Free Sweet Friend of Mine (A Sweet Cove Mystery Book 8) by J A Whiting

table in the dining room.
    “I’m starving actually.”
    “We have tea, coffee, and hot chocolate in the dining room, too.” Angie walked him over to show where everything was. “We have beer and wine, if you’d rather that.”
    Darren requested a glass of red wine and Angie went to the kitchen and returned with it. The cats jumped up onto the top of the China cabinet and sat at attention watching Darren as he nibbled the sweets that he’d put on his plate.
    Wearing sweatpants and an old sweatshirt, Courtney came in from the hall. “What’s cookin’? Are you coming back to the family room? Who was at the door?” Once she’d moved around the corner, Courtney spotted Darren at the table. “Hi. I didn’t realize we had a new guest.”
    Introductions were made.
    Courtney tilted her head. “Darren Wilton, the musician? Cool.”
    Darren grinned and wiped a bit of frosting from his lip. “I don’t usually get recognized unless I’m in LA.”
    Courtney sat down across from him. “What brings you to Sweet Cove?”
    “I’d like to buy a place here. I was meeting with Betty Hayes today.”
    “You must have heard about the missing person from town?” Courtney assumed that news had traveled and that Darren must know that his former band member was missing.
    Darren’s face clouded. He took a swallow of his wine and set the glass down on the table. “I heard about Ryan. That’s really the main reason I’m back. I wanted to talk to the police, see what they’d discovered, offer any help I could give.”
    “Did you speak to Chief Martin?” Angie asked.
    “I did.” Darren nodded. “He also suggested I come here for a room.”
    Ellie returned with several keys and sat down next to Angie. “I’m sorry about your friend.”
    “I really can’t believe that Ryan is missing.” Darren’s voice was almost a whisper. “I was shocked when I heard. I was about to leave for LA. I postponed the trip.”
    “You were in a band together?” Ellie questioned.
    “Yeah. Vine . It was a good group. We learned a lot from each other, expanded our skills.” Darren had a faraway look on his face. “Life is funny, isn’t it? You just never know.” His voice trailed off.
    “How did the band members get along?” Angie had poured herself a cup of tea.
    “We all got along. Oh, sure, there were occasional gripes over musical differences, but we worked them out.”
    “Were you and Ryan good friends?” Courtney asked.
    Darren blinked fast a few times. He reached for his glass and took another long swallow. “We’re like brothers.”
    Angie couldn’t help one of her eyebrows shooting up. Henry had told them that Ryan and Darren weren’t really friends, only business partners. That bit of information didn’t jive with how Darren was describing the relationship. Pondering which person wasn’t telling the truth, Angie took a quick look up at the cats. They still sat at attention listening to what was being said.
    “Did you keep in touch with each other after Ryan went to college?” Angie asked.
    “Sure. I’d moved down to Boston. Ryan goes to college in the city. We get together a lot, work on music together.”
    “Do you have any idea where Ryan could be?” Angie held her hands in her lap.
    Darren’s eyes went wide, and then he sadly shook his head from side to side. “No, I don’t. I wish I knew.”
    Courtney asked another question. “Did Ryan ever mention any trouble he was having with anyone? Was he in any kind of trouble?”
    Darren took a deep breath. “Ryan never said anything about any trouble. He worked hard at school. He was doing well.”
    “Did Ryan want a musical career?” Angie watched Darren’s face closely.
    “I think Ryan would have given it a go, but his dad didn’t want that. I think Ryan wanted to get his degree because that’s what his father wanted for him. After he gets it? Who knows?”
    “Have you met Mr. Allen?” Ellie questioned.
    “Only briefly, just a couple of