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  “Just your luck, the next day, we uncovered evidence to suggest Sam Hill had killed my father,” Nikki said. “Since there was no way to implicate him in Ashleigh’s murder, you needed to point the finger in yet another direction. So you told us that you had received a threat from a man who admitted to killing Ashleigh. By suggesting that you could be a potential victim, you diverted suspicion away from yourself.”

  “How do you know that someone didn’t threaten me?” Becca asked in a defeated tone.

  “As upset as you were when you told us about the call, you didn’t report it to the police. That’s because there was no call.”

  “You knew we would have wanted to examine your phone to see if we could trace the call,” Ryan said. “You couldn’t report a threatening phone call that never happened. We would have uncovered the truth instantly.”

  “After telling us about the threat, you stole a car and shot at the station to bring home the illusion that you were a potential target, not a suspect,” Nikki said. “You stole it from the museum parking lot to throw suspicion in the direction of Greta Wheeler.”

  “You can’t prove I did that,” Becca said.

  “You forgot to wipe down the button to adjust the driver’s seat on the car,” Ryan said. “We’ve got two prints. An index and middle finger.”

  “If you’re like most investigative journalists, you carry a concealed weapon for protection,” Nikki said.

  Becca’s moist eyes glazed over with disbelief. “She said that it was my fault for being such an idiot. It was her story because it had been left on her car. She only gave it to me to work on—as her assistant. But the board of education was my beat. I was the one who uncovered Wheeler’s globetrotting at taxpayers’ expense. All Ashleigh did was read what I wrote.”

  Becca heard movement behind her. She turned around to discover Sheriff Tanya Williams standing behind the chair. In response to her silent order, Becca stood up and placed her hands behind her back.

  Nikki covered her mouth with her hand while she watched Tanya place the cuffs on the promising journalist’s wrists while reciting her right to remain silent. Ryan squeezed Nikki’s shoulder in comfort. Elmo pressed against her legs and uttered a whimper.

  Before Tanya escorted her out the door, Becca stopped and turned back to Nikki.

  “You know, when I was in school, I dreamed of being on the evening news. Never did I imagine that I would be the lead story.”

  Epilogue

  “Are we forgetting anything?” From her vantage point on the front porch, Kathleen compared the items checked off on her tablet against the luggage in the SUV.

  “I think we forgot the kitchen sink.” Sighing with exhaustion, Harrison watched Ryan rearrange several suitcases to fit Kathleen’s garment bag without wrinkling her cocktail dresses.

  “Everything you take, you’re going to have to carry on your trip.” Nikki stepped out onto the porch with a picnic basket in her hands. She held it out to her mother. “Wine and cheese lunch for when you feel like a break during your drive.”

  “Oh, thank you, dear.” Kathleen gave her a warm hug and kiss before taking the basket.

  “Don’t thank me. Trudy says it’s a meal to nourish everlasting love and romance.”

  The corners of Kathleen’s lips curled as she cast a quick glance in Ryan’s direction. Harrison was giving his son last minute instructions for maintaining the inn. “I think you could get more from this than we would.”

  “Trudy made two of them. Ours is set up in the gazebo. Ice bucket and all.”

  “Before we leave,” Harrison said as he and Ryan approached the porch, “I’ve got a question that’s been nagging me.” He propped a foot up on the bottom step. “Now, I know Ross was a brilliant guy.” He flashed a grin at Kathleen. “He had to be to win this woman’s love. But, how is it that he was the only one in a place filled with news journalists to realize that Wyatt was the one who’d struck Noah and then took off?”

  “That’s a good question,” Nikki said.

  “Do you have a good answer?” Kathleen asked.

  “I once interviewed the wife of a professional hit man. He would leave the house every morning dressed in a nice suit and carrying a briefcase, and come home in the evening in time for dinner. They were married for twelve years. She had no idea that he was a killer for hire until the FBI arrested him.”

  “What did she think he was doing for a living?” Kathleen asked.

  “Life insurance salesman,” Nikki said. “He was a pleasant, soft-spoken, educated gentleman. Everyone who met and interviewed him claimed that you would never expect that of him.”

  “He was above suspicion,” Harrison said. “But the police put out a notice that they were looking for a red BMW. Everyone knew that was what Suzanne drove, and the hit and run was in the same area where the party had been that night. How is it that only Ross was able to connect the two?”

