Free Debts and Debtors: (A Geeks and Things Cozy Mystery Novella #3) (Geeks and Things Cozy Mysteries) by Sarah Biglow Page A

to ensure that her car was intact before climbing in and making the short journey to Jillian’s place. Jillian put the car in park and cut the engine but didn’t move from her spot behind the wheel.
    “You’re going to be okay,” Kalina said and patted her sister’s hand.
    “I know. It’s really selfish of me to even feel betrayed or hurt. I’m worried about what’s going to happen to Savannah.’
    “You heard Chris. The prosecutor will likely give her a deal. She might not even see any jail time.”
    “She’s ruined here though. She can’t stay. Everyone is going to know what happened.”
    “I sort of got the feeling she didn’t want to stay here anyway.”
    “I suppose you’re right.”
    “Jill, I’m sorry this happened. It’s never easy finding out the people we thought we knew and could trust aren’t the people we thought they were.”
    “I guess we’re all learning that the hard way.”
    “Yeah. Come on, let’s go inside. I think we could both use a drink.”
    “It’s the middle of the day.”
    “It’s a weekend and it’s been one hell of a couple days. We deserve it.”
    They both climbed out and headed up the front steps. Jillian dug her key out of her purse. “I’ll get the glasses.”
    Kalina kicked off her shoes upon entering the house and headed straight for the living room. Daniel and AJ were nowhere to be seen. Just as Jillian returned with a bottle of white and two glasses, footsteps thundered down the stairs and AJ appeared.
    “Hey, what’s going on? I thought we were supposed to be doing this whole family time thing this weekend.”
    “Your aunt solved the case,” Jillian said, growing misty eyed.
    “Not really. Well, maybe I helped a little.”
    “Stop being modest, Aunt K. You probably cracked the case wide open.” He settled on the couch between them—taking up far more space than a teenage boy should be able to—and fiddled with the cork from the wine bottle. “So what happened?”
    “I don’t really think—” Jillian began.
    “He’s going to find out when it hits the news,” Kalina interrupted.
    “I guess you’re right. Savannah was involved. She didn’t kill her husband but she knew a very dangerous man was trying to threaten him.”
    “Why?”
    “For money. She was promised a lot of it if she cooperated with getting people to leave so the development could be built.”
    Kalina let out a bitter laugh. “I have a feeling the project won’t be going forward any time soon.”
    “Good. Then people won’t have to move.”
    “Exactly.” Kalina took a long sip of wine and let it burn down her throat. She’d needed it more than Jillian to calm her nerves. She hadn’t wanted to admit it but she was scared of Victor Mackland. She had no doubt he’d be out of their lives soon but until he was in handcuffs and carted away she couldn’t relax.
    She was so lost in her thoughts she didn’t hear her phone ring. AJ nudged her in the thigh, causing her phone to dig into her leg. She yanked it out and saw a missed call from Chris’s cell phone.
    “Excuse me.”
    She extricated herself from the couch, set her wineglass down on the table and retreated to the kitchen for some privacy. She hit redial and waited while the line connected.
    “Hi, sorry I missed you,” she said when he picked up.
    “I wanted to let you know we have Mackland and his boss in custody. It looks like he’s going to be fairly cooperative with us. His boss was already starting to talk on the ride back to the precinct.”
    “That’s great. You have no idea how much better I feel right now.”
    “We still need you to file a report about your tires.”
    “You know what; it’s not even worth it. I’ll get new tires. It’s not a big deal. Focus on making the murder charges stick to this guy.”
    “If things go well I should be able to get away in a couple hours.”
    “Why don’t I come by the house around seven?” Kalina offered.
    “That sounds perfect. I’ll see you then. I