Free P.I. I Love You (Miss Demeanor Suspense Series Book 1) by Joanne Jaytanie Page A

watched him, neither making a single move.
    “Thank you for your apology,” Blake finally said. “I do believe you did your best. We’re all human, and we all make mistakes. It takes a special person to admit when they’re wrong and I welcome your help.”
    Gage heard River let out a breath. He’d been holding his too, but hoped no one noticed.
    “Great! Let’s get started,” River said.
    “Hold on. You didn’t answer my second question. Are the bruises on your face linked to my case?” Blake asked.
    “Yes. I’m getting a little too close for someone’s comfort. I suppose I should tell you now. You’ll probably receive a large bill from the car rental place,” River said.
    “You dinged up a car, don’t give it another thought.”
    “She didn’t ding it. Some jackass used her as a moving target. Between ramming the back of River’s rental and shooting at her, she’s damned lucky to be here tonight,” Gage said, as River frowned at him.
    Blake looked at River in horror. “Are you going to be all right? Are you sure you should be here?” His total demeanor changed.
    “It’s part of my business. I’ll be fine, just a bit sore,” she said.
    The waiter came to take their drink orders. Gage ordered River a sparkling water with lime and got yet another dirty look. When the waiter left, River jumped into her plan.
    “I’d like you to inform Garnet and Ellis that I want to meet with the three of you tomorrow afternoon to update you on the case. Time and place is up to your discretion.”
    Blake nearly choked on his sip of water.
    “Ellis? Why Ellis? I’ve argued a number of times with Garnet about keeping family business private.”
    “And it will be a perfect opportunity to explain yourself,” River said. “Tell her you’ve given it some thought about what you said, and you were wrong. Tell Garnet she’s correct. Ellis will soon be part of the family and as such should be included.”
    “If that’s what you want,” Blake said, as he shook his head. “But I’m gonna get a ration of shit from my sister. And I still don’t understand why you want him there.”
    “There’s a possibility either Garnet or Ellis could be leaking information.”
    “Well, I can tell you, it’s not Garnet. I admit, she doesn’t seem able to keep from updating Ellis, but that’s all it is. So that leaves, Ellis. For what purpose would he leak information?” Blake asked.
    “Difficult to say. It could simply be he’s relaying the information in general conversation with someone. Tomorrow, I will inform all of you, your grandmother will be coming to town the following day, and she has something she would like to discuss with you in person. Gage and I will pick her up at SeaTac and bring her directly to the house.”
    “What? Gran’s coming up? I’m thrilled…but what could she possibly tell us?” Blake asked. “Tell me, what does she know?”
    “She wouldn’t tell me. She just asked that I arrange the meeting.”
    “Is this regarding my parent’s homicide, or my half-sister?”
    “If we’re on the right track, both.”

    “I couldn’t help but notice you didn’t tell him the entire truth,” Gage said. He opened the car door for River and helped her in. The meeting had drained her, she was clammy and pale.
    “I’m not going to point fingers at his sister’s fiancé until I’m certain,” River said.
    “Hm…I thought it might be because you still aren’t sure he won’t run back to his sister and tell her everything.”
    She gave him a sly look and smiled.

Chapter Eleven

    “Roger,” Gage said, and hung up his phone. “That was my pilot friend, the flight went fine. The soft-clothes officers were there upon arrival and took Mrs. Darnell and Tami to the safe house,” he told River as the two of them and a decoy of Mrs. Darnell headed south on I-5.
    “Good to know. Have we picked up our tail yet?” River asked.
    “Can’t say for sure, but our rest stop is coming up soon.”
    His phone