So no, he had never cheated on his wife. But he had cheated himself out of a life not consumed by what Margaret and Marshall wanted. But he had changed. And now, none of what Margaret was saying or doing was working on him. He was outside of it all.

  This feeling of unreality had happened to him before. As he nursed his dying wife, he would often see the world as if he lived outside of it. Then, it was because of the pain he was feeling. Maybe that was why it was happening now. But the pain of watching his wife die and knowing he had not told her the whole truth differed from the pain he felt now.

  The pain of of losing his wife had dulled, but it was always present, like a weight he could never put down. He had fallen in love with his wife the moment they met in college. Later, she would tell her friends that she fell in love with him at first sight, too. But he was sure it wasn’t as intense for her as it was for him.

  It didn’t matter. They were in love, got married, and liked the happy-ever-after of fairy tales. They had the perfect life together. He loved working out in the world, talking to the people who visited the bookstore about anything.

  After work, he’d come home to his wife who had spent the day taking care of the house and garden, and reading about so many subjects he didn’t know how she remembered them all. She’d share what she learned, they’d marvel at the world together, and he’d tell her about the people he met and what was going on in Spring Falls.

  Sometimes they would take off and travel for a few days, or even a week—putting the bookstore in the capable hands of his manager—and go see the world together. They had chosen not to have kids or pets, just so they could have that kind of freedom. At the drop of a hat, they’d do whatever they wanted to do.

  But as she lay in bed, holding his hand, he was looking back on what he had never told her. She thought he had made all his money running the bookstore. She had been so proud of him because he sold books—a noble profession, to her.

  She said that books changed the world. Books were filled with dreams and knowledge and out-of-this-world experiences. They helped people. They had the power to make life better. And she loved that he was also helping the people of Spring Falls as a member of the Town Council.

  Walt remembered how excited she was for him when he was asked to run. And when he was elected, she threw a party for him. She was the perfect wife for a member of the Council, because despite loving to spend her days alone, she knew how to work a room. Everyone loved her. He thought she genuinely loved meeting each person and learning something about them, which she never forgot.

  There were times he was trying to decide about something the Council was doing that involved someone in town, and his wife would remember the perfect thing about that person and that would help resolve the situation.

  What she didn’t know was how much he hated himself for doing what Marshall and Margaret wanted him to do. That he would allow what his wife told him to be used by Marshall to get what he wanted. In return, they paid Walt well. But he always thought of it as hush money. Keep quiet or else.

  And he had kept quiet. But as the years passed after his wife’s death, he became more upset with himself. He stopped taking part in the Council’s schemes, but he did nothing to stop them, either.

  Until Tanner was elected. Walt saw it as an opportunity to bring to light what was going on. He tried not to think about what that would mean for his life when all that he did came to light. That’s not what he wanted. He simply wanted the fraud to stop.

  So now Margaret’s charm was useless. And as she watched Walt and realized that he was not being taken in by what she was saying or doing, it shocked her. And scared her. How long had Walt not been under her spell? And what was she going to do about it?

  Twenty One

  ParaTi’s was packed. Maybe because of the snowstorm, or maybe because it was Monday. Whatever was causing it, the restaurant was overflowing. Even the benches by the door were filled with people waiting for a table, their coats open, scarves unhooked, and wet boots dripping water onto the floor.

  Like her daughter, Veronica was not a fan of February. The mud, slush, and wet snow everywhere made her yearn for spring. Thankfully, Valentine’s Day was over. She was also not a fan of those fake special days made up by a card company, although she supposed people sometimes needed to be reminded to tell their loved ones how much they were loved.

  It was not something she needed to be reminded of. She loved her daughter with her whole heart, and it saddened her to think that Emma would only be hers for a few more years before she went out into the world on her own. And then what would happen? Would she become someone else? Veronica knew she couldn’t expect the closeness they had now. So she treasured each day.

  Right now, Emma was her entire world, so even though she was taking care of multiple tables at one time, her mind was occupied by what Emma had told her. That worry, along with the mess that the weather made in the restaurant, kept her from seeing the two people tucked against the wall in the back, until her friend Mary asked her to check on them for her.

  Veronica had said yes, even though she was also feeling overwhelmed. Glancing at the table, she paused. She knew who they were. They had been in many times before, but usually with the entire Town Council.

  Sometimes she would overhear bits of news, and she’d pass the tidbits on to Emma. They both wanted to learn as much as they could about their new home. Today, as always, Margaret was leaning forward, talking intensely. What was different this time was that Walt seemed detached and uninterested in what she was saying.

  Veronica assumed that Walt and Margaret were talking about the Mayor’s death, and a pang of sympathy shot through her. When she had come to work, the first thing she had heard was that the Mayor had died. Some freak accident. He had fallen down the stairs. So tragic, Veronica thought. He never got to go on vacation, let alone enjoy years of retirement after working so hard for Spring Falls.

