All About the Money (A Jesse Watson Mystery Series Book 7) by Ann Mullen Page A

doesn’t cut it. You of all people
should know that.” I turned and walked out of the room. Let her chew on that
for awhile. Much to my surprise, when I stepped into the hallway, Russell and
McCoy were on the floor, throwing punches. I looked up at Billy, who was
standing up against the wall with his arms crossed.
    “Aren’t you going to stop it” I asked him. “They’re going to
kill each other.”
    “I’m not even going to try. I know better than to get into
the middle of two men fighting over a woman. I’m the one who’d wind up getting
hurt. They’re on their own.”
    “I don’t blame you,” I said as I backed up against the wall
next to him. “Let the hospital security team handle it.”
    A few seconds later, two armed security guards arrived. They
broke up the fight, and then ushered both men out of the hospital.
    “They won’t go to jail, will they?” I asked Billy.
    “I doubt it, but they will be temporally banned from the
hospital.”
    “I guess we should go back in and talk with Savannah . I had some pretty harsh words for
her before I walked out. She probably needs someone to talk to. If I play my
cards right, I might even get the truth out of her.”
    That was a joke, but trouble was on the horizon. I could see
it coming.

Chapter 7
    The minute the words were out of my mouth, Sheriff Wake
Hudson appeared from around the corner with two of his deputies following
behind him. One of those deputies was Cole James.
    Cole was my first love interest when I moved to
Stanardsville. Somehow, he still has the power to make my heart flutter
whenever I see him… even if it’s only a little flutter. I guess that will go
away in time. I have my man.
    “Nice little triangle we have going on here,” Sheriff Hudson
said. “I saw them haul out McCoy Kelley and Russell Shank. I knew they were
going to come to blows over Savannah . She’s a mighty attractive woman.”
    “Don’t go getting yourself involved with her,” I said. “She
has enough men fawning over her. She doesn’t need any more.” I looked directly
at Cole and said, “Hello, Cole. How are you doing?”
    “Just fine, thank you,” he replied, emotionless. “And
yourself?”
    “Fine,” I replied, telling myself to let it go. He can be as
cold to me as he wants to be. I no longer cared. Those days have come and gone.
    “What are you doing here?” Billy asked the sheriff.
    “I have some questions for Savannah .”
    “You can’t question her without her attorney present,” I
said, sternly. “And the hospital just kicked him out, so you’re out of luck.
Stay away from her. I know the law.”
    “And which one just got kicked out?” Cole asked, almost
coldly. “Her husband or her new boyfriend?”
    Now where did that come from? Why was Cole being so nasty
when it came to Savannah and the men in her life? Unless…
    The sheriff shot Cole a dirty look, and then turned back to
me. “Jesse, you know me,” he said. “I’ll advise her of her rights before I
question her. I’ve been at this job too long to make a mistake like that.”
    “If you’re going to advise her of her rights then that means
you’re going to arrest her. It was self-defense. You said so yourself. You
can’t be serious about taking her in.”
    “We have new information that might dispute Mrs. Kelley’s
story.”
    “What new information?”
    “You know I can’t comment on an ongoing investigation.”
    Billy and I stared at each other in disbelief, both of us
sharing the same thought. It was quickly becoming apparent that Savannah had many secrets according to
Sheriff Hudson’s statement. But what were those secrets?
    “And you’re going to arrest her right here in the hospital?
It can’t wait until she gets home? Do you have any idea how much the press is
going to love this? I saw a Channel 29 News van outside. They’ll have a field
day with this.”
    “She’s a flight risk.”
    “Says who? You can’t think for a minute that Savannah ’s going to