Free Murder of a Wedding Belle by Denise Swanson Page A

Skye made a note, then asked, “So, anyone you talk to a likely suspect or have an alibi?”
    “We still don’t have a time of death, but we have narrowed it down a little.” Wally flipped open his notepad and said, “Jesse Larson told Quirk that Belle was at the Brown Bag from seven to ten Saturday night.”
    Jesse was the owner of the Brown Bag, a combination liquor store, bar, and banquet hall located across the road from the motor court.
    “Was she alone?”
    “No. She was with some guy, but Larson didn’t know him. The guy kept his ball cap and sunglasses on the whole time, so Larson could only describe him as big with tattoos.”
    “Maybe he’s the ex-boyfriend,” Skye said. “Was there anything else Jesse noticed about him?”
    “No. They sat in a dark corner, and she was the one who got their drinks from the bar.”
    “Belle bragged about never sleeping alone, but I just can’t picture her hooking up with a local, and there hasn’t been a hint of it in the town rumor mill.” Skye nibbled her thumbnail. “I can’t even think of anyone to question about it.”
    “Larson said it was the first time she’d been in the bar. He only knew her because earlier in the month she’d rented the banquet hall for the bridal party’s dance lessons.”
    “Did they leave together?”
    “Larson wasn’t sure,” Wally answered. “And we haven’t been able to locate anyone who saw her alive after that.”
    “So that puts TOD at somewhere between ten p.m. Saturday and shortly before eight a.m. Sunday.” Skye murmured to herself. “Does that eliminate any suspects?”
    “Any of the bridal party would have had the opportunity to get to Belle after the attendants’ party. Even the ones staying in Chicago could have stopped by on their way to the hotel or returned to Scumble River later.” Wally shook his head. “The groom claimed he only knew Belle as an employee, and when they were together, they mostly talked about the wedding.”
    “I wonder if Nick was ever alone with Belle, or if Riley was always present.” Skye tapped her fingers on her legal pad. “Belle was a gorgeous young woman, and Nick clearly likes them young and beautiful. Or as my mom would put it—he’s a cradle robber.”
    “Hey. Give the guy a break,” Wally teased. “Maybe he just prefers generationally different relationships.”
    “Tell that to May.” Skye winked. “She’s upset about the few years between us; Nick is nearly twenty years older than Riley.”
    Wally cringed and changed the subject. “Can you casually find out from your cousin if Nick and Belle spent any time together without her? It seems like just the kind of topic that would be perfect for a little girl talk.”
    “I’ll add that to my list.” Skye chewed the top of her pen. “Okay, how about the twins? Any motive for them?”
    “Not that I can come up with. They don’t gain anything by her death, and since they’ve been away at college, they’ve had the least contact with her.”
    “True,” Skye agreed. “But I get the feeling they aren’t happy about this marriage. Maybe they thought killing Belle would stop the wedding.”
    “That’s quite a stretch.”
    “Maybe.” Skye looked up from her notes. “But they’re weird, and I’m keeping an eye on them.”
    “How about Nick’s parents? You talked to them?”
    “Actually, it’s his dad and his stepmother,” Skye pointed out. “His mother isn’t coming. She’s in some ashram or commune or something and can’t leave. Anyway, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan said they had never met Belle. They seemed fairly uninterested in the whole affair and only flew in so early to take their six-year-old son to the Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium.”
    “I take it this Mrs. Jordan is quite a bit younger than Nick’s mother?”
    “Like father, like son.” Skye flipped through the pages of her legal pad. “Nick is forty-five, his dad is sixty-eight, and his stepmother,