  Veronica thought about what Emma had told her that morning. She wondered if Walt and Margaret could shed some light on it. As she approached their table, she saw Margaret’s face tighten with exasperation, and Walt’s eyes plead for a distraction, as if he wished to escape the conversation.

  Sensing something was wrong between them, Veronica decided not to bring it up. Instead, she asked if they needed anything, and they both said no. Still, Veronica lingered for a moment, observing the two of them as she cleared the dishes.

  Margaret was, as always, in control. Her words holding command, even though it was just the two of them, while Walt kept kept looking down, not participating. Veronica wondered what Margaret was trying to get Walt to do, because that’s what it felt like to her.

  Returning to the chaos of the restaurant, Veronica’s mind was spinning. Her instincts were telling her that something was wrong. Maybe because Emma’s revelation earlier that day had set her on edge. And although Emma had shared something that seemed unrelated to the Mayor’s death, Veronica couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a connection.

  However, Veronica felt hesitant about sharing her concerns. She was a mother and a waitress, not an investigator. Her world was her daughter and the steady rhythm of their life in Spring Falls, not the web of politics and secrets.

  However, as she worked her tables, habit taking over, Veronica thought about how much Spring Falls and the friends they had made meant to her and to Emma, and she decided to keep her promise to Emma as soon as possible. They would talk to Judith and tell her what Emma had seen.

  Yes, until now, she had preferred to stay out of things. Keep her distance. But their life had changed. She was part of something now. She was not used to sticking her neck out, speaking out about things, but as a mother, she’d do anything to keep Emma safe. And now they were part of Spring Falls, and she wanted to keep it safe, too. Besides, what Emma saw, and the haunted look in Walt’s eyes, made her think that the two things went together.

  Glancing back, she saw Margaret put money on the table and walk off without a backward glance. Walt stood for a moment looking so lost, Veronica stepped up beside him and asked if he needed anything else. And although he said he was okay, Veronica didn’t believe it. He was so distracted that she had to remind him that his coat was on the back of the chair.

  Once the crowd thinned out, Veronica went looking for Mary. She found her in the kitchen resting against a counter. Mary was one of the first people Veronica and Emma had come to know in Spring Falls, outside of the Ruby Sisters.

  Mary was Bree’s daughter, and Emma often babysat their daughter Rho, so they had grown closer as their daughters bonded. Emma said Rho was the perfect stand-in for a baby sister.

  “Wow, what was that about?” Mary said, referring to the crowd they had just served.

  “Bad weather, dead mayor?” Veronica laughed.

  The two of them clinked their water glasses together and sighed. They knew the weather would change for the better, but what did a dead mayor mean for the town? That they didn’t know.

  Twenty Two

  Nancy watched as Judith helped Barbara and Tanner with their coats and walked them to the front door. Outside, the storm had gotten worse, and the two of them hesitated before stepping into it. She watched until she saw them get into Tanner’s car before turning around to talk to Judith.

  Knowing her boss as well as she did, Nancy could see that whatever happened in Judith’s office had upset her.

  “Everything all right?”

  “Not really. Since I have no more appointments today, I think I’ll head home. And why don’t you go home too? This storm is just going to get worse. It’s probably better to leave now. I’ll let Bruce know.”

  Nancy didn’t need to be told twice. She was worried about the storm, too. But first she recorded a voicemail message saying the office was closed because of the storm, and then she was out the door and on her way home within five minutes. She had checked the weather earlier and what had looked like a small snow storm was turning into a Nor’easter.

  And although the full force of those kinds of storms never came so far inland, they often caught the edge. And it looked like that was what was going to happen this time. She hoped it was the last one for the season. Like everyone else, she was ready for spring.

  Judith waited until she was sure Nancy was safely out of the office and into her car before leaving herself. She refused to think about what Tanner and Barbara had told her until she got home. Otherwise, she was afraid she’d be too upset to drive safely. This was not the kind of weather to get distracted in.

  Although the snow plows were clearing the roads as the snow fell, it was still rough going. When she pushed the remote on the garage door opener and saw Bruce’s car already there, she sighed in relief.

  Bruce also sighed in relief as he saw Judith’s car drive into the garage. When Nancy called to let him know they were closing the office, he asked her to cancel his one appointment, too. Then he closed up his office and home and drove to Judith’s. If he was going to be stuck in a storm, he wanted it to be with his wife.

  It had been a busy morning. His first clients that day had been a young couple setting up their first will, as they were expecting their first child. On the other end of the spectrum, there were people coming to the ends of their lives, setting up new provisions for their loved ones. It was the part of his work that he loved.

  And although sometimes he didn’t want as much work that now came his way through referrals, he was grateful too. It was a mixed bag of feelings. He had planned to keep a small practice, but even though he didn’t advertise, he was always busy. He knew he was going to need help soon, unless he stopped taking new clients. Maybe while they were stuck in the house together, he and Judith could talk it over.

  But when he saw Judith’s face as she came through the door, he knew that there was something much more pressing than his full calendar going on.

