No Gravestone Left Unturned (A Jane Ladling Mystery 2)

“Not that we’ll be announcing that part in our advertising,” Charlotte interjected, her qualms gone.

“It was so cute. Sometimes Jake couldn’t hide how nervous he was around the ladies. While he went on a couple genuine dates, he avoided anything long term. Then Tiffany showed. She was having dinner with a friend. They struck up a conversation and boom. Instant connection. They’ve been hiding out at her house ever since, ignoring the rest of the world. Probably because they’re embarrassed about the timing.”

“Or because neighbors are super nosy?” Beau suggested.

“I bet you’re right. Nosy neighbors are the worst.” Audrey looked over her shoulder before leaning forward and saying softly, “You guys want to hear something weird?”

A thousand percent Jane did. Even Beau appeared interested.

“Did you know Tatiana Irons used to speed date here...while she was hooking up with Dr. Hotchkins? No doubt she used our events to cover up her dirty little secret.” Audrey’s eyes went wide. “Whoa, that came out wrong. We’re sad that Tatiana died, of course. Super sad.”

“Of course you are. As are we,” Fiona piped up, fluttering a hand over her heart.

Jane was too busy reeling to respond. Ana had been one of Dr. Hotchkins’s side slices? And Jane hadn’t uncovered the information during her previous investigation? Uh…she might need to revise her opinion about her amazingly brilliant deductions. Although, the GBH hadn’t pegged the journalist as a side slice either, so, really, there was no reason to revise anything. Her opinion stood: She rocked!

Fiona leaned in, ready to do her part and bleed these women of information. In a nice, kind way. “I heard Dr. Hots kept a sex pad for his favorite girls.”

Truth or lie? If he had kept a sex hangout and Tiffany had found out, the widow might have erupted, enraged…

No. No, no, no. Jane absolutely would not blame the widow this time. Not without concrete proof. She’d made that mistake before, only to learn the innocent woman truly grieved the loss of her philandering husband.

“He sure enough did,” Aubrey said with a firm nod. “From what I heard, Tatiana was his most favorite. The one he planned to run away with. Poor Tatiana. Heartbroken and now dead.” She eyed Jane with misgiving. “But who in their right mind would want to kill her? That’s what has got my curiosity up.”

There was that phrasing again. Right mind. And why were the Berdize sisters peering at her expectantly? Wait, did they await a confession from Jane? Or perhaps a list of her main suspects?

Amateurs. They clearly didn’t understand how to run a covert investigation.

Why don’t I show them how it’s done? Jane narrowed her eyes, tilted her head and leaned closer, saying sternly, “I don’t know. You tell me. Who would want to kill her?”

Audrey shrank back a little, as if unsettled, and shifted. “Well, I have heard something. I mean, it’s just a whisper, but there’s talk the killer has a hit list of the doctor’s girlfriends and she—or he—plans to eliminate everyone on it.”

“That must be a mighty long list,” Fiona said.

The sisters echoed each other with almost identical laughs, saying in unison, “The longest.”

“I’ve seen longer.” Beau shrugged his broad shoulders. “Ana was one of only three favorites.”

Hold up. Was he fishing for information with a baited hook, expertly herding the pair to tell him everything they knew? Or had he actually seen the list?

The sisters exploded in excitement. “Tell us everything! We’ve searched and searched the Headliner, but never managed to unearth the names.”

Hmm. What if there was a killer targeting the lovers of Dr. Hots? This case might have nothing to do with Ana’s myriad of investigations and everything to do with her own extracurricular activities.

And we’re back to Tiffany Hotchkins. Just because the widow was innocent before didn’t mean she was innocent now. Hurt and rage were a toxic combination, able to change a person. Enough to commit murder, though? And blame an innocent like Jane? Because yes, Tiffany had the same motive as Tony Miller. In fact, the two could have worked together. The ultimate payback for Ana and Jane.

Two birds, one thorn apple.

And what of Tiffany’s new man? He’d done some speed dating and had probably met Ana. What had the journalist thought of him? Nicknamed him? And how soon could Jane arrange a meeting with the guy?

He was a newcomer to town…just like the last killer. Which either ruled him out or pointed the finger of guilt directly at him. For all she knew, Aurelian Hills attracted the murderously inclined. Honestly, what were the odds he’d moved to town mere weeks before a homicide occurred, and he was miraculously innocent? Pretty low in her book. Meaning, yes, this Jake Stephenson had just shot straight to the top of Jane’s suspects list, right alongside Tiffany and Tony.