A wry smile cinches on my lips.
I happen to know he thought the time for someone else to come around was while Madeline was still living and breathing.
“I spoke with Sophia the other night,” I say in an effort to needle him with my knowledge of his two-timing ways, and I wriggle with delight when his eyes spring wide like a kid who just got his hand caught in the cookie jar—or more to the point, the nookie jar. “She mentioned Madeline had some nefarious dealings with a friend of yours.” I snap my fingers as if trying to think of his name. “Parker Bowles?” I shake my head at Shep and catch his wide-eyed glare.
“Parker Goldman.” Lucas leans back in his seat before shedding a satisfied smile. “I heard the same. Unfortunately, I think it’s true. Maddie was obsessed with getting her hands on that serum of his.”
“Why is that?” Shep asks, and the words come out a touch too stern.
Don’t they teach them anything in Detective 101? You have to finesse your suspects. You can’t come across gruff or they’ll clam up and the entire investigation will take two steps back.
“Beats me.” Lucas shakes his head. “Although, she did mention that once the trial was through, the serum was going into the vault for another year or so. Lucas needed FDA approval, and apparently it’s a lengthy process. Maddie was furious.”
“And the competitor she supposedly sold the formula to?” I lean in. “Was he trying to release it sooner?”
Lucas glances to the ceiling. “Not that I know of.”
Shep’s chest thumps. “She did it for the money. Madeline Swanson was drowning in debt, wasn’t she?”
Lucas closes his eyes a moment. “I know what you’re thinking. Some financial advisor I turned out to be, right? But let me make it clear, Maddie didn’t allow anyone to tell her how to spend her money. Her family is wealthy, but they cut her off once she turned twenty-five. It happened to a lot of our friends. Our fathers are into that whole leave no wealth behind for the next generation movement. Instead, it’s all being funneled out through philanthropist efforts.”
“Like the one Madeline was working for.”
“Exactly.”
Shep’s lips twitch, and I can tell his sexy wheels are turning and churning.
“Lucas”—he leans forward— “does your father’s firm handle Wallace Hathaway’s finances?”
“Oh no.” He gives a dark chuckle. “My father and Wallace are competitors through and through. Wallace has his money over at Financial Premier.”
Financial Premier… why does that sound familiar?
“Financial Premier,” Shep says it as if he’s more than familiar himself. “My sister works there. It happens to be where I have my own portfolio.”
“Good place to cast your finances.” He nods. “But before you migrate in that direction,” he pulls out a packet of information and slides it my way, “I’d really like for you to consider us first.”
“I certainly will,” I say.
Shep and I stand and my window of questioning Lucas Lane is quickly closing.
There are still so many things I’m dying to know, like what’s going on between him and Kiera? And what about Sophia? Are they still having an affair?
Lucas walks us to the door, and I pause a moment.
“Lucas? Who do you think killed Madeline? Sophia inadvertently pointed a finger at Parker. What do you think about that?”
He rocks back on his heels as he thinks on it a minute.
“I don’t know who killed Madeline. But I do know that Madeline was having financial problems. I didn’t think she was desperate enough to steal and make a buck off someone I once considered a friend.”
His expression grows dark, and I wonder if Lucas knew that Madeline and Parker were having a fling?
Shep shifts his body. “It doesn’t sound like the two of you are friends anymore.”
“We’re not close.” He shakes his head. “Let’s just say, Parker was inserting himself where he doesn’t belong. If you ask me, the killer got the wrong person.” His expression lightens on a dime. “Then again, maybe he’s your killer, Detective.” He nods to Shep then me. “I’ll see you at the memorial mixer.”
Shep and I hightail it out of there and out of the building into the crisp fall air as papery leaves in a rainbow of citrine colors trickle from the trees.
“Well?” I ask. “What do you think?”
“I don’t think we learned anything new.” Shep glances back at the building. “Do you think that guy is having it with both Kiera and Sophia?”
“Jealous?” I ask.
“Not me. I’m happily married, remember?”
A laugh bubbles from me. “Our relationship got a demotion no thanks to Kiera, but I liked plan A better myself, too.”
“So what’s next, Detective Binx?”
“I think there’s a hedge fund manager at Financial Premier we need to speak with. If Madeline was desperate enough to sell out an old friend, maybe she was desperate enough to steal from old man Hathaway?”
“No can do. I’m leaving my sister out of this.”
“Have it your way.” I’m not leaving my newfound sister-in-law out of anything, but Shep doesn’t need to know that.
His shoulders sag as he looks my way.
“I know that look, Bowie. You’re thinking about the things you’re going to do once my guard is down.”
“Only every morning when you wake up by my side, sweetheart,” I toss his words right back at him and he offers the hint of a devilish grin as we head for his truck.
He’s right, though.
But I don’t need to blow up his ego with that tidbit just yet.
Chapter 12
The entire next day the Manor Café is bustling.
Tilly and I added five new menu items, and each one has been a huge hit with the hungry crowd. Pumpkin spice pancakes for the breakfast menu, creamy chicken pot pie, a calzone—delicious folded pizza with tangy sauce and enough mozzarella to stretch from New York to Los Angeles—and for dessert, glazed apple dumplings and pumpkin brownies. Of course, the lasagna is now a staple on the menu, too. And if business picks up, Opal has approved the
