Cliffhanger (The Belinda & Bennett Mysteries, Book One) by Amy Saunders

make things right between the two of you?"
    "That was
you, this is me. I would never trust him with you, but I needed to say a few
things to him."
    "Like
what?"
    "That's not
really any of your business."
    Belinda crossed
her arms over her chest. Kyle brought this up, volunteered actually, and now it
was none of her business. "Uh...okay. So did you talk to Jeff?"
    "Yeah, I
did." Kyle's eyes were distant. "I snuck up that path and found him
alone in the yard. We talked and I left the way I came."
    "And that
was it? You just had a casual chat with a person you wouldn't deal with for the
past ten years and went home to watch TV?"
    Kyle's eyes flashed.
"What do you think I did? Push him over the cliff?"
    "No! But I
can't believe it was that normal either." Why did he opt to tell her this
at all if he was going to tell half-truths?
    Kyle sighed.
"He was shocked to see me, but glad I think. We both avoided mentioning
you and we made our peace and I went home, leaving him alone—and alive—in the
backyard."
    "Are you
sure you were alone?"
    "Yes. I
wouldn't have talked to him otherwise."
    "And all you
did was...make peace? You didn't talk about anything else?" Belinda could
feel the irritation emanating off of Kyle, but again, he brought it up. If he
didn't want to divulge anything, he should have kept it to himself.
    "It was a
brief conversation."
    "And you are
absolutely positive no one saw you?"
    Kyle glanced at
her curiously. "Why are you so adamant about that?"
    Belinda dropped
her hands to her sides. "The killer could have used that path. I was just
thinking that someone might have noticed you coming or going that way and
gotten an idea of how to avoid being seen. They could have officially left the
party and then returned that way to kill Jeff. And that would have been good
timing if he was alone when you left."
    "Will you
tell your friend about this?"
    Belinda examined
his profile. She didn't want to have to do anything, but he didn't seem to be
leaving her with much choice. "I really think you should just go tell the
police yourself. It could save you a lot of trouble later. If you don't, it
just looks like you're hiding something." As she said it, Belinda bit her
lip. It didn't look like he was hiding something, he was hiding
something.
    Kyle swallowed.
"I'm sorry, Bels. I'm really sorry." He kissed her forehead and
headed to his room.
    "Does that
mean you won't?" Belinda's voice echoed along with her frustration.
    He didn't answer,
leaving her alone in what now felt like a big, empty box. Belinda took a deep
breath, trying to steady her nerves. Why was every pleasant moment in her life
scarred like this? She would wait and try and talk some sense into him in the
morning. If he still refused...well, she would try not to think about that.
     
    Kyle avoided her
in the morning, barricading himself in his bedroom. Belinda sat at the kitchen
island trying to work on her to-do list for her cupcake boutique, thoughts of
Kyle "making peace'" with Jeff and Bennett's gray eyes absorbing her
concentration. So when the doorbell rang, Belinda wasn't at all prepared to
deal with anyone.
    Bennett's
detective friend was outside her door with a uniformed officer behind him.
Belinda's eyes shot open and all other thoughts evaporated.
    "Is your
brother around this morning, Ms. Kittridge?" he said.
    So they were back
to that. Last night, he'd called her honey, which Belinda could only guess
meant something incredibly awful was about to happen. Belinda nodded and
stepped aside for them to enter and then flew up the stairs to Kyle's room,
banging on his door. He opened, glowering, until he saw the detective.
    "Mr.
Kittridge," Jonas said in his official voice, "you're under arrest
for the murder of Jeff Clark."
    Kyle ignored the
involuntary squeak that shot out of Belinda's mouth and let them handcuff him
and lead him outside without a word, refusing to even glance in Belinda's
direction. She followed them out, staring blankly as the officer