Skin and Blond (Blond Noir Mysteries Book 1)
Page 29
Whatever the case, he was done with killing, and that was the important thing. I’d stopped a murderer from hurting anyone else. I’d made a difference. That felt good to me.
* * *
Andrew Webb was going to shake my hand off. He seriously wouldn’t let go of me, thanking me profusely. “I just can’t believe you faced down that man, that horrible, horrible man.”
“All in a day’s work,” I said.
“Well, I can’t thank you enough,” he said. “I knew it all along, you know? I knew that Madison had been killed. I knew it. She and I were so close. I felt it. And when you confirmed it, well, it didn’t make me feel good, of course. But it did bring me a certain sense of peace, knowing what happened to her.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” I tried to pull my hand back, but he wasn’t letting go.
In fact, he squeezed my fingers even tighter and looked deeply into my eyes. “Thank you. You got her body back, so that I had something to bury. You gave her back to me—at least what was left of her. I really feel as if I wouldn’t have been whole for the rest of my life if I hadn’t been able to find closure for my sweet, sweet sister.”
Okay, ew. This was just getting gross now. I narrowed my eyes. “All I need for thanks is for you to pay me, Andrew. I was just doing my job.”
“Don’t worry,” he said. “There’s a final check in the mail. Money’s a little tight right now, what with the divorce settlements with Lissa, but I’m squaring up with you. You deserve it. You went right into the lion’s den and tangled with that psychopath.”
I didn’t know what else to say, so I just smiled and nodded.
“I know things weren’t always smooth sailing between us,” he said. “But I really, truly do think you did amazing work, and I am nothing but grateful to you for everything you did for me. And for Madison.” Tears were forming in his eyes. “I’ll never forget her. She was my everything.”
All right, I couldn’t handle it anymore. I gave my arm another tug. “I’m going to need this hand back, Andrew.”
“Hmm? Oh!” He released me. “Sorry about that.”
“Not a problem,” I said, resisting the urge to wipe my hand on my pants.
He took a deep breath, looking around my office. “Well, I just came by to say thank you.”
“Which you have done,” I said. “Numerous times.”
“Yes,” he said.
An awkward pause.
“I’ll walk you out,” I said, heading for the door.
“Oh, yes. Well, I guess I should be going.”
“Don’t let me keep you.” I opened the door for him.
“Thank you again, Ms. Stern. Really.” He turned to me, eyes glittering with tears. “You have no idea what it means to me.”
“I’m glad you’re a satisfied customer, Mr. Webb.” I gestured at the open door.
He walked through.
I watched him go down the hall, and then I shut the door after him. I rested my head against it, sighing. “I thought he’d never leave.”
Brigit made a face at me from her desk. “He’s still creepy, isn’t he?”
“Oh, very much,” I said.
She laughed.
“But, you know, that’s why I do what I do,” I said.
“Why?” She gave me a funny look.
“Well, for the warm glow I get when I help out someone who was incestuously involved with his sister, that’s why.”
She giggled. “Thanks for clearing that up, Ivy.”
I grinned. “I got any appointments today?”
She turned to the computer screen. “Um… Mr. Bedford is coming by for an update on your surveillance on Mrs. Bedford in about an hour.”
“Great,” I said. “You have his bill ready for him when he leaves? You know how much I hate talking rates with clients.”
“Absolutely,” she said.
I grinned. Well, everything was back to normal. My life was still shitty, and I still wasn’t getting my job back in homicide. But I’d gotten Ralph behind bars, and that was something.
I took a deep breath and headed back for my desk.
Now what?
Find information on the next book in the Blond Noir series here.
Or, stick around Keene College and find out who killed Cori Donovan, the drug dealer. Check out:
Frenzy
a new adult romantic thriller
Sex. Drugs. Murder.
If you’d like to find out the minute the next Blond Noir book is available, plus get information about all my new releases…
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