The Devil You Know (Sarah Woods Mystery Book 15) by Jennifer L. Jennings

to say, exactly?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe one of George’s kids decided that my mother stood in the way of their inheritance. Maybe they didn’t appreciate that.”
    Brett swallowed hard. “Wow. I don’t know what to say. Are you accusing someone of actually killing your mother? I mean, that’s insane. It was an accident.”
    I said nothing for a few long seconds. “How can you be so sure it was or wasn’t an accident? Did you see her fall down the stairs?”
    “Well, no. I was sleeping when it happened.”
    “Then how do you know for certain?”
    He seemed flustered. “Well, I mean, I guess I don’t. But who would do something like that? Nobody in this family would do something so evil. At least not on purpose.”
    “What about Miles or Sue-Ann?” I said. “They’re struggling financially. Maybe one of them…”
    “Who told you that they're struggling?”
    “George.”
    Clearly at a loss for words, he raked a hand through his hair. “Doesn't make sense. Why would anyone risk killing your mother? Certainly George wasn’t going to leave his entire fortune to her. There's plenty to go around for everyone.”
    “How do you know for sure what George is leaving everyone in his will? Did he tell you himself?”
    Brett paused and seemed to chew on that for a moment. “No, but Olivia assures me that George is splitting everything between his kids. Even if we had to divide the estate three ways with your mother …” He stopped himself and looked away toward the crackling of the fire.
    I found it interesting how Brett considered himself as one of the heirs to George’s fortune. Sure, he was married to George’s daughter, but he must also be aware that Olivia had a history of short marriages. And yet, he seemed pretty confident that he’d be around long enough to collect on her father’s inheritance. For all I knew, Brett could have been the one who pushed Josephine down the stairs. People have killed for lesser reasons.
    “Maybe you’re right,” I said. “Maybe I’m way off base, here. I feel awful for even mentioning my suspicions to you. Please don’t say anything to the others.”
    Brett seemed slightly relieved. “No worries. It's a stressful time, so I understand.”
    Of course, I was counting on the fact that Brett would tell Olivia. How could he resist? And then Olivia would tell her brother Miles. Miles would tell his wife Sue-Ann and, pretty soon, the whole family would know that I suspected foul play was involved in Josephine’s death. Little did he know, it was all part of the plan to uncover the truth.
    “Let’s talk about something else,” I said. “Tell me more about your acting career.”
    He chuckled. “You mean the lack, thereof?”
    “I thought you were the lead actor in a Broadway show? That sounds impressive to me.”
    Brett shrugged like it was nothing to be impressed about. “Since we’re being honest with one another, I should probably confess that I’m not really the lead in a play. I’m a stand-in, just in case the real actor gets sick or hurts himself.”
    “Oh.” I wracked my brain for something to say that would make him feel better. “Do you get paid for being a stand-in?”
    “I’m afraid not. But I keep plugging away, hoping for my big break. I know it will happen someday.”
    “I think you have the right attitude. Show business is not for the faint of heart, I hear.”
    He smiled at me. “Nope. You need thick skin and a will to succeed.”
    We killed the bottle of wine as he continued to talk about his life. He told me he was an only child, raised by a single mom in a one room apartment in the Bronx. His father had skipped out when he was only thirteen and died a year later in a car accident. He also talked about his various jobs over the past twenty years. He’d done everything from waiting tables to selling vacuum cleaners.
    By eleven o’clock, I could barely keep my eyes open. “I need to get some sleep. I don’t want to be too hung over for