Page 15 of The Murder Club

He suddenly understood Gage’s desperation to intimidate and threaten Bailey. Twenty thousand dollars was a lot of money. Especially for a man who was driving a van that was older than Dom and wearing a work shirt that was frayed and worn.

It made him even more dangerous than Dom had first feared.

“I know it’s complete nonsense,” Zac assured Bailey.

“Of course it is. I loved Nellie.” The defiance was more pronounced as the color returned to her face. “Which is more than Gage can say. Do you know how many times he visited her at the home? I could count his visits on one hand. And she was there for over five years.” She sniffed. “All he wants is her money.”

Zac squeezed her fingers. “We all know that Gage Warren is a loudmouthed jackass who drinks too much and has run his parents’ lumberyard into the ground. Unfortunately, he’s determined to be a pain in my ass and I’m going to have to ask you a few questions.”

Dom took an impulsive step forward. “Does it have to be right now?”

Zac sent him a suspicious glance, clearly wondering why he was in his cousin’s house when she was at her most vulnerable.

“No, I’m okay,” Bailey assured both men. “I want to get it over with.”

Zac held Dom’s steady gaze for a moment. Perhaps a silent warning he would do whatever was necessary to protect his relative. Then, turning back to Bailey, he withdrew his hand and pulled a small notebook and a pencil from his shirt pocket. He’d gone from sympathetic cousin to a sheriff doing his job.

“The most obvious question is whether you ever asked Ms. Warren for money,” he started.

“Never.”

“And she didn’t mention her intention to change her will?”

“Not once.”

Zac nodded, as if that was exactly what he expected. “Do you remember the day that Ms. Warren died?”

“Of course,” Bailey said without hesitation.

“Were you working?”

“No. I was scheduled, but I got a call early that morning that a friend from nursing school was in a car crash. I drove down to Madison to spend the day in the hospital with her.”

Zac jotted down the information. “That will be easy enough to check. What time did you get home?”

Bailey wrinkled her nose as she considered her answer. “I didn’t leave the hospital until after eight that night and I swung through a fast-food place before heading home. Oh.” Her lips stretched into a tight smile. “The receipt is probably still in my glove compartment if you need it. After that I drove home.” She paused to consider the return trip. “It had to be after ten when I got back. My neighbor could probably tell you the exact time. She was taking care of Bert and Ernie.”

Dom released a silent breath of relief. Not because he thought for a second that Bailey could be in any way responsible for an old woman’s death. But her airtight alibi meant that Gage’s wild accusations would be swiftly smothered. This was a small town where rumors could be just as damaging as a physical blow.

Especially to a person who was as sensitive as Bailey.

“Good.” Zac appeared equally relieved as he rose to his feet and pocketed the notebook. “That’s enough for now.”

Bailey reached up to grasp her cousin’s hand. “Zac.”

“I know.” He leaned down, brushing a kiss over her forehead. “We’re going to get this cleared up.”

Dom waited for Zac to head to the door before he shared his concern for Bailey’s safety.

“What are you going to do about Gage?”

Zac sent him another suspicious glance. “Should I be doing something?”

“He attacked Bailey in the street less than half an hour ago.”

Zac’s eyes widened as he turned back to his cousin. “Are you hurt?”

“No, he didn’t touch me.”