Tying the Knot by Elizabeth Craig Page A

I had a lot to lose. Why
wouldn’t
I have killed Trevor?” Lyla looked as if she were choking up again . . . this time with fear.
    â€œBut you didn’t do it,” said Beatrice. She made sure there was a faint question mark at the end.
    â€œOf course not,” she said crisply. “I really cared for Trevor. He was driving me nuts with his behavior, but I’d loved him once. And now Julian
does
know—the police had to ask their questions. Obviously, he’d have been a suspect, too. Luckily, he was out of town at a business conference for the past ten days, so he’s out of the picture. And now he and I are having to work through this huge issue of trust.”
    â€œWho do you think might be behind his death, then?” asked Beatrice.
    Lyla looked at her in surprise. “Isn’t it obvious? Eleanor. She’s livid, Beatrice. Absolutely livid. She feels betrayed, angry, vengeful. Who can blame her? She clearly murdered Trevor . . . no doubt about it.”
    After Lyla had finally driven away, Beatrice walked slowly back to the cemetery. Still thinking about what Lyla had said, she gave her condolences to a composed Eleanor. Harper and Daniel spoke quietly to Eleanor before giving her a tight hug. Harper looked as if she still hadn’t caught up on her sleep, and Daniel looked a bit strung out himself.
    â€œI still can’t wrap my head around it,” he said, shaking his head. He continued walking toward the car as Harper walked slower, keeping pace with Beatrice.
    â€œHe’s been in such a state over Trevor’s death,” shesaid, shaking her head. “I’ve honestly been glad that we’ve had all the moving in to do, in addition to that court case—at least he’s had some kind of a distraction while he’s at home.”
    Meadow caught up with them breathlessly. “How long has Daniel known Trevor? It was ages, wasn’t it?”
    Harper nodded. “There was a break in the middle when Daniel moved away and was practicing law in Charlotte. But they’d grown up together and gone through school together. They always got along really well. It’s a shame that the only time they’ve ever had words with each other was right before Trevor’s death.”
    Beatrice said, “But Eleanor thought that Trevor was planning to make some real life changes, though. It sounded as if they were in response to his being removed as best man. So, Daniel removing Trevor as best man could have worked as a good thing, right? At least Eleanor has the comfort of knowing that Trevor was trying to get on the right path again.”
    Harper gave Beatrice a quick hug. “Thanks for that. And you’re absolutely right. I’ll remind Daniel of that the next time he brings up feeling guilty.”
    Meadow fished out her car keys from her cranberry-colored straw purse. “Ready?” she asked Beatrice.
    Thankfully, Meadow took the curves more gently than she had on the way to the funeral. “So, did you find out anything? I saw you talking with Lyla.”
    â€œShe confirmed that she and Trevor were having an affair. Lyla said that she was the one who realized she was making a mistake and broke it off. Trevor didn’t accept that their relationship was over and basicallystarted stalking her and generally making her life miserable. She was worried her husband would find out,” said Beatrice.
    Meadow snorted. “I bet he’s found out about it now! Hard not to if the police are questioning you.” Beatrice raised her eyebrows questioningly, and Meadow said with a shrug, “Ramsay told me. He figured if there was some sort of love triangle, Julian Wales might be looking for revenge. But Ramsay said he had a rock-solid alibi. Apparently, he was on the other side of the country and speaking to hundreds of people at a conference.” She pulled into Beatrice’s driveway. “Okay, so we’re