Sweetness and Light (A Sweet Cove Mystery Book 5) Read Online Free Page B

dining room to sample the evening treats and sit around the table and chat.  Angie was glad they’d decided to move to a quieter room in order to talk openly.  Once settled in the family room with tea and wine and some shortbread wedges, the questions started up again.
    “Is it commonly known that you and this man have a thing?”  Courtney asked.
    Bethany’s eyes flashed.  “We don’t’ have a thing .”
    “Okay, poor choice of word.”  Courtney corrected herself.  “Do people know that you and this man have affection for one another?”
    “People know that we’re friends.”
    “Did you ever date the man?”  Ellie held her mug on her knee.
    Bethany vigorously shook her head.  “Father would have had a fit.”
    “So nobody knows that you both harbor feelings for one another?”  Jenna was trying to paint a picture of the relationship and what others might know or suspect about them.  “Except for the person who sent the threatening letters.”
    “People know we’re friends,” Bethany repeated.
    Ellie didn’t think they were getting enough information.  “Can you tell us about your interactions with this man?  How often do you see him?  Where does he live?  Do you socialize together? Things like that?  What’s his name?”
    Angie looked at her sister, impressed at what a good detective she was turning out to be.
    Bethany seemed to wrestle with revealing the details of the situation, probably because she was afraid to disclose particulars of the “friendship.”  She rested back against the sofa.  “His name is Todd Moore.  He lives in Boston.  He works as a teacher.  He volunteers at an animal shelter.  Todd runs marathons, enjoys camping and hiking.  Things I’d never done before.  My father would rather die than take part in such activities.”  She sipped some wine.  “Todd and I have always gotten along perfectly, we understand each other. He cares about me.”  Tears started to fall and Ellie passed the young woman some tissues.
    “Why are you marrying someone else if you love Todd?”  Courtney wanted to hear the explanation to the question that was on everyone’s lips.
    Bethany dabbed at her eyes.  “My father would kill Todd if he knew I loved him.”
    Four pairs of eyes bugged out of their respective sockets.  The words kill Todd echoed in the sisters’ heads.
 

Chapter 5
    Angie tried to keep her voice even.  “Is your comment an exaggeration or do you really feel that your father would hurt Todd because you are in love with each other?”
    Bethany sat quietly picking at her tissue considering Angie’s question.
    “Could your father be the one who sent those letters to Todd?”  Courtney’s eyes were like saucers.  She wondered if Senator Winston was truly a dangerous man.
    “It’s possible.”  Bethany’s voice was soft and low. “But I don’t think he did.”
    “Could he just be trying to frighten Todd off?  He wouldn’t really harm him, would he?”  Ellie hoped she was right.
    Bethany shrugged.  “My father has some powerful contacts.  He doesn’t have to get his hands dirty when there’s a problem.”
    Ellie nearly jumped out of her chair.  “Has your father caused harm to people?”  Her voice was shrill.
    “I don’t think so.”  Bethany didn’t make eye contact.  “He certainly hasn’t killed anyone.”
    “Where is Todd now?”  Jenna wanted to change the subject so that Ellie wouldn’t run off.
    “He’s in Sweet Cove.  He’s staying at an inn near the beach.  He arrived this evening.  I haven’t seen him yet.”  Bethany let out a sigh.  “What a mess my life is.”
    Angie asked, “Why is Todd here?”
    Bethany’s long lashes blinked over her eyes.  “He is my Best Man.  He’s going to help me with the wedding details.”
    “You’re kidding.”  Courtney was aghast.  “You love each other and he is going to help you plan your wedding to another man?”
    Bethany just looked at Courtney with sad