Free A Ghost in Time (Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries Book 3) by J. D. Winters Page A

wishing I could control these emotions better. Okay, so I was getting a little melodramatic. I was feeling that way too. This was important.  
    “The captain’s going to want a full statement from you, too, you know.”
    I cringed, wanting to reject that. “Do I have to give it to him ? Can’t you do it?”
    “What’s the matter?”
    “He hates me.”
    His mouth twisted. Now he was losing patience with me. “Come on, Mele, toughen up. You know you can do it. He doesn’t hate you. He’s just focused on his job.”
    Oh yeah? Fat chance.  
    “He as good as told me that I’m bad for this town. That I should go. He said it’s his responsibility to keep the town nice and safe for nice people to live in, and that I hinder his efforts.”  
    He groaned. “Oh come on. He didn’t say that.”
    “Sure he did. And you know what? With him, no doubt about it, I think it’s personal.”
    Reid and Bebe came out the double doors at that point and our conversation was over. We stood and each took a step away from the other. There was no doubt this argument was putting a barrier between the two of us.  
    “How did it go?” I asked, looking at Reid.  
    He gave me a smile and said, “Your aunt is getting to be a real trouper at this questioning routine. I think we made some headway. Don’t you?” he asked her.  
    She turned around and sent him a loving look before she gave him a hug. “Thanks to you,” she noted.
    “You were great.” He patted her shoulder, but he was starting toward his car. It was obvious he was ready to go. He probably was thinking about Jennifer and those adorable kids he had waiting at home. I sighed, wishing my life was that simple.  
    Roy nodded and smiled at Bebe, gave me a questioning look, then headed on into the station. I could have gone after him to tell him I wasn’t really mad, but I didn’t. I had a feeling he already knew.
    Bebe and I walked over to Mad for Mocha where I’d parked. She didn’t speak until we were back in my car and heading home.  
    “Oh Mele, when will all this be over?” she said softly, staring out her window at the passing scene.  
    I wished I could actually tell her that. “You’re holding up fine, Bebe,” I said instead. “The worst must be behind you by now.”
    There was no way I could know that, but I had to tell her something. If only I had something good to tell her. If only Sami had turned up. I sighed and shook myself, mentally. Buck up! I ordered, all to myself. I took a deep breath and tried to obey my own commands.  
    “How did it go, though?” I asked her. “Did you have any problem with the questions they were asking you?”
    She hesitated. “Some of them,” she admitted. “I just couldn’t get beyond…”   Her voice trailed off and I wasn’t sure what she was talking about.  
    “Did they get the autopsy results yet?”
    She looked at me with alarm. “Autopsy? Are they doing an autopsy?”
    I shrugged. “I would think so.”
    “But there’s no question about what happened. Is there?”
    I took a deep breath. “In my mind there certainly is. I know you think you hit her with your car, but something doesn’t jell for me with that explanation. What was she doing on the road? Why would you hit her? I just don’t get it and I’m hoping an autopsy will shed some light on what really happened.”
    “Mele, I know what really happened. I was driving too fast and I came around that corner and hit Star and…and now she’s dead. What more do you need to know?”
    I didn’t say anything for a few minutes, but I couldn’t just ignore the issue, so finally, I brought it up.  
    “Did you tell them about the undertaker-looking man?” I asked.
    She set her lips. “No, I did not.”
    I gritted my teeth. “Why not?”
    She looked at me. “Because I think I made him up,” she said firmly. “And I don’t want them to think I’m crazy.”
    I felt a shiver go down my back. Something told me she was going to have to face