  “I’ll make coffee,” he said, as Judith shed her coat and boots in the passageway between the garage and the kitchen.

  Judith nodded and headed to her office to get her computer. There were a few things she needed to look up before telling Bruce what Tanner and Barbara had told her. Thankfully, she had the presence of mind to get their permission to get the help she needed.

  At first, they had hesitated. When she reminded them they had come this far and they needed to keep going, they agreed. Reluctantly. Judith knew how they felt. She was reluctant too, and she had done nothing wrong.

  Or she hoped she had done nothing wrong. But years ago, when she worked for the Mayor, she had seen the papers that had put into place what Barbara and Tanner told her had been going on all this time. Young and inexperienced, she didn’t know what they meant. But did that make her innocent in what had happened?

  So she found herself caught between being frightened and angry. However, she knew that no matter what, even if she was partially unknowingly responsible for what had happened, she was going to fix it. And if she had to pay the price for their ignorance, or as in Barbara’s case, looking away as a crime was being committed against the people of Spring Falls, so be it.

  Judith knew Tanner and Barbara realized they were in trouble, although probably not Tanner. After all, he had known nothing until Walt hinted at it. It was Barbara who could suffer the consequences of what she hadn’t done.

  Judith had told them both that they would have to speak to Booker. But she’d do some research first. Maybe after the storm was over, they could make an appointment with him. They had both agreed. It had to be done eventually, and with Judith’s insistence, they knew sooner was better.

  Tanner said he was relieved, glad to not be the only one carrying the burden of knowing something was wrong, and not knowing how to fix it. Barbara had said she needed to make arrangements for her business, just in case things went badly for her.

  When Judith came into the kitchen carrying her laptop, her face pale, Bruce put the coffee down, took the computer out of her hands, and hugged her.

  “Before you show me what you obviously want to show me, why not just tell me what happened?”

  Seeing the wisdom of his request, once again Judith saw why Bruce had become such a popular trust attorney. He listened with his whole being. When she finished, Bruce said, “I think we need to call Booker now and make an appointment for as soon as the storm is over.”

  Judith nodded in agreement. What neither one of them said out loud was that they were wondering how long this problem would have gone on if Marshall hadn’t died. And Judith wondered if it was why he had died. Maybe it wasn’t an accident after all.

  Twenty Three

  “He was pushed,” Booker said to Bree.

  He had stopped at Bree’s home on his way back to the station. He told himself that he wanted to make sure she was safe from the storm, but in truth, it was because he wanted to talk over with her what he had found out.

  Bree’s constant insistence on getting clarity about everything, from organizing her thoughts and her home, was both her gift and what she called her curse. Booker understood why she might think it was also a curse. She knew her constant need to know and make things clear sometimes drove people crazy. Including him. Especially if she kept interrupting as he was trying to explain something.

  When he complained about it, she said she couldn’t help it. She needed to hear everything to get it straight in her head. Perhaps it was what made her such an excellent writer. She couldn’t let something go until she saw it clearly. She found the holes in everything that people said. “That doesn’t make sense” was her favorite well-worn phrase.

  And if you heard that, you had to be prepared to give her all the facts until it did. And if it didn’t, well, then Bree said she knew what she had heard was a lie. Intentional or not.

  Booker thought Bree should be the person all politicians had to get past before they could run for any political office. But that was another story altogether. Right now, he had to make sense of what he now realized. Marshall was pushed down the stairs on purpose.

  So it was Bree’s insistence that things make sense that made her the perfect person to talk to about it. Because even though it was clear to him that Marshall was pushed, he wasn’t entirely sure why he knew that to be true, and he knew that talking about it with Bree would help him figure it out. This time, he wanted her to relentlessly ask questions until there was clarity about what had happened. Maybe then he could figure out why.

  “He was pushed?” Bree asked. “How do you know that?”

  The two of them were sitting at the kitchen table. Each of them had a cup of coffee and a plate of Bree’s famous—to the Ruby Sisters, anyway—chocolate cookies within reach. Addie, his beloved rescue dog, was lying on his feet.

  Addie stayed at Bree’s most of the time now. Truthfully, so did he. He was rarely home because of work, but it was also because his two favorite beings in the world were right here in this house. For months now, Booker had been thinking that perhaps it was time to sell his home and move in with Bree. Bree had asked him to, and he kept putting it off. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he was afraid. Why he was afraid, would have to wait for another time, because right now he had a murder to solve.

  Bree asked her question again. “Seriously, Booker, how do you know he was pushed?”

  Although shocked at what Booker had told her, Bree had done exactly what Booker hoped she would. She had immediately gone into the mode of needing to know everything so she could make sense of it. Because even though she accepted Booker might be right, why would someone murder Marshall?

  She needed to rule out that it wasn’t an accident. Or maybe he hadn’t been pushed on purpose.

  But as Booker answered her questions about how he knew, it was the missing computer that convinced her. Like her, Marshall was attached to his computer. It would never not be with him.