Page 95 of Little Bitter Truths
“So he’d look guilty, like he had motive to kill,” Simone said.
“That’s an interesting way to look at it,” Hunter said.
Until now, Moose had been a neighborhood nuisance.
Now I saw him as part of a bigger picture.
And even if he wasn’t, I had a soft spot for animals.I’d feel better knowing the dog had been found.
“What about Vera, Mia’s housekeeper?”I asked.“Did you talk to her, Simone?”
“I tried.She’s French, so there was a bit of a language barrier.What I did get wasn’t useful.But if none of our other suspects pan out, I can speak to her again.”
“Sounds good.”
“Is there anything else you need to tell us before we go?”Simone asked.
I looked over at Mia, who was standing just outside the kitchen with her purse over her shoulder, waiting for me to finish the call.
“I believe we’ve covered everything,” I said.
“What are your plans for the rest of the day?”Simone asked.
I hesitated.
Then something else came to mind.
“Here’s something I forgot to mention,” I said.“Mia reached out to her cousin after a few drinks last night.”
“That’s a generous version of events,” Mia muttered.
I offered her a sympathetic smile, then continued.
“Mia invited Renee to visit and didn’t remember doing it until this morning, and now Renee and her husband, Bryan, are here,” I said.“We’re meeting them for lunch.”
“Should be interesting,” Simone said.
“The cousin does know it’s an ongoing murder investigation, right?”Hunter asked.
“I don’t think she cares,” I said.“She seems desperate for Mia’s attention.”
“Still, it seems weird, doesn’t it?”Hunter said.
“Maybe she doesn’t have much of a life outside her family,” Simone said.“And after everything that’s happened, she may have figured this was her chance to build the relationship she’s always wanted.”
“It’s possible,” I said.“I think this case has reached the point where every interaction is fueled by speculation, even when it shouldn’t be.”
“Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look into all of them.”
“You’re right.We should.”
I ended the call, slipped my phone into my handbag, and followed Mia to the door.
“You ready?”I asked.
“I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready, but the sooner we leave, the sooner this lunch will all be over.”
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