Free SCREWED DOWN MURDER (Mrs. Fix It Mysteries Book 2) by Belle Knudson Page A

had to hurry home then hurry through her shower. Scott was on her doorstep early, of course.
    “Did you eat?”
    “No, I’m still full from lunch.”
    “Then let’s catch a bite afterwards,” he said.
    “We’ll see.”
    She probably shouldn’t be going to the viewing with him, but she hated wakes and didn’t want to go alone.
    “At least it wasn’t a no.”
    ***
    The Rock Ridge Funeral Home was packed. Scott had to drop Kate off at the front door then find a spot to park. She waited for him in the entryway. He walked in and everyone turned to look at him. He had that type of presence. Not even noticing what had happened, he walked over to her, taking her elbow.
    “Shall we get in line?”
    “Sure.”
    Anyone who was anyone in Rock Ridge was in the funeral home right now. There were people Kate hadn’t seen in years.
    “Guess Dudley was well-liked,” Scott said.
    “He did run unopposed four times,” Kate said.
    She looked at all the people. She’d bet the murderer was here.
    “Do you have cops watching the place?”
    “Yes, I borrowed some state troopers so that visitors wouldn’t know them.”
    “What are they looking for?”
    “Just any suspicious behavior. It’s more a gut instinct,” Scott said. “We don’t arrest anyone based on that, but it may give us a suspect.”
    “I see.” Kate wasn’t sure anymore if she could trust her own gut feelings. “I talked to Larry today.”
    “So how is my, ahem, rival for your affections?”
    “Don’t be cocky.”
    He put on an innocent face, his eyebrows raised almost to his hairline. “Who? Me?”
    Kate rolled her eyes. “He said he heard a female talking to Dudley before the power went out.”
    “I know. That’s why we initially thought it was Jessica. I’d seen them arguing, so her following him to his office to keep arguing made sense. Clearly she hadn’t.”
    “Hmm. Do you think that female is your murderer?”
    “At the very least, we have to talk to her because she may have seen something, but we don’t want to let on that we know about her in case she is the murderer.”
    “So you are only looking at females?”
    “No, but mostly.”
    “Was Dudley having an affair?” Kate said.
    “Not that we know of. Jessica didn’t seem to think so. Think about Dudley. He landed Jessica. Even if he was frumpy and not that attractive, he could fancy himself more attractive and want to get someone hotter than his wife.”
    “Not always hotter. Some men cheat with anyone,” Kate said.
    “You know from experience?”
    “No, sorry. My past dating history isn’t that interesting or depressing,” she said. “I have Carly’s history to go by.”
    “Sad. She’s a nice girl.”
    “How much time have you spent with her?”
    “Jealous?”
    “No. Just asking.”
    The line snaked out into the hallway and back around. Kate was going to be hungry by the time they left here. She might take Scott up on his offer, after all.
    “Did Jessica tell you that she had an audit done on Dudley’s trucking company? She didn’t want him to be able to hide anything when she filed for divorce.”
    “Bet that didn’t go over well with Dudley.”
    “He did like to keep her in the dark. She was making the right decision to divorce him.”
    “Ironic,” Scott said.
    “What?”
    “That you feel that way, yet you won’t do that to Greg.”
    She couldn’t speak for a moment. The thought hadn’t crossed her mind. Ever. Why hadn’t it? Was she playing the victim?
    She didn’t want to be, but until a few months ago, she had still loved her husband. Now she wasn’t so sure.
    “I guess I’m not there yet, and Jessica is a stronger woman than I am.”
    Kate turned away from him. She wasn’t mad at him. She was questioning her own actions. Should she have done something before now? Would that help her kids to have closure?
    Scott leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I’m sorry.”
    She turned back to him. “I’m not mad. You didn’t do anything