Page 172 of Trust No One

Her arms folded. Fresh grief burned under her words. “Raine Hale. She did this. She’s the only one that benefits from all of them being dead.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Maria and Gabe were filing for a share of the Hale estate, and Raine knew it. Now she’ll keep everything she inherited.”

“Who told you?”

“Gabe. They weren’t asking for a huge amount, but it would have helped them. No one wanted to sue, but Raine wouldn’t give an inch.”

“Yet Raine lent money to Maria often, didn’t she?”

“She stopped helping. Gave no reason. Just said no, no matter how much Maria begged.”

“Gabe told you this?”

“Yes. My son trusted me.” Her eyes glinted. “Raine’s mother was the same—made you work for every dime. Never gave out bonuses.”

“Tell me about Gabe and Maria’s marriage?”

“They were happy for a long, long time. But Gabe made some foolish choices.”

“His arrests.”

She frowned. “He was drinking—not in his right mind. Maria and Molly were struggling. She didn’t want to move back to Hale land. But she couldn’t afford to live anywhere else. When Gabe got out, he moved into the cottage.”

“What about Amy Stocker?”

Edith’s mouth thinned. “Not a good choice. But a man has his limits.”

“What pushed him? Money?”

“And Maria’s nagging. All the Hales were demanding. Gabe hated her tone but wanted that settlement money. He’d earned it.”

“How?”

“He worked hard. Life never gave him breaks. The economy hasn’t helped.”

“Maria stood by him when he was in prison.”

“She should have. The charges never should’ve been filed. He was defending himself.”

Mrs. Durant had never been an easy woman. Time, and now grief, had sent her deeper into bitterness. “What reason would Raine have to kill any of them?”

“That girl always had trouble brewing in her head. I wouldn’t be surprised if she killed her mother, too.”

“Mrs. Hale?”

“As long as Mrs. Hale was alive, Raine was trapped here. She wanted out. Wanted college.”

“I thought she was loyal to her mother.”

“She saw to her needs. But there was no love.”

“Why?”

“Mrs. Hale shipped Raine off to boarding school when she was ten. And Raine stayed there until the family ran out of money and Mrs. Hale needed her help.”

“You knew Mrs. Hale well, didn’t you?”