Sweetness and Light (A Sweet Cove Mystery Book 5) by J.A. Whiting Page A

consider.  Perhaps it would be helpful to recap what we know.”  Mr. Finch poured fudge into a pan.  “Nelson Rider has been murdered.  Miss Bethany and Todd Moore are in love.  Todd has received threats against his life for being in love with Miss Bethany.  Senator Winston would not be pleased if he knew the depth of feeling that his daughter has for Todd.  Miss Bethany can be considered a suspect in Nelson’s murder.  Todd appeared not to know what happened, so that probably eliminates him as a suspect.  Anything else?”  He scraped the pan with a spatula.
    “Can I lick the pan?”  Angie giggled and stuck a finger into the bottom of the pan Finch was holding.  She licked her finger.  “Yum.  Delicious.”
    One of the candy store employees stuck her head around the corner to peer into the work room.  “Courtney?  There’s a woman out here who says she needs to see the Roseland sisters.  Should I send her back?”
    Courtney’s face was blank.  She looked at her sisters who appeared to be just as surprised.  They shrugged.
    Courtney said, “I guess so.  Sure.  Send her in.”
    A young woman rushed into the back room.  She pulled off her sunglasses and floppy hat.  Bethany Winston stood there with wide eyes.
    Angie whispered to Mr. Finch.  “You know when you asked a few minutes ago if there was anything else to add to the information about the murder case?”  She leaned closer.  “The answer is ‘probably yes.’”
 

Chapter 9
    “I had to sneak here.”  Bethany was breathing hard and she looked back over her shoulder.  She stepped further into the room.  Her platinum hair was flat and sweaty from being squished under the hat. “I had to slip past the media.  They’re hanging out near the house we rented.”  She glanced at the four people staring at her.  “Why are you looking at me like that?”
    Jenna went over to the woman. “We’re just surprised to see you.  I’m sorry about Nelson.”
    The others expressed their condolences.  Mr. Finch introduced himself and offered to make Bethany a latte.  She accepted and he went to his machine to prepare it.
    Courtney gestured to the desk chair and the young woman sat down with a great sigh.  “How is this my life?”  She plopped her hat and sunglasses on the desk.  “Poor, stupid Nelson.”
    Angie carried two folding chairs over and placed them near the desk.  There were two stools next to the wall.  Courtney pulled them over.  The sisters sat, and Mr. Finch handed the latte to Bethany and then took a chair.
    “Why do you say that Nelson was stupid?”  Jenna asked.
    Bethany ran her hand through her hair and pushed her droopy bangs back off her forehead.  “Nelson was the perfect stereotype of a blue-blooded rich boy.  He played the part well.”
    “How do you mean?” Courtney’s expression was serious.
    “Nelson went to boarding school.  He went to Yale.  He got into Harvard Business School because his daddy made a call.  He was a party boy.  His family was always covering for him.”  She let out a loud sigh.  “He only did enough at work to get by.  Nelson was always having affairs.  Deep down he was a good person, but he just thought life was one big party and he was going to suck up everything he could.  Honestly, he was just like a little boy.  He never thought his actions would get him into trouble.”  She shook her head sadly.  “It seems he was wrong about that.”
    “He had affairs while you were engaged?” Jenna made a face.
    Bethany waved her hand dismissively.  “Of course.  He would never stop.  There’s always a willing Miss, especially if the guy is loaded.”
    “Why put up with it?” Angie questioned.
    “It is what it is.”  Bethany sipped her latte.  “Well, it was what it was.”  She placed her small white cup on the desk.  “I knew what I was getting into by marrying Nelson.”
    “Why marry someone like that?”  Courtney’s eyes clouded over.