Read Online A Recipe for Disaster (Sarah Woods Mystery Book 16) by Jennifer L. Jennings - Free Book Online

him. “You should speak with Detective James. He'll give you the details.”
    A pause. “Is he a homicide detective?”
    I nodded.
    He closed his eyes and bowed his head. It took a moment for him to say, “How did it happen?”
    “I'm not allowed to disclose that information. I'm sorry.”
    With pursed lips, he finally opened his eyes to meet my gaze. “I'm her father. I have a right to know.”
    I glanced around, wondering if we were alone. I had an uneasy feeling about this, but what could I do? Walk away? No, that seemed too heartless.
    Mick blinked away tears, fighting to keep his composure.  “Look, could you throw me a bone, at least? I can't go to the police.”
    “Why? Is it because you've been driving around in a stolen truck?”
    He sighed. “Okay, I deserve that.”
    “So you admit that you drove by Claire's house earlier?”
    “When Claire didn't show up for work I had a feeling something was wrong. I've been circling the neighborhood all morning.”
    I failed to mention there was an APB out on the truck. “How do I even know you're Claire's father?”
    He reached into his back jeans pocket and produced a wallet. He showed me his license and an old photograph. “That's me and Claire when she was ten.”
    He gave me the photo, and I examined it. Father and daughter were holding hands on a beach. Mick looked a lot younger and had no facial hair. Claire was all elbows and knees, with braces and long black hair. They seemed happy, playing in the sun.
    “That was taken a year before her mother passed away. Our lives went to hell after that. My son Adam needed a lot of attention, and I couldn't handle it most of the time. Claire stepped in and took care of him as best she could.”
    This man might have been riddled with guilt, but that was his problem. My main focus right now was Claire. “Your daughter was last seen getting into a blue pickup truck yesterday afternoon around four. A few hours later, she's dead. I don't mean to sound accusatory, but would you care to explain?”
    He held up his hands in defeat. “Look, I got out of prison a few month ago and I've been trying to get back into Claire's life. Hasn't been easy, but I figured she'd forgive me eventually.”
    “Forgive you for what?”
    “I was convicted of voluntary manslaughter eight years ago. If you want the details, go talk to my PO.”
    “Tell me what happened after Claire got into your car yesterday. Where did you go?”
    He stared at the gray tile floor, hands in pockets. “I've been driving by her house most afternoons after she gets home from work. The first few times she refused to speak to me, but I kept at it. I figured she had to forgive me at some point.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Yesterday afternoon, she finally agreed to have dinner with me. I picked her up and headed downtown. On the way there, we got into a fight, and she made me pull over so she could get out of the car.”
    “Where did this happen?”
    “On Islington Street, near the Irving Gas station. I begged her to get back in the car. She told me to go to hell. I was pissed so I took off.”
    “You just left her there?”
    “It's not like I dropped her off in the middle of nowhere. There was a gas station just a few hundred feet away.” He shook his head with remorse. “Believe me, for the rest of my life I'll regret letting her get out of the car. I didn't think it would be the last time I'd ever see her.” He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Now I'll never be able to make things up to her.”
    “Do you remember the time?”
    He opened his eyes and looked at me. “I don't remember the precise time. I'd guess around 4:45.”
    “Is there anyone who can confirm that?”
    “Confirm what?”
    “Confirm she was seen getting out of your car?”
    “I don't know. Maybe other drivers on the road?”
    Could I trust this man's story to be true? He was, after all, a convicted killer. However, he seemed truly distraught