Free The Path of the Crooked (Hope Street Church Mysteries Book 1) by Ellery Adams

dirt, Ashley, it’s someone’s life,” Cooper retorted and then softened her tone. “Fine. If you promise to return whatever’s inside those bags.” She pointed at the silver Nordstrom bags. “I can’t afford those clothes no matter how fab they might be.”
    “But it was all on sale,” Ashley whined.
    Cooper silently got up from the table, removed a bill from a basket on her kitchen counter and handed it to Ashley. “I can’t afford it, Ashley. And this is why.”
    Her blue eyes springing open, Ashley glanced from the bill to her sister and back again. “This isn’t small change, Coop! How did this happen?”
    “When Drew moved out, I was left about five grand in debt,” Cooper confessed. “During the time we were together, we bought a huge plasma TV, a karaoke machine, a cappuccino maker that required NASA scientists to operate, and a super-hip living room set from Ikea. Drew wanted to start his own home inspection business, so he was saving money for that, and because I really wanted to support him in his dream, most of the day-to-day expenses and all the big-ticket items ended up on my Visa card.”
    “I thought you guys split all your bills down the middle.” Ashley was clearly astonished. “Have you asked Drew for money?”
    Cooper shook her head. “Drew treated me like a queen. He told me I was beautiful every day . . .” She folded the bill and returned it to the basket, fighting tears. “We laughed all the time, Ashley. We had fun together. I thought we were happy.”
    “We did too,” Ashley said. “The whole family was waiting for you to announce your engagement. I never imagined I’d be marching up the aisle before my big sister.”
    “I didn’t realize until those last few months we were together, when he started drinking three or four beers a night, that he wasn’t happy anymore. I thought it was work stuff and that he’d sort out what was eating him and we’d move on. Well, he didn’t sort it out. He blew up and Anna Lynne was there to help him pick up the pieces.” Cooper sighed. “I still love him, Ashley. I’ve loved him for over five years. It’s so hard to just . . . stop. And there’s no way I’m asking him for money.”
    “I’ll give it to you,” Ashley whispered and took her sister’s hand.
    Deeply moved by the offer, Cooper tried not to cry. “That is so sweet, thank you, but this is my mess. I’ll take care of it. And I know you’re going to offer to pay for those Nordstrom clothes too, but I don’t want you to, okay?”
    Ashley pretended to sulk. “Suits me, but you’re missing out. I had a really pretty outfit for you to wear to church this week so you could dazzle all the eligible men.”
    “I’m not interested in dating right now.” Cooper returned her focus to Brooke’s document . “Let’s change the subject. Do you want to hear about my experience at Hope Street?”
    Ashley nodded and Cooper got up to brew a pot of coffee. Over several of their mother’s raspberry squares, she filled Ashley in on the death of Brooke Hughes.
    When she was done, Ashley gestured at the scraps of paper. “This is what you pulled out of the copier?”
    Cooper smirked. “Yep. And it’s really important that I piece it back together.” Staring at the minute progress she had made, she sighed. “So far, the only word I’ve been able to make out is Hazel.”
    “Hazel? What’s that?”
    “I’m guessing it’s a woman’s name, but who she is and how she ties into this whole thing is a mystery to me.”
    “You’re lucky, Coop. You’re right in the thick of it all.” Ashley folded her manicured hands and rested her lovely chin on top of them. “It’s so exciting!”
    Cooper frowned at her sister. “I don’t think Mr. Hughes is feeling excited about what’s happened. If it weren’t for him and the fact that his wife was so nice to me, I’d be watching HGTV with a pile of gardening catalogues on my lap.”
    “Look at you, Coop,” Ashley declared.