Page 2 of Ghostly Bother (Ghostly #9)

Angus tried not to compare the beautiful yard to his own.

Even in the dark he could see the perfectly manicured bushes, the flower gardens that somehow, despite being the middle of fall, seemed to be flourishing.

While Lance usually mowed their lawn when it needed it, that was about all they did.

What flowers they had lining the bushes had died off a month ago.

"Must be nice to have the money to have a landscaper." Franks headed up the pathway to the front porch where a porch light nicer than anything Lance and him had inside their own home lit the area.

"Can't help but wonder if our tax dollars pay for all this.

" Angus tried not to be critical, but it was hard knowing the rumors about the mayor's illegal spending.

He took a deep breath, reminding himself why they were there.

This wasn't the time to be critical. No matter his feelings about the mayor, he didn't know her husband.

The news of the mayor's death would upend this family's world.

He had to remember that and not focus on his issues with the mayor.

"Ready?" Franks reached out to press the doorbell.

"Never, but it has to be done." Angus heard the tone of the doorbell echo within the home.

They waited in silence for several moments before they heard a noise on the other side of the door.

There was a click, then a male voice coming through the small intercom connected to the doorbell. "Can I help you?"

"I'm Detective Franks, and this is Detective Young with the Fairway Police Department. Could we speak with you for a few minutes?" Franks asked.

"Are you looking for the mayor? I'm afraid she's not home yet," the man told them.

"No, we are here to speak with her husband, Michael Anderson. Is that you?" Franks asked.

"It is. Can you hold up your badge or I.D. in front of the camera so that I can confirm that you're really the police?" He sounded curious, but cautious.

Angus didn't blame the guy for being paranoid. The mayor had enemies, and the family had probably gone through training on how to stay safe and handle every possible situation that might come up. Angus pulled out his wallet and showed his I.D. along with his badge. Beside him, Franks did the same.

The sound of the lock opening was followed by the door swinging open. A tall dark-haired bearded man smiled at them. "Sorry, but Eden insists we be careful."

"Rightfully so." Angus nodded.

"Come in. We can speak in the living room." Michael gestured to a large room to the left of the entrance hall. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

"No, we're good, but thank you." Franks followed Angus into the living room.

"What's this about?" Michael asked after shutting and relocking the front door then meeting them in the room. "Not another break-in at the shop, is it?"

Angus wished it was that simple. "No, please have a seat."

"Not until you do. Please, just tell me why you're here. It can't be the shop. I would have gotten a call from my alarm company." Michael looked confused.

"Are your children home, Mr. Anderson?" Franks asked.

"Yes, upstairs asleep. Why?" Michael narrowed his eyes. "What do my kids have to do with this?"

"Nothing. We just don't want them around to overhear this." Angus took a deep breath. "We're sorry to inform you that your wife's body was found this evening. Eden is dead."

The look of shock on Michael's face couldn't be faked. The blood drained from his face as he went pale, and he sucked in a hard breath before reaching down to grip the arm of the couch as if he needed it to keep him steady. "Are you sure?"

Franks nodded. "Several officers have identified her. Eden Anderson was well known in the area. It was her."

Michael sank down onto the couch as he closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, it was clear he was fighting back tears. "You said they found her? In her office? Was there an accident?"

Angus took a seat on the chair across from Michael. "It appears she was murdered. Her body was found near the Fairway Bridge. I'm sure you'll get more information once the medical examiner does his job."

"My God." Michael shook his head. "She called me about two hours ago and was going to finish working on a report and come home. I expected her any minute. What was she doing near Fairway Bridge? There's nothing out that way." He wiped the back of his hand over his cheek.

"We aren't sure why she was there. There will be a full investigation. We wanted to get over here and tell you before the media did." Angus sighed. "Are there other family members we can contact for you?"

Michael glanced at Angus as if in a daze. "What?"

"Does your wife have other family we should inform before this is all over the news?" Angus asked.

Michael nodded. "I can do it. It's just her sister. Her parents are both gone. I'll call Rachel in a second. God, how am I going to tell the kids?" He took a deep breath. "This is going to destroy the girls."

Angus didn't have a response to that. He couldn't imagine having to tell a child that young that their mother was gone. He prayed he never had to.

"Have you been home all night?" Franks asked gently.

Michael nodded, then his eyes went wide. "You mean did I kill me wife?"

"I'm sorry, but we have to ask. The sooner we rule you out as a suspect, the sooner we can find who did kill your wife." Franks shrugged. "It's our job."

"I know, I know. I just…" Michael shook his head. "I've been home since I picked the kids up from school and daycare around three. We stopped by the grocery store after I got them, then came here. We've been here all night."

"Have you seen or spoken to anyone tonight other than your girls?" Angus asked.

"No. Um, well, I called Jack. He runs the shop when I'm not there.

He called with some questions. That was probably around five.

Then I talked to my neighbor around six while the girls and I were eating dinner on the back deck.

We just hollered at one another from my deck to his.

Eden called several times. Once to say goodnight to the girls around seven, then again around eight to let me know she'd be later than planned.

" He ran his fingers through his hair. "You said she was found at the Fairway Bridge?

Why would she have gone there? She told me she was at her office working.

" Michael stood. "You're sure it was her? "

"Her car was there as well. It appears she drove herself there. Again, we'll know more as we investigate. We can only guess right now," Franks informed him.

Michael nodded. "I need to call my sister-in-law.

" He pulled his cell phone out of the back pocket of his jeans, then hesitated.

"But first, you need to know something. I don't want you finding out later and thinking I was keeping anything from you.

I was home all night tonight. You can check cameras and see we never left once we got home from the store.

Check the GPS on my truck. Do whatever you need to.

I'll fully cooperate with you. But you need to know that I filed for divorce.

Eden didn't know. She was supposed to get the papers served to her in the next day or two.

You'd have to talk to my attorney to find out more about that.

I'd planned on packing up some of my things and going to stay with my brother while we figured everything out.

" Michael leaned back against the couch and sighed.

"I love Eden, but she's different since she won that damn election.

Being mayor changed her. I hardly know the woman she's become.

I'm not stupid. I know about the rumors about her misuse of city funds and all the investigations going on.

I wanted to distance myself from all of that.

I don't know what she's doing, but I refuse to let her take me down with her when it all comes crashing down.

I wanted to get out and have a safe place to have the kids when everything blew up on her.

I know it sounds horrible, and it probably makes me look guilty, but I swear to you, I'm not.

I would never risk doing anything that would take either one of us away from our girls.

Eden may not be the woman I married, but she is still the most amazing mother to our girls.

This is going to destroy them." Michael swiped the back of his hand against his eyes again.

Angus was stunned at the news. Michael was right. This would cause them to look a bit harder at him as a suspect. Already, with any murder, the spouse or significant other was the first person they investigated. "Eden knew nothing about you filing?"

"No, I doubt she even suspected anything.

We'd been fighting a lot. Mostly about her job and the sudden influx of money she seemed to come into.

But like I said, I still loved her. I just couldn't risk her pulling me and the kids down with whatever she was up to at work.

She swore she wasn't doing anything illegal, but when she wouldn't discuss things with me or tell me where money was suddenly coming from, I knew something was up.

Do what you have to so that you can clear me.

I just want to help my daughters get through this.

God, I don't even know how to tell them about this.

Do I wake them and tell them or wait until morning?

" He shook his head and closed his eyes.