Summer Reading is Killing Me (Phee Jefferson Book 2) by Amy E. Lilly

off the overprotective attitude if you’ll promise to be careful.
This person already killed once. There’s no guarantee they won’t do it again.
The same goes for you, Juliet. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to
either of you.”
    “Ooh, Clint. I love it when you get all big
brother protective with me. If you lock me in the closet with Phee , flick me Oat Rings instead,” Juliet joked. “All
kidding aside, Phee , he’s right. I don’t want a
repeat of last year. Safety first is my new motto!” Juliet raised her right
hand in the three-fingered scout promise.
    “Glad you see the wisdom of my ways,” Clint said
dryly. “ Phee , what time is your dinner with Senator
Campbell? If you don’t get back too late, I’ll come by your house.”
    “It’s at six. I’m sorry I had to cancel our dinner
this evening, but how do you say no to a senator? He wanted to hear from me
what I found rather than accept what he called the “sanitized report” he
received from Sheriff Dawes. I haven’t a clue what I can add.”
    “He wasn’t told about the postmortem stabbing, only
the gunshot wound. He also doesn’t know about the clue left on the canvas.
You’ll have to give him a sanitized report yourself,” Clint advised.
    Juliet leaned forward and scooped guacamole onto a
chip. “Does Sheriff Dawes suspect Senator Campbell of being involved in the
murder?”
    “Not at all. We haven’t ruled out his staff
though. His closest staff member is a guy named Anthony Ziegfried .
From our preliminary background check, he is a mover and a shaker in the
political world. He plans to ride someone’s coattails to the White House. Who
knows what he would do to make sure Elody didn’t hurt
Senator Campbell’s chances.” Clint refused to look at Juliet and me as we
crunched our guacamole-smeared chips. He shuddered when his eyes fell on the
bowl as he reached for a glob of cheesy beef-laden chips.
    “Anthony is a sweetheart,” I said. “He’s very
charming. He’ll be at the dinner tonight, I’m sure. I can’t believe he would
commit murder for a political campaign.”
    “Just don’t be fooled by any of these political types.
They make their bread and butter by smooth talk and polished good looks,” Clint
warned.
    “Mrs. Lassiter has known Senator Campbell since he
was a child. She went to college with the Senator’s mother,” I said. “By the
way, I learned what happened to Mr. Lassiter yesterday. It turns out he died
their first year of marriage. She never remarried because he was her one true
love.” I sighed. It was so romantic to pine for your one true love. I could
relate.
    “Sounds foolish. No one should base their whole existence
on another person. It’s not healthy,” Clint said matter-of-factly. He took a
sip of his iced tea.
    “Mrs. Lassiter didn’t base her whole existence on
her husband,” I argued. “She felt that no one else could ever live up to the
love she had with George. I don’t care what you say. It’s sad and romantic.” I
made a point of waving a chip weighed down with guacamole under his nose.
    “It sounds like one of you classic movie plots you
love so much. I live in the real world, so I guess I’m just a practical guy.”
Clint leaned back and rubbed his stomach with both hands. “I’m stuffed. It’s
almost two, and I told the sheriff I would stop back by the office before going
home and unpacking my bag. I’ll pick up Watson on my way home. Is his food in
the cupboard by the sink?”
    “Yes,” I grumbled and refused to meet his eyes.
    “Call me later.” He leaned in for a kiss goodbye.
I gave him a quick peck and slid out of the booth so he could leave. I smiled a
tight smile that didn’t reach my eyes, then sat back down.
    “I will,” I promised half-heartedly. After I
watched him walk out, I turned to Juliet. “I’m mad at you!”
    “At me? Why?”
    “Before you made your little comments about Clint
and his lack of commitment, I was happy and