Page 61 of Kiss Marry Kill

“That’s right.”

“He’d have had to have her declared legally dead in order for you two to marry.”

She frowned. “Yes. He’d already done that when he came to Rainy Dale.”

“Do you know any details about Kimora?”

“Like what?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Were Archie and her happily married?”

Janelle scowled. “I don’t understand why you’re asking so much about Kimora. Shouldn’t you be focusing on Archie’s murder?”

“I’m just trying to learn everything I can about Archie’s life.”

She looked suspicious. “I think you should focus on the day of the murder. You don’t need to dig into Archie’s past.”

I gave a gruff laugh. “I’ve been doing this a long time, Janelle. I know the questions I need to ask.”

She made a huffing sound.

I understood she was upset, but I wasn’t going to let her direct the interview. I was used to people getting their panties in a bunch from the questions I asked. It was the nature of the job. “So if I understand you correctly, after Kobe made his drunken speech, you never saw Archie again. Even though you both left the reception hall about the same time.”

“I didn’t even know Archie had left the building. I went straight out to the street, and I cried a river. I wish now I hadn’t left the building.” She gave a little hiccup of a sob, and her eyes welled with tears. “If I’d stayed in the building, Archie never would’ve left either. He… he’d still be alive if I had just stayed put.”

“You can’t blame yourself for this, Janelle. Somebody wanted to hurt Archie. I don’t think it would have mattered whether it happened at the wedding or later. Someone had it out for Archie.”

“That’s a horrible thought.”

“Murder is horrible.”

“Ghosts can’t kill people, right?” she whispered.

I really hoped she wasn’t going down that rabbit hole again. “Come on, Janelle. You know better than to even ask me that. Whoever killed Archie was human. I’ll prove it to you when I throw them in jail.”

She shivered. “I just keep thinking maybe Kimora was upset because he remarried.”

“There’s no such thing as ghosts,” I rumbled.

“I… I know… but…”

I sighed. “If you start seeing things again, you need to talk to someone. A professional.” Worst-case scenario, maybe she could talk to Max. I was sure he’d make the time if he thought he could help her any.

“Oh, there’s no need for that.” She avoided my gaze. “Can I go now, Sheriff? Or do you have more questions?”

Her mental state concerned me. But I wasn’t a therapist, and even if I was, she seemed determined to avoid talking to one. “I guess that’s all for now. Promise you’ll go home and rest? You’ve had a terrible shock.”

“Home…” She stood, swaying slightly. “I was going to move in with Archie when we got back from our honeymoon.”

My chest squeezed for her. “I’m sorry, Janelle.”

“That’s just how life is sometimes, isn’t it? Bad things happen, and there isn’t anything you can do about it.” She moved to the door, and she slipped out without another word.

I didn’t quite see eye to eye with her on that. Yes, bad things happened. But someone had plunged a knife into Archie’s throat in broad daylight. Maybe it wouldn’t be easy to find this killer, but I’d get them. Perhaps we couldn’t always prevent the bad things, but we sure as hell could punish those who did them.

Chapter Nine

Maxwell