Page 80
Story: Puzzle for Two
Brooke brightened. “Really?”
“Really. The more I learn about Alton, the more likely it seems someone along the way would surely have filed a criminal complaint.”
Brooke was already getting her purse out of the desk drawer. “Do you want me to turn the answering machine on?”
“No. I’ll cover the phones. I’m going to start checking through the NAIC database.”
Brooke’s brows shot up. “The National Association of Insurance Commissioners?”
“I can use the life insurance policy locator service to check for policies or annuity contracts. I want to see for myself what Ransford and Zora have to gain by Alton’s death.”
“You’re so cynical, Zee. I like it!” Brooke headed for the door. “I’ll let you know what I—”
She stepped back hastily, as someone threw open the glass door. “Oh!H-hey, Ben!”
Ben, looking wild-eyed and as close to disheveled as Zach had ever seen, charged past Brooke—it was doubtful he even saw her—and confronted Zach.
“HOW DARE YOU?”
Zach, blinking in the face of that ferocity, protested, “How dare Iwhat?”
“How dare you accuse me of breaking into your house and assaulting you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I never—”
Brooke interjected nervously, “Zach, do you need me to—”
Ben swung on her. “Really, Brooke?Seriously?”
“It’s okay,” Zach said quickly. “We’re fine here.”
Brooke did not look reassured. She looked worried. But, with many glances over her shoulder, she reluctantly pushed through the glass door.
“Look, I didn’t accuse you of anything,” Zach said. “I know it wasn’t you in the garage.”
“No! You didn’t even have the decency to confront me yourself. You sent Flint.Flint, ofallpeople.”
Realization dawned—and it was not a pleasant one.
“Flint accused you of attacking me?”
“That’s what I said!” Ben added bitterly, “You said you weren’t involved with him.”
“We’re working together.”
“Onwhat? You can’t drum up enough business for one agency, let alone two.”
Zach let that pass. Ben subscribed to theNew York Times. He did not read the local paper or watch local news, so it was very possible he knew nothing about Alton Beacher’s death or Zach’s involvement in the case.
“Flint didn’t discuss questioning you with me. I didn’t know anything about it. I’m sorry—”
“He didn’t just question me, heaccusedme. He accused me of being a stalker. He accused me of attacking you. He mademesound—” Ben’s mouth worked. “He mademesound like I was some kind of…ofpsycho.”
Zach winced. “Ben…”
“As if any of this ismyfault! As if you didn’t bringallof this on yourself!”
What the hell was it about Ben that could drive Zach from remorseful to resentful in zero to sixty?
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103