new in my life.”
Darcy thought that was strange. Jess was usually a huge gossip who had no trouble telling everything, even about her own life. Had the rumors been wrong?
There was a moment of silence while the women tried to pick up the conversation. “So, Darcy,” Linda finally asked. “Are there any updates on the case?”
Now was the time to strike, Darcy knew. “We have a very strong suspect. Jon and Grace think we’re close to solving the case.”
“Oh? Is that why they arrested Grace’s husband?” Jess pressed.
“Well.” What could she say about that? “That would be police business, I guess. Grace doesn’t tell me everything.”
They all hushed as Pete walked behind where they were standing. He looked very upset. Pointing discreetly at him Sue said, “I heard a new rumor about him. Apparently he’s been going to that acting studio in Meadowood every week to take acting lessons.” Meadowood was the next town over from Misty Hollow and was quite a bit bigger.
Acting lessons? Darcy considered that. Depending on how good he was at acting…
She needed to tell Jon this piece of information right away so she excused herself from the other women. She found Jon standing alone beside the makeshift bar that Linda had set up in one corner of her living room. She could see he was scanning the crowd, checking out all of the suspects, much more obvious about it than she had been. She hurried over to him. When she got to him he took hold of her hand and she couldn’t control the shiver she felt at his touch.
“Have you found anything out?” he asked her.
“I think so. I just saw Pete and he looked really upset, but maybe it was all an act.” She went on to tell him what she had learnt about Pete taking acting lessons.
“That’s interesting. Well, I haven’t been able to find anything on Helen yet. Maybe there just isn’t anything to find out. Maybe she isn’t the one.”
Darcy didn’t know how much longer she could take this. Suspecting everyone she knew of murder was taking its toll on her.
“Hey, you look upset.” Jon ran a finger across her cheek, then stepped back, both of them conscious of how almost the entire town was at the memorial.
She smiled at him. “I really just want to go home. I’m too tired to be at a party. Even one for the dead.”
***
At home Darcy got ready for bed quickly, throwing on an old pair of pajamas, and then climbing under the covers. It had been a very disappointing evening. She had really been expecting some big revelation like in Agatha Christie’s novel. It hadn’t materialized.
Smudge curled up next to her as she drifted off to sleep.
She was awoken by a loud yowl from her cat, to find a figure standing over her, wearing dark, baggy clothing. This wasn’t a dream. This figure was real, the gun he held was real. She was about to be shot. The next victim of the killer.
Darcy had to think quickly so she grabbed hold of a book on her bedside table and threw it as hard as she could at the person. The figure dodged the book and ran out of the door.
Shaking uncontrollably, Darcy reached for her phone to call the police.
Chapter Twenty
Darcy was very shaken up after what had happened and was sitting stiffly on her couch with Smudge. She had her legs drawn up to her chest and her arms were hugging her knees as she tried to stop the shaking.
She had been watching her front door for minutes that felt like hours, terrified that the intruder was going to come back. When the handle of the front door rattled as if someone was trying to get in she hesitantly moved over to the door and checked the peep hole. Relief flooded through her as she opened it.
Jon rushed into the house and drew her into a tight hug. “Are you okay? Are you sure they’re gone?”
“I’m fine, Jon. I scared him away. I threw a book at him.”
He looked at her like she was crazy and she felt a smile come over her. “What can I say? Books have been my saving grace
Darcy thought that was strange. Jess was usually a huge gossip who had no trouble telling everything, even about her own life. Had the rumors been wrong?
There was a moment of silence while the women tried to pick up the conversation. “So, Darcy,” Linda finally asked. “Are there any updates on the case?”
Now was the time to strike, Darcy knew. “We have a very strong suspect. Jon and Grace think we’re close to solving the case.”
“Oh? Is that why they arrested Grace’s husband?” Jess pressed.
“Well.” What could she say about that? “That would be police business, I guess. Grace doesn’t tell me everything.”
They all hushed as Pete walked behind where they were standing. He looked very upset. Pointing discreetly at him Sue said, “I heard a new rumor about him. Apparently he’s been going to that acting studio in Meadowood every week to take acting lessons.” Meadowood was the next town over from Misty Hollow and was quite a bit bigger.
Acting lessons? Darcy considered that. Depending on how good he was at acting…
She needed to tell Jon this piece of information right away so she excused herself from the other women. She found Jon standing alone beside the makeshift bar that Linda had set up in one corner of her living room. She could see he was scanning the crowd, checking out all of the suspects, much more obvious about it than she had been. She hurried over to him. When she got to him he took hold of her hand and she couldn’t control the shiver she felt at his touch.
“Have you found anything out?” he asked her.
“I think so. I just saw Pete and he looked really upset, but maybe it was all an act.” She went on to tell him what she had learnt about Pete taking acting lessons.
“That’s interesting. Well, I haven’t been able to find anything on Helen yet. Maybe there just isn’t anything to find out. Maybe she isn’t the one.”
Darcy didn’t know how much longer she could take this. Suspecting everyone she knew of murder was taking its toll on her.
“Hey, you look upset.” Jon ran a finger across her cheek, then stepped back, both of them conscious of how almost the entire town was at the memorial.
She smiled at him. “I really just want to go home. I’m too tired to be at a party. Even one for the dead.”
***
At home Darcy got ready for bed quickly, throwing on an old pair of pajamas, and then climbing under the covers. It had been a very disappointing evening. She had really been expecting some big revelation like in Agatha Christie’s novel. It hadn’t materialized.
Smudge curled up next to her as she drifted off to sleep.
She was awoken by a loud yowl from her cat, to find a figure standing over her, wearing dark, baggy clothing. This wasn’t a dream. This figure was real, the gun he held was real. She was about to be shot. The next victim of the killer.
Darcy had to think quickly so she grabbed hold of a book on her bedside table and threw it as hard as she could at the person. The figure dodged the book and ran out of the door.
Shaking uncontrollably, Darcy reached for her phone to call the police.
Chapter Twenty
Darcy was very shaken up after what had happened and was sitting stiffly on her couch with Smudge. She had her legs drawn up to her chest and her arms were hugging her knees as she tried to stop the shaking.
She had been watching her front door for minutes that felt like hours, terrified that the intruder was going to come back. When the handle of the front door rattled as if someone was trying to get in she hesitantly moved over to the door and checked the peep hole. Relief flooded through her as she opened it.
Jon rushed into the house and drew her into a tight hug. “Are you okay? Are you sure they’re gone?”
“I’m fine, Jon. I scared him away. I threw a book at him.”
He looked at her like she was crazy and she felt a smile come over her. “What can I say? Books have been my saving grace
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