Love Inspired Suspense October 2015 #1 by Lenora Worth, Hope White, Diane Burke Page B

coffee and drank deeply. “Good. Very good.”
    If she hadn’t been so unsettled by seeing him, Rikki would have laughed. “I’m glad you approve.”
    He sat down and turned to business, his whole demeanor turning as black as the coffee. “I need to ask you a few more questions.”
    Rikki sank down on the other side of the sectional. “Of course.” She swallowed and tried to calm herself.”
    She willed herself not to break down in front of him. She’d cried enough yesterday and last night, seeing her mother so frail and knowing she’d never see Tessa alive again. “Okay. Well, I’d like to help with her funerals expenses whenever that’s possible. I owe her family a lot.”
    â€œWhy’s that?”
    Did he have to distrust everything she said?
    â€œWhen I first left Millbrook, they took me in and let me stay with them until Tessa and I could go to FSU together. She was my roommate all the way through college.” She stared out at the water beyond the yard. “Her mother died of lung cancer when Tessa and I were in college and her father died later in a boating accident. I miss them and now I’ll miss her.”
    â€œSo you two were close.”
    â€œYes. I told you she was my best friend. I don’t know what I’ll do without her.”
    Blain lowered his gaze and took a sip of coffee, but Rikki thought she’d seen a trace of compassion passing through his inky eyes. Gone in a flash but something to remember when he started grilling her.
    He studied his notes then glanced back up at her. “Okay, so, your ex might have an alibi. We haven’t located him yet, but several neighbors saw him at a company Christmas party the night of the murder. We checked with his coworkers and several of them vouched for his whereabouts yesterday.”
    Rikki nodded. “Probably at that party with his new girlfriend.”
    â€œSo he still stalks you while he’s dating another woman?”
    She colored with humiliation. “I tend to attract real losers. He dated other people while we were together, too.”
    He gave her another in-depth sweeping gaze that didn’t seem to have anything to do with the conversation. Almost like a silent compliment.
    â€œSo...your Charming Chad was in Tallahassee with a roomful of people at the time of the murder. We have pictures and we have statements that both support his statement. He’s in the clear for now since the ME established the time of death at around 6:00 p.m.”
    â€œSo you can mark him off your suspect list?”
    â€œYes. For now.” He studied his notes. “But he didn’t show up for work today. We’re still trying to locate him.”
    A thread of apprehension curled down her spine. “That’s odd. Chad never misses work.”
    â€œWe’ll keep checking. He might have a hangover or maybe he took a day off.” The detective didn’t look too concerned. “Now on to you.”
    Rikki knew this man still had his doubts about her. “And what about me, Detective? What list am I on?”

SIX
    B lain wasn’t sure how to answer that question. He leaned forward and cupped his hands together. “I’d like to believe you’re on the good list but I haven’t talked to Santa yet.”
    Her smile wasn’t as confident as she probably hoped it would be. “Don’t do me any favors.”
    â€œHadn’t planned on it,” he retorted, thinking he’d have to go to the extreme to make that a true statement. “But I still need to ask you a few more questions.”
    Rikki sat back on her side of the couch, her hands clasped. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know. Just please find Tessa’s killer.”
    Blain intended to do just that. “Tessa’s boyfriend’s alibi held. He had several witnesses, one who rode with him to a dinner where they were all night.” Blain sipped