  “There were several witnesses who saw Wyatt get behind the wheel of the car when they’d left the party,” Nikki said. “No one knew he was drunk.”

  “Wyatt was one of those people who didn’t act drunk when he’s had too much,” Kathleen said.

  “The night of the hit and run was a Friday night,” Nikki said. “On Monday, Wyatt let it be known that they were laying low because of the scene Suzanne had created at the party. That logically explained their absence. No one had any reason to think otherwise.”

  “Suzanne being in the car and unaware that Wyatt had hit anything helped him immensely,” Ryan said. “Here was a potential witness or accessory displaying no traditional signs of guilt.”

  “Because she was passed out and totally unaware that Wyatt had hit anything,” Nikki said.

  “And she had never realized her husband killed their boss?” Harrison asked with a shake of his head.

  “Can you say clueless?” Nikki said with a roll of her eyes.

  “Believe me, Wyatt would have never gotten away with anything if Suzanne had any idea,” Kathleen said. “Somehow, she would have blown everything.”

  Nikki said, “When they returned to work on Tuesday morning with no damage to the BMW, they were cleared of suspicion—especially when Wyatt contacted Daniel himself to offer up the car for examination.”

  “No one was aware that Wyatt had family who could repair the damage under the radar,” Ryan said. “No one was even aware that Wyatt had left the area.”

  “This doesn’t say much about our reporters,” Nikki said. “Everyone was looking for a car that had a missing side-mirror. They weren’t looking for a BMW that had recent repair work. Meredith had noticed the fixed bumper but she was so focused on her feud with Suzanne, that the thought of other body work being done to cover up a hit and run didn’t occur to her. Like the hitman whose wife thought he sold life insurance, Wyatt was above suspicion. No one could imagine him running down a child and driving off without stopping.”

  “Your father could,” Kathleen said. “He knew Wyatt better than anyone. That makes me suspect he saw something in Wyatt that the rest of us didn’t.”

  “We need to get on the road if we’re going to make New York by dark.” Harrison climbed the steps and gave Nikki a warm hug.

  Kathleen hugged Ryan. “Oh, I feel so guilty. Our family has finally come together. We’ve got closure all the way around, and Harrison and I take off.” She frowned at Nikki. “I’m leaving you with the television station—minus a general manager, news anchor, and journalist.”

  “Mom, I’ll manage. I’ll run the station until I can find a general manager who’s not a killer, and Meredith agreed to anchor the evening news until we hire a new one.”

  “What are you going to do about an investigative journalist?” Harrison asked with a knowing grin.

  Nikki pumped her eyebrows.

  Kathleen let out a heavy sigh and turned to Ryan. “I’m counting on
you to keep her out of trouble.”

  “That duty defines who I am,” Ryan replied.

  Kathleen quickly glanced around. “Where’s Elmo? I expected him to be here so that he could post a road trip picture to his social media page.” She frowned. “And Lucy and Ethel have been scarce, too. I do hope the three of them learn to get along.”

  “Elmo is still trying to figure out what species Lucy and Ethel are,” Harrison said.

  “Last I saw Elmo, he was chasing butterflies in the garden out back,” Nikki said.

  After another round of hugs and kisses and a few tears, Kathleen and Harrison climbed into the SUV and went on their way.

  “I thought they’d never leave,” Ryan said after the vehicle disappeared from sight. “Did I hear you mention a wine and cheese lunch out in the gazebo?”

  Nikki gave him a soft kiss on the lips before taking his hand and leading him along the walkway to the back garden.

  In the gazebo, they discovered the missing boxer and two cats. Only miniscule bites of the brie and sourdough bread was left from their lunch. What was left of the wine dripped from the overturned wine bottle amid a melted pool of ice onto the floor.

  The three thieves were huddled together in a drunken slumber on the bench. Kneading the dog’s thick hide with their paws, Lucy and Ethel used Elmo as a cushion. Their tummies full of cheese, salmon, and possibly wine, they purred loudly while rubbing their heads against Elmo’s back and shoulders.

  “Oh, if Elmo’s followers could see him now.” Ryan covered his laughter with his hand.

  “Well, Trudy did say wine and cheese is the food to nourish everlasting love,” Nikki said. “There goes our romantic lunch to celebrate our first day home alone.”

