Free Deadly Inheritance: A Romantic Suspense by Amy Corwin Page A

bottle, capped it, and put it back in the credenza.
    “No. This is medicinal, so it doesn’t count.”
    “It counts, trust me.” He took the glass out of her hand and placed it on the bar. “Come on, I want a look at the bridge.”
    He led the way to the marble hallway and the front door while Nora followed meekly. She hadn’t drunk enough to feel comfortable in her uncle’s weird house, and she was beginning to regret coming, thinking about the upcoming lunch.
    Dinner, she corrected herself. Whatever .
    The other cousins would be there, all clean and tidy. She was at a distinct disadvantage in an old tee shirt and sweat pants. And slippers. Hardly inspiring or flattering attire.
    She hated meeting new people, anyway. Dogs, cats, even fat little hamsters didn’t care. They were happy to accept you, regardless of what you were wearing, or not wearing. They weren’t critics like Sarah Lennox.
    People were judgmental. And they could be so cruel.
    Normally, she wasn’t a drinker, but the day had started badly enough, and as she trailed after Gabe’s broad back, she thought longingly of the bottle he’d replaced in the credenza. She could have used one more glass. At least. A little false courage would be very useful at noon.
    Especially since she was fairly sure that one of her delightful cousins was a murderer.
    She leaned against the wall as Gabe opened the front door and bent down to examine the wooden planks forming the drawbridge. The muscles beneath his white shirt bunched and then smoothed as he moved with deftness and a competence that surprised her. Her gaze drifted down his arms, resting on his rolled-up sleeves and strong forearms. He made her feel…befuddled. She shook her head. Maybe that last glass of vodka had been unnecessary.
    When she looked at his face, he was looking thoughtful. Concerned.
    And very handsome.
    Her hand went to her hair even as her jaw tightened. He made her feel strange, as if she were waiting for something, and despite her confidence in her ability to protect herself, she was glad he’d come with her. However, he also wanted her to go home and forget about this whole thing.
    Well, she wouldn’t. Why should she? He just didn’t understand—probably didn’t want to. He’d only come because he owed her godfather a favor. And of course, she’d paid him a pile of money, money that she could have used.
    So he could say whatever he wanted, but she had no alternatives. He didn’t know that she’d already tried the banks, or that she was drowning in student debt, not to mention the loan she’d taken out last year to buy the veterinary business from Peyton’s elderly, retiring vet. She was up to her eyeballs in debt, and no one was going to lend her another dime.
    This was her best—her only—chance, dangerous though it might be.
    “The bridge should have held. These boards are sound no matter how they look.” Gabe straightened and dusted off his hands.
    She watched him, mesmerized, feeling something catch in her heart. Waiting, she wanted him to turn, look up at her, and smile…
    “It had to be rigged. And I need to get a look at the mechanism that raises and lowers the bridge.” He leaned back to study the outside walls above the door and then nodded at the moat’s far bank. “That’s where the far end of the chain was anchored. The other end was attached up there above our heads, but I can’t see anything. The piece of the chain you used as a ladder dangles into the water from the bank. I can’t see if it was cut.” He grabbed her shoulder and turned her around. “Come on. We need to go up to the first floor. Right above the front door. Maybe we can see what happened from up there.”
    She turned to join him and stopped. The room swayed. She braced a hand against the cool surface of the wall and took a deep breath. Her stomach gurgled uncomfortably in reaction, and a sharp pain speared her temple, as if warning her of a headache’s impending arrival.
    She’d