Page 130 of Death of a Grill Master

Hayley didn’t answer. She just waited.

Kylie’s composure wavered—the brittle calm giving way to panic. “You weren’t there,” she said, louder now. “You don’t know—”

She broke off, voice splintering. “I didn’t even hit him!”

Chase spun on her. “What the hell are you doing?”

Hayley’s pulse thundered. She stepped back toward the door.

Then Chase’s eyes flicked to Hayley’s purse—where a faint red recording light glowed through the cracked zipper.

“She recorded that!” he shouted. “Give me the phone!”

“Don’t come near me,” Hayley snapped, stepping back.

Chase lunged. “We’re not letting you ruin everything!”

Hayley braced for a struggle as Chase turned on her, eyes wild.

“You’re not leaving with that recording,” he said, stepping between her and the door.

Hayley’s hand tightened around the strap of her purse. “Don’t be stupid, Chase.”

He took a step closer. “Give me the phone.”

“No.”

His jaw flexed, fury rising. “Then I’ll take it.”

Hayley didn’t flinch. “You think I’d walk into this alone? I made that mistake with Peter Baird.”

She met his gaze, steel in her voice.

“This time, I brought professional backup.”

The front door burst open with a crash.

“Bar Harbor PD!” Maddox bellowed. “Hands where I can see them!”

Sergeant Earl charged in behind him, weapon drawn and eyes scanning.

Chase froze mid-lunge. Kylie collapsed onto the couch, sobbing uncontrollably.

“You’re both under arrest,” Maddox said, voice cold and commanding. “For conspiracy to commit murder.”

“We didn’t kill him,” Chase said weakly.

“No,” Maddox agreed. “Peter Baird did. With a completely different gun.”

He nodded to Earl. “But you planned it. You brought your own weapon. You set it all in motion.”

Cuffs clicked.

The room emptied.

Outside, the sky was deepening to twilight, the edges of Frenchman’s Bay gilded in gold.

Hayley stood beside Maddox, both of them watching the cruiser disappear down the drive.