Whiskey Rebellion (Romantic Mystery/Comedy) Book 1 (Addison Holmes Mysteries)

your brother’s death.”
    “Yes,” he said, barely audible. “I wanted her to see what she looked like through another’s eyes. How she should be ashamed for the way she acts and dresses.”
    “And did you kill a man in cold blood because of your own obsession with Ms. Holmes?”
    “No, no, I swear,” Robbie said. He got up and paced the floor, agitated. “And I didn’t make any phone calls either. I taped one photograph to her car window and I left a manila envelope full of pictures at her apartment a couple of times. Those were all of them. I don’t have any more. And maybe I followed her around some, but it was just so I could prove that she really was responsible for Bernie’s death. I’ll take a lie detector or do whatever, but I swear I didn’t kill anyone.”
    Nick looked at me, and I looked at the pitiful man that was back to sobbing in his recliner. I knew Nick was waiting for me to decide how I wanted to proceed. I didn’t really want to press charges against someone who was obviously having a difficult time dealing with the death of a loved one.
    “I won’t press charges against you if you can promise that you’ll leave me alone,” I finally told him.
    “I told you I already gave you all the pictures. As far as I’m concerned I never want to see you again.”
    “As far as the murder goes,” Nick said. “I suggest you find someone who can verify you were at home yesterday. I don’t suppose you still have your brother’s diary, do you?
    Robbie shook his head. “I burned it in the grill on my patio. I couldn’t take the chance that anyone else would see it.”
    “Convenient,” Nick said. “I don’t suppose you’d mind if I took a look at your grill.”
    “I don’t care. Just leave me alone,” Robbie said.
    “Mr. Butler,” Nick said, his voice serious and expression grave. He waited until Robbie looked him in the eye before speaking. “It might be a good idea to contact that attorney after all.”
    Nick put his hand in the small of my back and led me out a set of French doors that opened onto a large deck in the back yard. The deck stretched across the length of both brothers’ houses, combining the two properties. They also shared a large swimming pool and an enormous stainless steel grill.
    Nick pulled a pair of latex gloves from his pocket, slipped them on and lifted the grill lid. I stepped back as he pulled the grates out, one by one, and ash floated into the air.
    “Is it in there?” I asked.
    “There’s something in here.” He sifted through the ashes and held up a tiny piece of black leather inscribed with gold. “Bernard Ulysses Butler,” Nick read. “This must be what’s left of the famous diary.”
    “God, I hope so.” I watched as Nick bagged the tiny piece of leather and a handful of ashes from the bottom of the grill. We left through the side gate, which was fine with me since I had no desire to ever run into Robbie Butler again.
    “So w hat do you think?” I asked as we got back in his truck.
    “I think he’s probably telling the truth, but I’m going to put a couple of plainclothes officers on surveillance out here. I don’t want him to leave town.”
    Nick called in and requested the police surveillance on his cell phone.
    “Come on, Jezebel,” Nick said. “I’ll buy you lunch and then I’ll help you out with that case you were having trouble with. I’ve got nothing better to do on my day off.”
    “Gee, thanks. As long as you realize this doesn’t count as a date.”

    We grabbed lunch at a Mexican restaurant before heading back to Whiskey Bayou. I was uncomfortably full of enchiladas and queso, and I knew it had been a mistake to take part in the all you can eat buffet. I was going to have to do a few sit ups once I could get my pants buttoned again.
    “Tell me about this case you need help with,” Nick said.
    “It’s not that I’m having trouble with it,” I said primly. “It’s just that I’m not exactly sure how to go about catching him in the act.”
    “Is this another adulterer?” Nick asked.
    “Insurance fraud. Eddie Pogue is his name. A real jackass.” I filled him in on the rest of the file while he drove.
    I was a little uncomfortable in the silence that stretched between us. It was weird to sit next to a man that had seen me naked but left me unfulfilled. Of course, that pretty much described my entire relationship with Greg, but my brain kept telling me I hadn’t known Nick long enough to keep making