“Not in this case. She was my best friend from that moment on. I won’t hurt her.”
“I won’t hurt her either, Stephanie, but I have a job to do. It can’t look like I’m protecting her. I’ve bought her as much time as I can, but the Mayor is pushing hard now. Help me clear the Mill. Tell me anything that may help.”
“I don’t know much, Tucker. What do you want to know?” Stephanie sits back and crosses her arms over her chest.
“Rumors are spreading that she and Sterling may have planned the explosion. Perhaps they were having an affair?” he suggests.
“What?” Stephanie sits forward in open-mouthed shock and then she bursts out laughing.
“Why is that funny? He’s very protective of her,” Tucker insists.
“Yes, he is, but Abbie doesn’t like him touching her. She’s told me so herself. Especially since Burton died. They were having issues, Burton blamed her for not giving him a child. The pig actually told her she’d failed him!” Stephanie jumps up and paces, waving her hands angrily as she speaks. “He was never home. Even when he was in town, he didn’t spend time with her, and it broke her heart.”
Tucker is shocked. He had no idea she was struggling like that.
“That man was a fool! I’m sorry to speak ill of the dead, but what man would have a wife like Abbilene waiting for him at home and hurt her like that?” Tucker hisses.
“Exactly!” Stephanie stops moving and watches the emotions flicker across his face before smothering a grin. “Abbie deserves to be happy.”
“Yes, she does.” He balls up his napkin in a fist. “Did he ever hit her?”
“What? No!” Stephanie pales and sits down. “Not that I know of.” She covers her mouth with her hand in horror. “Oh, I never asked!”
“I’m sure she would have told you, sweetie.” He grips her hand and squeezes it gently. “Is it possible, Stephanie, that she knew he was going to be at the Mill that night?” he asks softly.
Stephanie pulls away and nervously glances out the window before biting her fingernail.
“Stephanie, it’s against the law to keep information from your brother!”
“No, it’s not.” She glares at him before caving in. “The day of the fire she said he was probably going to work instead of coming home, but she was going home to wait for him. They’d had a fight before he left.”
“About what?” he demands.
“Abbs wanted to talk about adopting a child, and he was outraged.” Sadness fills her eyes, “That was the last time she spoke to him.”
“Did you know Burton had an insurance policy on the Mill, in case of fire?” He observes her. “It’s a lot of money, Stephanie.”
Furious now, she leans closer to him. “What does that have to do with anything? I have one on my bakery, does that make me a murderer too? It was an accident! Abbilene doesn’t have a mean bone in her body!”
“Fine, we’re done. Calm down, it’s not good for the baby,” Tucker teases.
Stephanie’s eyes fill with tears, and she smiles softly. “How did you know?”
Tucker climbs to his feet and grins.
“Oz has gotten unusually protective of you, lately. Congratulations lil Sis! I’m gonna be an Uncle!” He pulls her to her feet and into a hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
“Yes, you are.” She laughs and squeezes him. “Don’t tell anyone yet. We are waiting.”
“I can keep a secret,” he promises.
“Not everyone is Reba. Some of us keep our vows, Tucker. Don’t put Abbie in the same category as her.”
“I know that.” He grabs his hat to leave, and Stephanie stops him.
“Do you? You deserve to be happy to. It’s never too late to find someone to love. Any woman would be lucky to have you, Tucker Manning.”
“It’s too late for me, Stephanie. I’m jaded.”
“You just haven’t found the right woman yet. Perhaps God’s plan is already in work. You just have to trust him.”
“We’ll see. Right now, I have a case to solve.”
Doubt creeps in after he leaves. Did Abbie know that Burton was having an affair? Could she possibly have found out and decided to burn down the Mill for the Insurance money? Tucker sighs and glances over at the General Store.
There are two suspects right now. Abbilene Gilbert and Sterling Matson, cousin of Burton Gilbert. Greed is a motivator. He’d seen it many times before in the city.
“It’s time to question them both.”
Chapter 10
“Abbie, Tucker Manning is waiting for you in the library. He says he has some questions for you,” her Mother says softly.
“Thank you, Mother.” Abbie’s black skirt swishes around her ankles as she walks to the library. She pauses and takes a deep breath before walking inside.
The sun streaming in the window is surrounding him, and she is stunned by the image of strength he represents. In that instant, Abbie remembers being held securely in his arms as she sobbed for her husband, and her anger drifts away.
“Tucker, it’s nice to see you.”
“You look... tired,” he says. “Have you lost more weight?” he asks.
Abbie laughs hollowly. “As honest as ever. I’m not going to answer that. Have a seat.”
“Forgive my bluntness. I have some questions for you.”
“I understand. I knew they would come eventually.” Abbie sits across from him in a velvet chair and folds her hands in her lap.
“Exactly how well did you know Burton?” he demands and watches as her eyes fly open wide as she shifts an angry glare to him.
“Pretty well, Tucker, considering we were married for ten years.” Anger causes a flush of color to appear in her pale cheeks. Anything is better than the pale, lifeless skin, he
