Carolyn Arnold - McKinley 03 - Money is Murder (13 page)

Cognac Kisses

THEY WERE PACKING THINGS UP at the condo when there was a knock on the door.
Sean opened it to Edward Cranston.

“Do you mind if I come in?” he asked.

“Not all.” Sean opened the door wider.

Sara came around the corner and smiled at their visitor.
“You didn’t have to come see us off.”

“Nonsense.” Edward fidgeted with the leather gloves he held in his hands. He gestured to the seating area.

“Yeah, of course,” Sean said.

Edward wiped his shoes and then took them off.

“I’m just thankful that Mr. Quinn left everything to you, Sean. He always had a great eye and a way of seeing people.” He smiled and
sat in the sofa chair.
“Beverly’s going to be in prison for a long time.”

“Yes, she is, and so is Jordan Reid. His family won’t be far behind.”

Police recovered Cindy’s USB stick and the documentation contained on it would see to that.

Edward nodded.
“All of this was over money.”

“Sometimes money is murder.” The words slipped from Sara’s mouth.

“Isn’t it? And look at you two.” He jabbed a finger and went between them with it. “You inherit the world—essentially—and get a murder to solve. Are you ever going to retire?”

Sean glanced at Sara, who was grinning at him. He thought back on this investigation. Beverly had been in the thick of everything. Jordan had convinced her that his love, and his money, would make any problems she had go away, when, in fact, all he did was spurn her on to kill two people. If the matching sleeping pills weren’t enough, the signature on Cindy’s suicide note had been identical to the one printed from her computer and it was feasible Beverly would have had access to the file. She tried to divert their path by warning Robert of their arrival, knowing he’d make a run for it and lead her right to what she sought. While Jordan did come through with bribery money, Sean didn’t think it had anything to do with protecting Beverly. It also seemed likely that he was the one behind the file deletion and the diversion to make it look like it traced back to Robert’s apartment.

Detective Benson was being investigated by Internal Affairs and had already met with a suspension, which would likely result in the loss of his badge. Both he and Percy, the doorman, were charged as accessories after the fact. Yet, with all the betrayal and deception, he and Sara had sorted through all of it and brought justice to a woman who’d had her life stolen. He couldn’t imagine life any other way, but he also had Sara to consider.

He took her hand as they sat on the couch. “Guess we’ll see what the future holds.”

“I have something to say and it’s going to be tough. I haven’t known you for long, but I’m fond of you both,”
Edward began.
“I’ve decided to leave Universal.”

He dropped the phrase out there and, despite the fact they didn’t know him well, and had even suspected him of a murder conspiracy not long ago, there was a connection.

“I hope you haven’t decided this because—”

“It has nothing to do with Cindy’s death, or Robert’s. Well, maybe it does, but I’m going to stick with the fact it doesn’t. I’m getting older, and I want to live my life before it’s too late. I’ve put my best years into the company.”

“Your best years are yet to come,” Sara said. “And you will make them great.” She turned to Sean. “Bring us something to toast with, darling.” She smiled at Edward.

The hesitation that had saturated Edward’s aura dissipated into vapor, leaving behind a lighter quality to the energy of the room.

Sean walked back in with a bottle of cognac and three glasses. He poured some in each.

“To the best years, yet to come,” Sara toasted and they all clinked glasses.

Sean watched his wife as he took a draw on the cognac, then sat beside her again.

“What are you going to do?” Sara crossed her leg toward Edward.

“I’ve got some savings. I’ll probably head south for a bit, relax on a beach.”

Sean laughed.

Sara and Edward both turned to him as if to question his response.

“It didn’t turn out quite that way for us did it, darling,” Sean said.

“Oh, don’t bore Edward with the details.”

“Please do.” Edward took a mouthful of his drink. “Where did you go for your honeymoon? I never even thought to ask.”

“Cancun.”

“Aw, it’s beautiful there. You take your jet?”

