    “You say that, but this is my husband we’re talking about here. I had no reason to want him dead, no less to kill him,” Paige argued.   
    Meg exposed that lie as well.  “Your friend also told us you got into a fight with Ethan last night after he went back on his word and decided to stage his son’s play instead of yours.”
    Connor piggy-backed on that statement.  “If that’s not motive enough, with your husband out of the picture, you’d stand to inherit the theater, meaning you’d be free to