“Well then, have a nice weekend.”
“You too.”
She watched him walk toward his car once more. It was probably the strangest meeting she’d had with a detective ever.
She reached back into her car for her bag.
“Oh, one thing.”
His words had her rising up too quickly and bumping her head. She drew out of the car. “Excuse me?”
He stood halfway between her car and his. “Did you know your husband only bought this house two weeks before you met?”
“What?” Not possible. Derrick had been working on the house for months when they’d met.
“The previous owner . . .” Houser removed a small notepad from his jacket pocket and previewed the top page. “One Ted Walker was in the middle of flipping the place when Derrick Reed made him an offer he couldn’t refuse for the place as is.”
The idea was ludicrous. “Do you have evidence of what you’re saying?”
“I do.” He tucked away his notepad. “I’ll share it with you on Monday.”
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
What the hell?
He waved again as he drove off. Finley was torn between fury and shock. He had to be wrong. Derrick would never have kept something like that from her. There hadn’t been any reason for him to lie to her. The story made no sense at all.
Another vehicle turned into her drive.
Matt. Relief washed over her.
He climbed out of the car, a bag in one hand.
“Hey,” she said, suddenly feeling incredibly weary.
“Hey yourself. I have new locks for your doors.” He held up the Walmart bag as he walked toward her.
She almost laughed despite the emotions whirling inside her. “You know how to change a lock?”
He laughed and bumped her elbow with his. “I do. I’ll have you know I am a man of many talents.”
The urge to lean against him and just bawl was nearly overwhelming. Finley was no crier, but she was suddenly so tired. She wanted Derrick back. She wanted the people who had destroyed their lives to pay.
She didn’t want to feel so disconnected from everything and everyone anymore.
Rather than give in to those weaker emotions, she steadied herself and said, “That new detective dropped by to see me.”
“Was he nice to you?” her friend asked as they reached her door.
Only Matt would ask that question. “He was nice, but . . .”
She started to tell him what the detective had said. Somehow she couldn’t bring herself to repeat the words. Matt was her best friend, but she couldn’t abide him thinking negatively of Derrick. She needed to figure this out first.
“But?” he prodded.
“Maybe he was too nice.”
Matt laughed. “Poor guy. You’ll eat him alive.”
Finley mustered a grin. “I’ll give him hell for sure.”
“Okay.” Matt set the bag down on the sofa. “We need a Phillips-head screwdriver. I’m certain Derrick has one in his toolbox.”
“I’ll get it.”
“I’ll change the locks, and then we’ll both sleep better tonight.”
She nodded, drew in a big breath. “Be right back.”
Derrick’s tools were in the garage. She felt bad for not telling Matt what Houser had said. Matt was a good and loyal friend.
The guy’s in love with you. You do know that, don’t you?
Finley paused at the garage door and pressed her forehead there. Derrick had teasingly made that statement to her more than once. She’d always laughed and reminded him that she and Matt were just friends. Never had been anything more and never would be.
Matt was just Matt.
16
Saturday, July 9
7:55 a.m.
The Murder House
Shelby Avenue
Nashville
Finley finished blow-drying her hair, then rounded up her favorite jeans and a tee that sported the Music City logo. Unfortunately, the new locks Matt had installed hadn’t helped her sleep any better.
Houser’s parting remarks kept replaying in her head. There had to be some mix-up. Maybe Derrick leased the house for a while before buying it. The whole idea was completely un-Derrick-like. He was far too nice and laid back to approach some property owner with such an aggressive offer.
I just had a feeling I could make this place a good home.
She remembered him surveying the kitchen as he said those words.
The place hadn’t been taken care of in a long time.
Her chest tightened. Transforming this house had meant something to him. It wasn’t just a flip for profit.