Free Dying To Marry by Janelle Taylor Page B

it.”
    Holly shook her head. “That’s very healthy, Jake. And very difficult to do when you’re thirteen years old.”
    â€œI’m not talking about then. I’m talking about now. If someone called you Holly the—” He stopped. “If someone called you a name, would it hurt? Or would you think the person was an immature loser with nothing better to do?”
    â€œThe latter,” she said.
    â€œExactly my point.”
    The sparks were back in her eyes. “Well my point is that Lizzie and I arrived back at her house an hour ago to find a mound of dirt on her bed with a note atop it that read: You’re nothing but dirt. How do you propose she respond to that?”
    He let out a deep breath and shook his head. “Dammit. How’s she doing?”
    â€œAs expected,” Holly said, the angry sparks changing to concern. “She’s very upset, scared. It took me a half hour just to calm her down.”
    Jake slammed his fist down on his desk. “I will find out who’s behind this. You can count on that.”
    She seemed relieved. “So you are officially working on the case?”
    â€œYes. I officially am.”
    She nodded. “Who are your suspects?”
    â€œYou’re not my client, Holly.”
    â€œExcuse me?” she asked, eyeing him.
    â€œYou’re not my client. I’ve hired myself here. I don’t discuss a case with anyone.”
    â€œFine. I’ll discuss my thoughts of the case, then,” Holly said, the sparks returning. “Lizzie told me that Pru Dunhill declined her invitation to be in the bridal party. In fact, Pru was downright mean about it. I’ll assume she’s number one on your list.”
    Jake leaned back in his chair. “She’s not, actually.”
    â€œBecause you’re involved with her?” Holly asked.
    Jake almost spit out his mouthful of coffee. “So now you’re listening to gossip?”
    â€œI saw the two of you in a heated embrace with my own eyes this morning at the train station,” Holly explained flatly.
    â€œWell, you’re wrong,” Jake said. “On both counts. We’re neither involved nor was I in a heated embrace, as you put it.”
    â€œThen why isn’t she number one on your list?” she asked.
    â€œBecause someone else is,” he said.
    â€œWho?”
    â€œI repeat: you’re not my client. I initiated this case. I don’t share information on an ongoing case.”
    â€œWe’re talking about my cousin!” Holly snapped.
    â€œWell, rest assured that I’m on it,” he responded calmly.
    â€œFine. I assume the other Dunhills are on your list. Dylan’s mother and father?”
    â€œYou’re assuming that they’re unhappy about the wedding?”
    â€œAren’t they?” Holly asked.
    â€œThat, you can discuss with your cousin,” Jake said. “But I’m sure Lizzie or Dylan won’t mind my alerting you that Dylan’s father passed away several years ago.” Memories of that strange night passed through his mind. It was a night that had set off a chain of events that had changed his perceptions, perhaps even his life.
    â€œOh,” she said. “I didn’t know.”
    â€œThere’s a lot you don’t know, Holly. Like I said, you’ve been away from Troutville for a long time.”
    She crossed her arms over her chest. “And like I said, I was in Troutville for one minute when I witnessed firsthand how little has changed. My friends and I were subjected to the same treatment as always. Comments about the way we look, about Dylan and Lizzie—” She stopped and bit her lip.
    â€œWhat is it?” Jake asked.
    â€œWhen I stepped off the train this morning,” she said, “two women in front of me were gossiping about how Lizzie must have blackmailed Dylan into marriage. I was just realizing that the list of suspects is going