Sean glanced at Sara, back to Edward.
“My jet?”

“Yeah. You do know you have your own jet, don’t you? It should have been included with your inheritance information.”

Sara started laughing.
“My baby here was in too much of a hurry to whisk me away.”

“I can’t say as I blame him.”

Sean was certain his mouth gaped open.
“I have a jet.”

Sara took his hand.
“No, darling.
We
have a jet.”

“I better get going.” Edward struggled to get up out of the deep pillows of the chair. “Good night.”

“Night.”

As the door clicked shut behind him, Sara lifted her glass toward Sean.
“I didn’t know you brought a bottle with us.”

“There has to be some secrecy to me.”
He kissed her lips and then he pulled back for a second.
“You taste delicious.”

“You too—two hundred and fifty dollars’ worth anyway.”

“Oh, is that all?” He took her mouth again.

Home Sweet Home

HIS HOUSE HAD NEVER LOOKED so good to him. They had spent one last night in New York City, sipping on cognac and falling asleep in each other
’s arms.

As they entered the house, the phone rang and Sara ran to answer.

Sean smiled at the sound of her heels tapping the floor. This was their home, at least for the time being—and being together is what made a building more than simply brick and mortar.

He dropped their luggage at the door and went to the office. They definitely needed more space than this. He would convince Sara, one way or another. He logged online and brought up the listings for the area. At least location was a set deal.

“Sean?”

“In the office, darling.”

She stood in the doorway.
“That was my mother. They want to have us over for Easter dinner.”

He was listening to her, but his eyes fell on the image of the perfect house. He wasn
’t prone to emotional response, but this photograph elicited one from him.

“Sean, are you listening to me?”

“That sounds really nice.” He didn’t take his eyes from the screen.

She came around to see what he was looking at and her hand covered her mouth. She left it there for a few seconds before dropping it. “That’s our home.”

“I think so.”

The house was light gray brick, almost like cobblestone, with a black roof. The picture had been taken in the summer months—the grass a lush green and the landscaping immaculate. The front door was oversized and oak. Images of the back side of the home showed some additions that were white siding, but it married perfectly with the main structure. A bay window overlooked a slate stone patio area and mature shrubbery accented the property. The pictures of the inside were beautiful too with a lot of ornate touches, such as crown molding, arched doorways, and high-ceilinged rooms with wood beams.

“Look at that bedroom.” Sara knelt beside Sean.

He offered to trade off and give her the chair, but she declined the offer.

“And that bathroom.” She looked over at him.

“It’s bigger than your apartment.” He laughed when he said it, the excitement bubbling up within.

“Oh, darling, look at this room.” She pointed to an image of a sitting area. It had three walls of windows, framed with dark wood trim that matched the hardwood flooring and appeared to be original to the house. A piano was off to the one side. “We’ll have to ask them to leave that.”

“The piano? I didn’t know you played.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” She smiled, her attention back on the screen. “Look, there’s also an in-ground pool and a gazebo. This is like looking at a dream, but one we’re meant to be a part of it. Let’s do it. Let’s go see it and make an offer.”

“On it.” He spotted the real estate agent and placed the call. As he listened to the line ring, he smiled. He wasn’t about to point out to her that the house had eight bedrooms and was over ninety-six hundred square feet. She’d find that out soon enough and, by then, it would be too late. She’d be in love and they’d have their new home.

The call was answered on the third ring.

“Yes, this is Sean McKinley, and I would like to see the house on…”

Enjoy this McKinley Mystery?

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Politics is Murder

Preview of Politics is Murder (McKinley Mysteries)

For Sean and Sara, a local television interview turns into a high-profile investigation. The host’s niece has gone missing—but the girl isn’t just anyone, she’s the daughter of Albany’s mayor.

Not knowing whether she’s run away, been kidnapped—or worse—murdered, Sean and Sara set out to get the answers. It will have them using all the resources at their disposal.