Free Grapes of Death by Joni Folger Page B

“What’s the big deal, anyway?”
    Jackson closed the door and leaned against it, her purse still under his arm, which under any other circumstance would have been amusing.
    â€œ What’s the big deal ?” He tilted his head as if considering. “Well, depending on where and when you got this stuff, it could be a very big deal.”
    Elise crossed her arms and watched Chunk jump down from his living room perch in the Papasan chair to stroll over and give Jackson a curious sniff. “I don’t see how that would make a difference. What does when, or even where, I found them have to do with anything?”
    â€œWell, for one thing, it makes a difference if you broke the law to get them.” Jackson bent over and scooped up her tubby feline with his free hand. “I’d hate to have to haul your butt in for obstruction of justice.”
    â€œObstruction of justice? What the—”
    â€œYou never think of the consequences do you? Those papers could be important evidence in a homicide investigation,” he said as he crossed into the living room.
    Stalking into the room behind him, she snatched her purse up off the coffee table where he’d deposited it and held it to her chest like a lost friend. “A homicide ? Who said anything about a homicide?”
    â€œThe ME’s office said, that’s who.”
    â€œThe ME ruled Uncle Edmond’s death a homicide? When did that happen? Are they sure? And why am I just hearing about it now? Have you told Mom or anyone yet?”
    As she fired off question after question, Jackson plopped down on the sofa and shook his head.
    â€œWhat?” she demanded when she’d run out of steam and he’d made no effort to jump in with information.
    â€œAre you through? Good God, woman, you jabber more than an agitated magpie. If you’d shut up for two seconds, I just might answer your questions.” As he scratched Chunk’s ears the cat began to purr with gusto and rub against his chest.
    Traitorous little twerp, she thought with a frown.
    â€œWell?” she asked out loud. “I’m listening.”
    He stared at her for a bit longer, and just when she was about to pop a vein, he finally spoke. “I got the call from Austin with a preliminary ruling at about quarter to five this afternoon. Seeing as it was so late in the day on a Friday, I thought tomorrow morning would be soon enough to come out to the vineyard to break the bad news to the family.”
    Elise sank down into a chair. “Oh.”
    â€œAnd I gotta say you don’t look too surprised with the ruling.”
    â€œ I’ll admit, while I was hoping Uncle Edmond’s death was an unfortunate accident, it seemed less likely after actually seeing where and how he was found. Too many questions, you know?”
    Jackson nodded. “We also now have an approximate time of death—on Monday, early evening, between six and seven.” He pulled the stubs and markers out of his shirt pocket and waved them at her. “So I’ll ask you again. When and where did you get these?”
    She had another bad moment as she worked to come up with something believable and failed miserably. It didn’t help that Jackson sat there smiling at her as if he could read her mind.
    â€œIf you can’t come up with a decent story, El, you should probably think about just telling me the truth,” he said when she’d just about given up. “You know I’ll find out eventually, anyway.”
    â€œJackson Landry, I take offense at that insinuation.” She sniffed and flipped her hair over one shoulder. “What makes you think I wouldn’t tell you the truth?”
    â€œElise Brianna, how long have we known each other?”
    She sighed, rolled her eyes, and thought about holding out awhile longer just on pure principle. But in the end she relented and told him about going out to her uncle’s house on the day he was