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"No," I answered, knowing a smart-ass response would not help me here "Whoever killed her had to have worked fast She went storht She caught arden" I glanced at Daisy and Hope, guessing they would get it "Little black dress, lots of makeup"

"Sounds like Vanessa," Hope murmured

"And when did Tenn co?" Griffen prompted

"At uess if he sprinted he could have shot Vanessa, but he wasn't breathing hard, and I didn't hear anyone co back past me Based on what I saw, it's nearly impossible that Tenn shot her"

"What did you tell West?" Griffen asked carefully

"Exactly what I just told you" I al back to Tenn

"She was killed just like Dad," Griffen said, mostly to himself

"And if Scarlett hadn't been on the path, Tenn would be the prime suspect, just like Ford was," Royal finished His eyes, a deep blue that matched Tenn's, landed back on me He studied me but addressed Tenn "Why the handcuffs?"

Tenn joined hi me When he spoke, Tenn's voice was as cold and hard as Griffen's eyes had been "Scarlett was skulking around the Inn gardens after breaking into the eust inside"

Griffen, Royal, and Daisy all stared atunder a microscope Of the three, Griffen looked the least surprised He let out a sigh and shook his head "You couldn't have been a noruest, could you?"

"I wish I were" It was the truth If I could go back, I would have checked in as a real guest, but… No I couldn't use my credit cards Not until I knew exactly what kind of trouble Thatcher had been dragged into Places like the Inn at Sawyers Bend didn't take cash

Griffen leaned back in his big leather ar cup of coffee in his hand Everything about hi the easy smile on his face I wasn't fooled

"How did you get into the cottage?" he asked as if idly curious

I took a sip of ain