The Butler Didn't Do It (A Maddox Storm Mystery Book 2) (21 page)

Proving he did actually know the words to the “Miranda” Rights, even if he seldom bothered to use them.

Julie folded her arms. “It was touch and go there for a minute. I wasn’t sure I’d crack him.”

“I’m sorry,” I said to her. “It must have been hard, doing that to a friend.”

“Justice must prevail,” she said, not particularly overwrought. “I couldn’t have done it without your hypothesis, especially the parts you got so terribly wrong. Charles’ ego couldn’t handle the thought of me believing that you, of all people, had retraced his steps and figured everything out to the last detail.”

My mouth turned down at the corners. If this was the best she could do with a compliment, she really shouldn’t bother. Ever.

Julie studied me with a thoughtful expression. “Have you considered joining the GRIMMS, Ms Storm?”

“Dear Lord, no,” I gasped before polite manners could kick in.

“That’s to be expected, I suppose,” Julie said. “We haven’t put our best foot forward this weekend, have we? I’m sure you’ll be pleased to see the back of us.”

Truer words had never been spoken. I managed to restrain myself from nodding and agreeing, though, which was more than she’d done for me when Charles had called me a babbling buffoon.

EIGHTEEN

Hollow House was mostly restored to normal. The last GRIMMS had finally left and Burns was nodding off at the reception desk. I foolishly thought it safe to tiptoe past him to the lounge in search of a well-deserved cappuccino.

I slammed to a halt in the archway as I saw my mistake.

Mr Hollow had cornered Miss Crawley near the coffee maker. “It’s a Federal offense to obtain illegal access to a man’s financial statements.”

He stomped his cane for emphasis, which was lost on the thick rug.

“A minor felony at best,” Miss Crawley responded calmly. “Besides, which, I did no such thing. I do not have an inside person at the bank, unfortunately. I can barely gain access to my own finances when I go into the branch.”

“Then how do you know about my second mortgage?”

I retreated swiftly and quietly, and prayed Miss Crawley stuck to her guns about never giving up a source.

I’d forgotten about the state of my bedroom until I stepped inside. The floorplans pinned to the wall. The whiteboard next to the bed. I stood in the middle of my room, my heart folding in on itself as I thought about the last couple of days and Nate.

As happy as I was to get my room back to myself, it felt a bit strange that he wouldn’t be here to send me off to sleep tonight.

Now that the case was closed, I couldn’t help wondering if he’d disappear from my life as quickly as the last time. He’d said not, but what people said and what they did didn’t always coincide.

Which led my thoughts straight to Joe, and the uneasiness that had been building inside me.

I stripped the floorplans from the wall. Took extra care to not erase any of the marker pen when I collapsed the whiteboard. If there was one thing I’d learnt, Nate could get really crabby when you messed with his crime scene and that probably included all related materials.

I stored it all inside the flat canvas bag, which I propped against the wall near the door with a flourish, feeling a great sense of satisfaction. There was something to be said about zipping up the loose ends of the entire sordid affair.

There really was.

That sense of satisfaction bled away as my mind turned to the loose ends in my own life that needed zipping, and I knew I had a difficult decision to make. An irreversible decision, but it was time to grow up and sort my stuff out.

Joe’s door stood wide open, his back to me, his gaze outside the window. The room was straightened, the desk uncluttered. That was either a good sign or a bad omen, depending on whether he’d finished his book or developed a strain of writer’s block.

I took a deep breath and knocked.

He turned from the window, hands shoved in his pockets, his expression steeped in thought. It took a moment longer for him to register my presence. His brow cleared. “Charles Sitter, huh?”

“You heard?”

“I saw Nate cuff and put him in the back of the truck,” Joe said. “And Julie Brown stopped by to fill me in. She was full of praise for you.”

“Their numbers are down,” I snorted and crossed the threshold. “She’s on a recruitment drive.”

Joe smiled, some of that familiar humor feeding into his eyes.

I felt the tug, past memories and the swell of warmth. But it wasn’t enough and it should have been. That was a big part of my decision.

“Joe, I’m sorry,” I said as I walked up to him. “I think we need to start proceedings on the divorce. I know the situation I’ve put you in, but I have nothing and I’m not about to contest for anything of yours. It should go through pretty quickly.”

Dull acceptance replaced the humor in his eyes. “I’ve been expecting this.”

“Nothing has to change for now,” I told him, then remembered. “Actually, our Hollow House shares all belong to you. You can start charging me rent, or kick me out altogether.”

“I’d never do that, Maddie.”

A smile of regret twisted my mouth. “Yeah, I know.”

“I only wish I’d done better for you in our marriage.”

“You’re not the only one to blame.” I placed a hand on his arm. “It was so easy to love you, Joe.
You
made it easy. You’re so warm, funny, creative, cute and charming...” I sighed. “And you doted on me. We fell so hard and fast, and everything just got more perfect with every day, but it was an illusion. Life isn’t like that. You made a mistake, but it could have been me, or anything else. Somewhere down the line, life would have hit and I should have been able to stand with you.”

Unshed tears blurred my eyes. My throat thickened. I’d thought what Joe had done to me was bad, but this was worse. Taking that look in the mirror and realizing you’re not the person you thought you were.

“Maddie…” His hand came out his pocket to cup my cheek. “I shouldn’t have screwed up so royally.”

“But I should be able to forgive you,” I said. “Give you at least one more chance.” I swallowed hard. “If I loved you the right way, the way I honestly thought I did, I would be able to do that.”

“Come here.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into a tight hug. “We’ve really made a mess of things, haven’t we?”

I nodded against his chest, stayed there wrapped in his arms and my own failures. I’d also made vows in our marriage, to love him through thick and thin, but I couldn’t do it. I’d slipped on the first thin patch, and couldn’t find it in myself to pull myself up and try again.

The sound of someone clearing their throat intruded.

Joe’s arms slackened.

I stepped out of his embrace and turned, to see Nate framed in the doorway. How long had he been there?

Long enough to blank whatever expression had crossed his face when he’d found me in Joe’s arms.

Long enough for his eyes to cool to slate.

“I came to collect my things.” He pushed a hand through his hair, kept it there. “And say goodbye.”

I knew what he thought he’d seen, what conclusions he’d probably drawn. And I could have said something, corrected him, but I didn’t. Maybe it was for the best, before things got complicated and I messed up someone else’s life. This friendship bargain had too many potholes for me to trip over. Bone-melting smiles, stone-baked gazes, fluttered pulses, that sort of thing.

“I’ve packed everything up,” I told him. “It’s just inside the door.”

“Thanks.” His gaze locked on me, so cool and yet so intense. A smile ghosted his lips, all that was left of what we could have been. “Goodbye, Maddox.”

“Goodbye, Nate.”

I watched until he disappeared from sight, and then I watched some more until Joe’s hand landed on my shoulder.

“Are you okay?”

I shifted to look at him. “Yeah, I will be.”

“You should go after him,” Joe said softly, sincerely.

“No.” I shook my head.

And okay, every part of me itched to do exactly that. But I didn’t trust myself in a relationship with a pet goldfish right now, let alone with a man I’d come to care for.

“No,” I said again, slow and sure. “I really shouldn’t.”

… Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed the secondbook in my Maddox Storm Cozy Mystery series. Please don’t forget to give this book a quick review on Amazon if you’re able. Even just a couple of words, “Liked it” or “Not for me” reviews help so much. I’m grateful for all feedback from my readers, good or bad.

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