Then what? Had Buffy breathed a relieved sigh when her husband emerged so quickly?

What had she thought as she followed him back to their cabin, where he’d found her missing?

Why hadn’t she stepped forward? Was she too embarrassed to admit she’d followed him?

I dropped my head into my hands.

At what point did she notice someone else lurking in the darkness?

If I spotted someone lurking in the dark, my heart rate would spike and my mouth would go dry. I’d be ready to run. But Buffy hadn’t run—at least not the Buffy of my imagination.

Had she worried it might be one of her friends on their way to meet Bill?

Had she recognized Thatch? Or was it someone else?

Had I walked past Buffy in my search for coffee?

If only she'd spoken up—told Anarchy or me who she saw—she'd be alive.

“Mind if I join you?”

I looked up at Perry. “I can’t promise you good company.”

“Likewise.” He sat across from me. “You were deep in thought.”

“There’s a lot to think about.”

His usually sparkling eyes were serious, and the expression on his face was grim. “I’m not sorry Graham is dead.”

Not what I expected him to say. “You had good reason to wish him ill.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I did. I knew we weren’t friends, but we were partners. I thought we could trust each other. Then—”

“Then you picked my wedding reception over a business trip. For what it’s worth, I’m glad you and Liz were there.”

He nodded. Slowly. “Is she a suspect?”

“Liz?” He’d surprised me again. “As far as the sheriff is concerned, everyone’s a suspect.”

“And you? What do you think?”

“Liz is innocent. She’d never hurt anyone.”

“You don’t need to convince me.”

I managed a weak smile. “I cleared you, Liz, Libba and Charlie immediately.”

“Despite our motives?”

“I know you. I know Liz. Lord knows, I know Libba. And, despite Libba’s track record of picking terrible men, Charlie’s a good one. None of you are killers.”

“That leaves you with plenty of suspects.”

It did. “Mother said something to me early today. It’s been bothering me.”

“What did she say?”

“If she were a partner in your firm, she’d demand an audit.”

Perry’s grim expression turned stony. “That’s one of the reasons Graham wanted to be managing partner. So he could order an audit.”

“He suspected Thatch was embezzling?”

Perry rubbed his neck again. “Thatch would never break the law.”

That was wishful thinking.

I suspected there were few lines Thatch wouldn’t cross. “It’s a good reason for Thatch to want Graham dead.” And that didn’t touch on the insurance money. “Tell me about the life insurance policies the firm carries on the partners.”

“How do you know about those?”