Robbie smiled and tugged her toward the kitchen area. “I’m starving, and we need to chat.”
Curtis and Merrick nodded to them and gave them space. Alice let him lead her into the kitchen. He started pulling out pre-made meals. She refused to eat any, so he only warmed up three. As he ate, he told her what had happened and how the guy claimed to have no affiliation with Big Buddha.
“That’s good, right?” she said. “At least we know Big Buddha hasn’t followed us over here and isn’t targeting you.”
“I guess. I want to catch the guy.”
“So do I.” She looked despondent.
He polished off another chicken breast and noticed her watching him. “What?”
“I’m amazed at how much food you can consume.”
“Thank you. I think.” He drained a glass carafe of water. He had to get brave and ask her. “I’ve read all the police reports, but they don’t point to any suspect. They’ve looked into Preston Lavity, but nothing.”
“There’s no way Preston would kill anyone.”
He thought about the pretty boy Preston. The guy didn’t seem capable of murdering three people and a beloved pet. He would be too concerned about getting his next facial or going shopping. But why was Alice defending him? Had she dated Preston or developed feelings for him?
“Are your moms still close?” he asked.
She glanced away. “Preston’s mom is pretty much my mother’s only friend.”
“Do you think … Could your mom have anything to do with the murders?”
“Pardon me?” She whirled on him with fire in her dark eyes.
He shrugged. “I’m just checking every angle.”
“You think … that my mother … could ever hurt me or those closest to me?”
He arched an eyebrow. His opinion probably wouldn’t be helpful at the moment. “She would’ve gladly run a spear through me.”
Alice looked as prim and uppity as he’d ever seen her. She gestured to the polished clean plates that had contained three meals. “She thought you were an uncouth ogre. Do you think she wanted a military man with no manners to marry her only daughter, inherit her fortune, and cart me off around the world?”
“No … manners?” Heat filled Robbie’s face. He rubbed at the back of his neck. “My mama taught me decent manners. Did I chew with my mouth open or belch while I ate?” He’d had buddies in the Army who did much worse.
“No,” she admitted. She looked away. “Look. It’s a moot point what my mother thought of you. She hasn’t killed anyone.”
Robbie nodded, though his body felt tight. “I’m afraid you’re right. Aiden Porter’s researcher said the same. No money trail.” He started stacking the plates. Standing, he glanced at Alice and froze at the fury in her dark eyes.
“You had Aiden’s people check into my mother?”
“Yeah,” he said, setting the plates down and spreading his hands. “We’re trying to cover every angle.”
“I know you and my mother didn’t like each other, but you have to believe she would never do anything to hurt me.”
Both of his brows shot up this time. “Alice, please forgive me, but I’d be willing to bet no one but you, and possibly Priscilla Lavity, thinks your mom is anything but a selfish, too-wealthy harpy with nothing to do but make up medical conditions and control you.”
“How dare you!”
He shrugged. “If nobody else is willing to tell you the truth…”
“My mother has horrible health and no one around but me, Priscilla, and her housekeeper Emeline. And you dare to make fun of her and claim she’s still controlling me?” Alice stood, seething and glorious in her anger.
“Did your mom like your boyfriend or either of your best friends, or did she try to get you to dump them just like she always wanted you to do with me?”
She gasped, but then her eyes narrowed. “She didn’t like them or think I should be spending so much time with them. But that doesn’t mean she’d have them murdered.”
