Free Murder Served Cold by Elizabeth Holly Page A

and get back before our number is called. Do you want to find out why he told everyone?”
    Jade stood. “Let’s go. Are you sure he’s the one who leaked it? He doesn’t seem the type.”
    “That’s what concerns me,” I said. If it wasn’t Ruben or the Friendlys, then who was it?

    I don’t know why I was surprised to find Ruben at his office after work hours. Probably because I had come over here without considering that he wouldn’tbe. He seemed like the type of person who was always at work and, so far, he had been proving that theory right.
    Ruben closed the lid on his salad bowl. “What can I do for you ladies?”
    “Why did you spread the word that Colleen’s related to Rodger?” I asked. I didn’t think he had, but I had to be sure.
    “I didn’t do that,” he said slowly.
    “Someone did,” said Jade.
    Ruben frowned. “It wasn’t me. I’m the guy who wants to be invisible. Telling the world gossip — even true gossip — is the exact opposite of that.”
    It suddenly came to me. Why hadn’t I seen it before? “Tim Becker was there. He must have known the location of his aunt’s house. He drove off when I did, and I didn’t see him come near Colleen’s house. Why was he there?”
    “Let’s talk to him,” Jade suggested. “We can swing by his house on our way back to The Parrot Tree.”
    “I don’t think he’ll be there,” said Ruben gruffly. “A kid isn’t going to stick around in an uncomfortable situation.”
    “I think I know where we can find him,” I said.
    Jade and I drove to Colleen’s house and, sure enough, his car was parked at the end of the street. Jade had started to head over there when I heard footsteps. “Wait.”
    A light flicked on in Colleen’s house. A few seconds later, it turned off, plunging the house back into darkness. I heard a faint thump and then Tim came running out of the backyard, his eyes manic.
    “Whoa,” I said, flagging him down.
    “I’ve got to get out of here,” he said frantically.
    “Hold on,” Jade began.
    Tim looked us in the eyes. “She’s dead. There’s a knife lodged in her chest and if I don’t get out of here, everyone’s going to think that I did it.” He dashed to his car, almost tripping on a wet, white cone-shaped paper, and sped off.
    We stood there in shock.
    “We should get out of here,” I suggested. Jade nodded.
    Sirens blared and flashing lights shone on us before we could make a move. The paramedics rushed in and Corey came up behind them.
    “Please don’t tell me this is a repeat,” he said. “I got called in for this. I had to skip my solo moment and everything. You would have loved it.”
    Jade smiled. “You can show us after this.”
    Corey’s feature’s softened. “It’s no big deal. I’ll show you two my moves one of these days. You’d better watch out, then!” He went into the house with a smile plastered on his face.

    After spending a while at Colleen Byrd’s house and giving our statements, Jade and I returned to The Parrot Tree. We told the police about seeing Tim and they said they’d look into it.
    “Fourteen!” a server called out.
    I poked Jade. “We’ll still make it.”
    She smiled. “Excellent.”
    I saw Taryn Horn get in line. “She really gets everywhere.”
    “Taryn’s the most connected person there is. Definitely in Red Palm, possibly in the world,” Jade smirked.
    Taryn received her number and sat next to us. “I’ve got a bunch of people meeting soon. I hope the wait isn’t too bad. By the way, where did you put the wildlife preserve donations?”
    Jade frowned. “I gave them to you.”
    We had gone with a wildlife preserve fund when we couldn’t find a specific fish charity on short notice.
    “That’s what I thought, but when I got home, I checked the envelope and it was empty.” Taryn twisted a strand of her light hair.
    “The money was in there,” said Jade, becoming worried.
    “Money doesn’t have legs. It can’t walk away.” Taryn pursed