Page 88 of One Vote for Murder
“You’ll always be a little girl to him, I’m sure.”
She scowled. “Well, that’s ridiculous. I’m not going to stay with my dad forever. Surely he understands that?”
“He’s probably just trying to hang on to his little girl as long as he can.”
She sighed. “I understand, but I want to live my life.”
“Fair enough.” I leaned toward her. “Can I see the photo Kyle sent to you?”
“Why?”
“Just trying to connect the dots.”
“Whatever that means,” she said softly, but she reached over and swiped the screen on the phone. “There, that’s the photo of Kyle that he sent.”
I studied the photo, taking in Kyle’s wide smile. She was right in that the photo seemed fairly innocent. It really just looked like Kyle had been trying to show off his muscles. He was bent over slightly, flexing his biceps. “That’s not too racy.”
“Exactly.” Ivy pointed to a tiny tattoo of the sun on Kyle’s right pectoral. “He said he got that because his late mother loved to vacation in Florida, the Sunshine State.” Her mouth turned down at the corners. “He was more sentimental than most guys.”
A lump rose in my throat. “That’s a sweet gesture.”
“I told you he was sweet.” Her voice wobbled. “I can’t believe he’s gone. It’s so wrong. So unfair.”
“I agree, Ivy. I’m truly sorry.” I stared at the phone in my hand, thinking about the threatening call Kyle had received. “Do you know if your father ever called Kyle?”
She frowned. “Why would he?”
“Maybe to warn him off?”
She blinked at me. “I don’t believe he’d do that.”
“I’m not so sure. He attacked Kyle physically. A phone call wouldn’t have been any big deal.”
Her gaze sharpened suddenly. “I don’t know if Daddy called Kyle. I… I never saw him call Kyle, and I don’t believe he did. Why are you asking so many questions about my dadandKyle?”
I obviously wasn’t going to tell her Pervis suspected her father had murdered his brother. I wasn’t a fan of that idea, but I did wonder about Quinn’s level of aggression toward Kyle. And why had Quinn been hanging around behind the stage right before Kyle died?
“I’m simply trying to paint a picture of Kyle’s life.”
“But why so many questions about my dad too?” She sounded breathless. “Kyle died because of a peanut allergy. What could that have to do with my dad?”
I avoided her gaze as I slid the phone back toward her. “I’m just asking questions, Ivy. No need to get upset.”
The bell over the door jingled just then, and when I turned, I found Quinn coming into the shop. He looked tired, and his shoulders were hunched. When he saw me near the counter, his face hardened.
“What are you doing here, Sheriff?” he rasped.
I wasn’t used to Quinn being so antagonistic with me. We’d always had a friendly relationship in the past. “Is there some reason I can’t be here, Quinn?” I kept my voice light, not wanting to provoke him more.
He stopped in front of me, and I got a whiff of booze on his breath. I remembered Pervis saying something about Quinn being a lush. While I’d never heard that about Quinn, he was certainly inebriated at the moment.
Quinn scowled. “I got enough problems without you hassling me.”
“How am I hassling you?” I frowned.
He swayed slightly. “You’re here, aren’t you?”
“I just wanted to ask you a few questions.”
