Grapes of Death by Joni Folger

the gambling markers and the paystubs. I couldn’t believe it. Why on earth would he work for the competition when he could have worked with his own family? He betrayed us all.”
    Abigail got up and came around the table to her granddaughter. Slipping an arm around Elise, she hugged her close. “Sometimes we do hurtful things to those we love without thinking, sweetheart. I think Edmond would have come to his senses eventually and realized what he was losing, but someone cut short his time, that’s all.”
    â€œUnfortunately, there’s no way to know what his motives were, and we can never be sure of how it would have ended.” Suddenly, Elise sat up straighter and her blue eyes lit up. “Wait a minute! Stuart called me on my house phone just after I finished my own dinner and we talked for an hour or so. We hung up about seven, so I guess that does give me an alibi.”
    Jackson shot her a narrow glance and then shook his head.
    â€œWhat?” she asked in an exasperated tone. “It covers the time you’re talking about.”
    Jackson ignored her. “I think that’s all I need for now.” Flipping his notepad closed, he put it back into his pocket. “Thank you for your cooperation, Miss Laura. I will try to keep you updated, if I can.”
    â€œI appreciate that, Jackson. But if you can’t, we’ll all understand. I don’t want you to get into any hot water because of us.” She made a point to send a sharp glance at Ross before patting Jackson’s shoulder. “And if you need anything else, just give me a call, you hear?”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    â€œJax, can I talk to you for a minute before you leave?” Elise asked and inclined her head toward the hallway.
    He ignored the sly look Ross gave them and followed her out of the dining room. “What’s up?” he asked as she dragged him down the hall and into the office.
    Closing the door behind her, Elise leaned back on it and gave him a sympathetic look. “First off, I just want to say that I know that was as hard on you as it was on the rest of the family. I’m sorry. And I’m sorry Ross was such a butthead. You know he didn’t really mean half of what he said, right?”
    â€œHe’s angry right now and doesn’t want to think that this kind of thing could happen to his family. I get that.” Jackson rubbed his forehead, where a dull ache had begun. “Unfortunately, it has, and he’s gonna have to come to grips with it on his own. Like your mom said, the sooner he cooperates, the better.”
    â€œI wish there was something I could do, but you’re right, he’s going to have to work it out himself.” She paused, and he could almost see the wheels turning in her head.
    â€œSpit it out, precious.”
    â€œSpit what out?”
    She looked up at him all innocence, but he wasn’t fooled. She was hatching something. “Spit out whatever it is that you’re not saying.”
    â€œOkay, not to change the subject, but are you going to talk to Pam today?”
    Closing his eyes, he counted to ten before answering. “Yes, El, I’m going out to the Pit Barbeque next, if it’s any of your business—which of course, it’s not. Did we not talk about this just last night?”
    â€œGeez, don’t blow a gasket. I was just asking.” Elise crossed her arms and cocked a hip. “But come to think of it, you should probably take a look at Uncle Edmond’s house too. I didn’t have much time on Monday, and there’s probably more clues buried out there in that pig sty.”
    â€œYou just can’t help yourself, can you?” Jackson blew out an exasperated breath and jabbed a finger at her. “You need to let me do my job in my own way and keep that pretty little nose of yours out of it. Are you listening to me?”
    â€œKinda hard not to when you’re hollerin’