  “I have a feeling these three are going to be sleeping this off for a while.” Ryan took her into his arms. “We can go elsewhere to celebrate being alone.”

  She looked up into his face. “I’m still waiting for you to fulfill your part of our bargain.”

  “What bargain?”

  “How soon we forget, NerdyGuy.” She cocked her head at him while flashing him a demure grin. “I take a second shot at my first love—” She jabbed him in the chest. “And you find the love you let get away and tell her how you feel.”

  “I thought I did that already.”

  She shot him an exaggerated frown. “I guess I missed that part.”

  “I guess I’m going to have to tell you again.”

  They’re lips met when the phone in his pocket buzzed.

  “Seriously,” she said as he extracted it from his pocket to answer.

  “I’m covering for Helga. Her husband got back from a three-month assignment this weekend. I agreed to that back before I got a social life.” Ryan groaned when he read the message. “It’s Tanya. There’s been a murder.”

  “I’ll get my jacket!” With a squeal of delight, Nikki ran for the house.

  “I promised to keep you out of trouble!”

  “Never make promises you can’t keep, NerdyGuy!”

  The End

  About the Author

  Lauren Carr

  Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Thorny Rose, Lovers in Crime, Mac Faraday, and Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries—over twenty titles across four fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

  Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.

  Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband and two German Shepherds, including the real Sterling, on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

  Visit Lauren Carr’s website at www.mysterylady.net to learn more about Lauren and her upcoming mysteries.

  Check Out Lauren Carr’s Mysteries!

  Order! Order!

  All of Lauren Carr’s books are stand alone. However for those readers wanting to start at the beginning, here is the list of Lauren Carr’s mysteries. The number next to the book title is the actual order in which the book was released.

  Joshua Thornton Mysteries

  Fans of the Lovers in Crime Mysteries may wish to read these two books which feature Joshua Thornton years before meeting Detective Cameron Gates. Also in these mysteries, readers will meet Joshua Thornton’s five children before they have flown the nest.

  1) A Small Case of Murder

  2) A Reunion to Die For

  Mac Faraday Mysteries

  3) It’s Murder, My Son

  4) Old Loves Die Hard

  5) Shades of Murder (introduces the Lovers in Crime: Joshua Thornton & Cameron Gates)

  7) Blast from the Past

  8) The Murders at Astaire Castle

  9) The Lady Who Cried Murder (The Lovers in Crime make a guest appearance in this Mac Faraday Mystery)

  10) Twelve to Murder

  12) A Wedding and a Killing

  13) Three Days to Forever

  14) Open Season for Murder

  16) Cancelled Vows

  17) Candidate for Murder

  23) Crimes Past

  29) Came Upon a Midnight Murder (Summer 2020)

  Lovers in Crime Mysteries

  6) Dead on Ice

  11) Real Murder

  18) Killer in the Band

  25) The Root of Murder

  Thorny Rose Mysteries

  15) Kill and Run

  19) A Fine Year for Murder

  22) Murder by Perfection

  27) Nutcracker Conspiracy

  20) Twofer Murder

  The Chris Matheson Mysteries

  21) ICE

  24) Winter Frost 26) The Last Thing She Said

  30) Deadly Confidences (Fall 2020)

  Anthology - Spring Thaw (Mystery Short Story Collection

  Nikki Bryant cozy Mystery

  28) Killer Deadline

  Attention Book-Clubbers!

  Want to add some excitement to your next book club meeting? Are you curious about this mystery author’s theme regarding cold cases? Do you wonder where she picks up her inspiration for such interesting characters? What does she have planned next for the Geezer Squad? Well, now is your chance to ask this international best-selling mystery writer, in person, you and your book club.

  That’s right. Lauren Carr is available to personally meet with your book club to discuss The Last Thing She Said or any of her best-selling mystery novels.

  Don’t worry if your club is meeting on the other side of the continent. Lauren can pop in to answer your questions via webcam. But, if your club is close enough, Lauren would love to personally meet with your group. Who knows! She may even bring her muse Sterling along!

  To invite Lauren Carr to your next book club meeting, visit www.mysterylady.net and fill out a request form with your club’s details.

  Came Upon a Midnight Murder

  A Mac Faraday Mystery

  Coming Summer 2020