Free HAMMERED (Mrs. Fix It Mysteries Book 1) by Belle Knudson Page B

expected the chief to make any more progress than anyone else. Even if he did have a personal reason for wanting to find Greg.
    Her thoughts veered to Scott, but she didn’t want to go there. He was a fly in her ointment. His persistence was unnerving. She was just her. Not some supermodel. Just Kate.
    She sighed. The mayor had noted lots of dollar amounts, but none of them meant much to Kate. Still, she read on.
    Then she discovered that Clark Stadt, owner of Grayson’s hardware, had once been an investment banker. In Philadelphia. “Hm.”
    Kate booted up her laptop, waiting for the cranky machine to start. She needed to replace this, but there were tuition bills to deal with first. And truck repairs.
    Finally, she was able to open a search engine and put in Clark Stadt’s name. He had been a banker. He’d done investments and he’d worked closely with Jackie York. Kate stopped on the picture of Jackie. She was a beauty but didn’t dress conservatively at all.
    What had Scott seen in her? Was she dazzling in person? Did she enjoy sex a lot? What was it? Such an odd combination. A cop and someone as high-powered as Jackie seemed to be.
    “Oh well.”
    She’d never figure out men. Ever. Two men wanted her while she was unavailable, and no one seemed to want Carly who was available and not bitter from her divorce.
    As she read on and found more articles, she realized the Clark’s career had crashed and burned. He’d given advice to many of his clients to invest in something of Jackie’s. Must have been the one that failed.
    Many people invested their life savings. Never a good idea. Nothing was a sure thing. Ever.
    Clark had been barred from the industry.
    “Not only had he lost money, but he lost other people’s money. And he lost his career. That must have made him bitter.”
    In all of her dealings with Clark, he’d never come across as anything but affable and likeable. He had great knowledge of his hardware store and had taught her many things to help her with her business.
    She never would have guessed that he’d had such a spectacular downfall before he came to Rock Ridge. He probably moved here because of Larry, who had settled here with his wife years ago.
    She’d died and he’d stayed.
    Now the two bachelors lived in a townhouse not far from here.
    Clark would have a very good reason to kill Jackie. As revenge, but this had happened a few years ago. Why kill her now? Had he just not had a chance?
    Seemed strange and at odds with the man who had been so good to her when she started her business. He’d been kind and had extended her credit. She couldn’t see him hurting a fly. He was an older version of Larry.
    She pondered this as she brushed her teeth. Was it important enough to tell Scott? She wouldn’t bother him now. Maybe in the morning.
    She stared at her reflection and had her very rare pity party. He knew she wasn’t the beauty she’d once been, but had she not been enough for her husband? So much so that he had to run away?
    Couldn’t he have just divorced her? She’d thought back to those days and weeks before he disappeared. She didn’t see any sign that he was cheating. In fact, he seemed to have a renewed interest in her.
    They’d made love more. He would call her during the day once in a while. He’d been more affectionate than usual. In fact, it might have been one of the best years of their marriage.
    And then he was gone. Without a trace. No note. No phone call. He texted her that he was leaving the campus late. That was the last time he’d gotten in touch with her. His phone had been disconnected later that night.
    She sighed. Maybe she just needed to go to bed and start fresh in the morning.
    ***
    When Kate woke the next morning she was refreshed. Her pity party of last night was gone from her mind. The birds sang as she lay in her queen-sized bed. If only they did housework. She’d never have to do it.
    She didn’t have a job until later in the morning, so she put some