Page 45 of Little Dark Deeds

My head was spinning, questioning everything I’d been told so far—by everyone.What was true, what wasn’t—gray areas I found frustrating.

Tyler was clear about his intention to get everything out in the open with Jana so he could move on with Tiffany.And yet, Jana was acting like there was a chance the relationship wasn’t over.

Or maybe, she was telling herself what she wanted to believe.

“I’m confused,” I said.“Tiffany’s father told me Tyler tried to save his relationship with Tiffany after she found out he was married.”

She ran a hand through her hair.“I don’t know what to tell you.”

“I feel like I’m getting two different stories.”

She gave the dog another pat and said, “Maybe I’m worried you’re going to try to pit us against each other, and I’m using caution with the words I choose to say.”

The comment was laughable.

“I’m not,” I said.“If you’re both innocent, there’s no reason for you not to be straight with me.”

“You’ve just lost one of your closest friends.I’ll bet you’re desperate to solve her murder.You might not be thinking straight.If you’re not, you could end up pinning her murder on the wrong person.”

My frustration had gone from a simmer to a boil.

“Desperate is the last thing I am,” I said.“Nor am I trying to pin Tiffany’s murder on someone who’s innocent.Why would I want to convict the wrong person?As for solving her murder—Iwillfind out who killed her and why.So do yourself a favor and give me the facts.”

“You want facts?Here’s two.I didn’t murder your friend.Tyler didn’t either.”

I leaned back, crossing my arms, trying to find a single iota of calm, which seemed out of reach.

“Here’s what I’ve been told so far,” I said.“Tyler made it clear to you on the night you made him the pot-roast dinner that he was meant to be with Tiffany, and his future was with her, not you.”

“He said a lot of things that night.He was drunk.”

An interesting side note he hadn’t mentioned—ifshe was telling the truth.

“Drunk or not, he confessed his feelings for her,” I said.

“He was just ...he wasn’t himself.He’s been a bit stressed over the past several months.”

Juggling two women at the same time had a way of doing that to a person.

“If you ask me,” Jana continued, “he would have never gone through with the divorce.She was just ...and hey, I’m sorry to say this given she was your friend and all, but she was just a bit of fun, a temporary placeholder while we went through a rough patch.”

I was starting to think Jana was leaning toward the delusional side, creating her own truths so she didn’t have to face the fact her marriage was over.

“If Tyler wasn’t planning to leave you for Tiffany, he had no reason to admit his feelings for her to me,” I said.“He could have said it was an affair, nothing more.I believe him, Jana.”

“Believe what you want.I’ll do the same.”

“Where were you around the time Tiffany was murdered?”

“Having lunch with my mother.”

“Where?”

She rolled her eyes.“Wherever the woman wants to go.”

“And where did she want to go this last time?”

“Harvest Hollow.She’s addicted to their chicken pecan sandwiches.”