Free Murder in Cottage #6 (Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Dianne Harman Page A

that flashed across Darcy’s face. “What makes you think I’d tell
you that? You’re not part of law enforcement. There’s no reason for me to tell
you.”
    “Well, there actually is a
reason. I just came from Dave’s home, and he said he spent the night with you.
He told me he’d been seeing you. I think it’s rather obvious that you might
have benefited if Barbara died. I understand she was a very strong Catholic and
wouldn’t even consider a divorce. With her out of the way, you and Dave would
be free to get married.”
    “David said he spent the
night with me? Is that true?” Darcy demanded.
    “Yes. Like I said, I just
came from Dave’s home, and he’s the one who told me.”
    “I see. Well, if he told
you that, I’ll confirm that yes, he was here all night on the night in
question. We both left the apartment yesterday morning about 7:00. I like to
get to the high school before the teachers or students arrive, and he likes to
get to his insurance agency an hour or so before his clients start arriving for
scheduled appointments. We were here all night. Neither one of us left the
apartment that night, so it couldn’t have been either one of us who committed
the crime.”
    “Thank you, Darcy. I’m
sure you can understand how anxious I am to find out who the killer is and have
this unfortunate episode behind me. It’s getting very close to my busiest
season, and if word gets out about this and people think there’s a killer on
the loose at the spa, it could be a disaster for my business.”
    “Yes. I understand your
concerns. You seem like a nice person, and I wish I could help you, but I
can’t. I know nothing more than what I just told you. From what I understand,
Barbara and Dave haven’t been close for many years. Maybe she had a boyfriend.
Those things happen, you know.”
    “I hadn’t thought of that
but maybe she did. Thanks for your help. This can’t be an easy time for you.
I’m sure very few people know that Dave and Barbara have had a marriage of
convenience only for a long time. It must be very difficult for you to have to
stay in the shadows.”
    “It is, but perhaps in a
few months Dave and I can be seen together publicly. Maybe something good will
come from something that is terribly bad. Isn’t it strange where life takes
you?” she said wistfully.
    “Yes it is. I wish you
well, Darcy. Again, thanks.”
    Good grief. These two must
be living in la-la land if they think no one knows about their affair. And
isn’t it convenient that Dave and Darcy backed up each other’s alibi. If one of
them is the murderer, maybe they decided in advance to use each other as an
alibi. Wow, that sounds real private eyeish. And Barbara having a boyfriend? No
one’s mentioned that. If there was any truth to it I would have thought her
partner at the antique store might have mentioned it. However, with Barbara
being such a strong Catholic, I have a hard time thinking of her having a
romantic affair outside of her marriage. Then again, you just never know about
people.

CHAPTER 12
     
    Fortunately it was one of the few
nights of the year when there weren’t any guests staying in the cottages, so
Liz didn’t have to rush home and fix appetizers and dinner for them. Knowing
that no guests would be on the property, she was glad Winston would be with
her. With everything that had happened in the last day and a half, she was no
longer comfortable being by herself at the lodge during the night.
                “Okay boy, time for
dinner,” Liz said as she pulled her van into the lodge’s parking lot. Winston’s
ears went up, and as soon as she opened the door on the van, he ran up the
steps to the front door of the lodge, waiting for her to open the door. A few
minutes later he was hungrily eating the bowl of food Liz had put out for him.
“Good grief, Winston. Ed didn’t tell me you were such a big eater. I’m glad he
put the amount of the dog food you’re supposed to have on the