Page 95 of Death of a Grill Master

“Doug?” she asked.

“Who else? It was his gun.”

Hayley shook her head. “Doug’s out. He couldn’t have been anywhere near the water that night—the doctors made that clear. But you?” She leaned in. “You were right there. On Hank’s boat. At the scene of the murder. And your fingerprints are on those bullets.”

Chase faltered, mouth working. Then he started grasping at straws. “But … are they even sure? One shot fired—are they positive it matched?”

Hayley’s eyes stayed locked on his. “It matched.”

Chase froze.

Hayley’s stare didn’t soften. “If you’re lying, Chase … it’s going to come out. And when it does, it won’t just be the cops breathing down your neck. You’ll be finished.”

“I’m not lying,” he shot back, voice rising. “I told you what happened. The party, the bullets, that’s it. Why don’t you believe me?”

“Because you’re not exactly a picture of honesty,” Hayley said evenly. “You were sleeping with Kylie behind Hank’s back. The man’s dead, and you expect me to take your word at face value?”

His jaw tightened so hard she thought his teeth might crack. Color rose in his face as he stepped closer—too close.

In a sudden, sharp movement, he seized her arm.

“You need to stop asking questions,” he hissed. “You’re just going to make things worse for me.”

Hayley didn’t flinch.

His grip tightened. “People get hurt when they don’t know when to quit.”

Then he let her go, turned on his heel, and stalked up the path. The screen door slammed behind him.

Hayley stood rooted to the sidewalk, the chill of the evening creeping into her bones. Chase had given her his story, but the fear in his eyes told her even he didn’t believe it would hold.

And that scared her more than anything.

This wasn’t just about clearing someone’s name anymore.

This was about survival.

Chapter 31

Hayley had just taken a peach cobbler out of the oven—it was for Bruce, but she’d already eaten a spoonful when it was still molten and regretted nothing—when her phone rang.

The screen lit up with Lacy Whitmore’s name.

“Hayley? Sorry to bother you. I was cleaning out Tina’s office at COA this morning,” Lacy said, sounding brisk but drained. “There was something … odd. I didn’t want to text it. I thought maybe I should show you in person.”

Hayley straightened. “I can meet you there.”

“I’m actually back at her house now. Trying to finish the last of it.”

“I thought you were supposed to be out days ago.”

“I was. But Terry’s been a lot more accommodating since he walked in on me bent over a box in yoga pants. I think I broke his ability to form full sentences for a solid minute.”

“Sounds like he’s got a little crush.”

“If I don’t finish soon, Terry might ask me to move in instead of move out.”

Hayley laughed. “I’m on my way.”