My Spy 3: Murder Mayhem

Invites

I'm pushing my scrambled eggs and grits around on my plate in front of me the next morning when Ryan spins around from the sink and says, "Not hungry?"

I drop my fork and look to him.

"Not really. I was thinkin..."

"Uh oh."

I scowl and reply, "Before I brought you Arthur's information, who were you thinking did it? I know Mason has me on his list, but who else?"

Ryan shakes his head.

"You know I can't tell you what our leads have been."

He takes my plate away from me and I hold down my coffee cup as he attempts to take it too. He smiles at me and I say, "Come on. Just give me a little bit. I won't tell."

He eyes me after he closes the dishwasher and says, "We were looking into her and her parent's financial situation. Life insurance policies, bank accounts, that route. We figured her lack of finances played a role in her death."

I nod in agreement.

"That's what Gus, Annabeth and I thought too. We thought maybe she owed money to someone and couldn't pay up. Or she tried to obtain funds illegally and someone did her dirty."

Ryan leans against the counter and says, "I don't know how many people knew about the Penderghast's situation. From what we've gathered, not many."

"Did you ever suspect her parents?" I ask and I can tell I am walking a fine line. There is only so much he'll tell me. He looks to me while his jaw grinds his teeth together and then says, "As of now everyone is a suspect."

I frown

"Not me though, right? Mason cannot really think I did this."

Ryan shifts his weight as he gazes to the floor. He gives a slight shake of his head and then says, "Mason does think you have a motive and opportunity. If he starts to believe you are the prime suspect, then I know I will be removed from the case."

Something Mason said to me flashes across my mind and I look to Ryan.

"Were you in the room when Mason took Jackson's statement?" He nods and I continue, "Is it true that Jackson told Mason he's still in love with me?"

Ryan stares into my eyes but he doesn't say anything. Sometimes his silence weighs heavier than words.

I bite my lip and reply, "Mason thinks I killed Poppy so I could get back with Jackson. But if Jackson is still in love with me, then why kill her? I could have just asked for him back."

"That's not what seemed suspicious to Mason," Ryan says. "Jackson's statement seemed to be protecting you and not throwing you under the bus to solve Poppy's case."

"So, Mason thinks Jackson was trying to cover something up for me?" I ask and Ryan nods. He pushes himself off the counter and I can tell this conversation is over. He strides over to the kitchen table and pulls his leather jacket off the chair it was hanging on. I watch him shrug it on and I step away from the breakfast bar. He grabs his phone and then stuffs it into the inside pocket as he says, "So you are doing the invitations with Margot and Annabeth today?"

"Yeah, thanks for letting us take over your kitchen to get it done."

He closes the gap between us and kisses my forehead.

"I'll call you when I am on my way home. Have fun."

I watch as he disappears down the hallway and I drop into a kitchen chair. I gaze out the sliding back door and think about everything we've learned in Poppy's case. I wonder how they are going to go about questioning Arthur and I frown knowing I need to stay out of it. I think about how he was able to do it and I realize Arthur Huxley is a golf pro- who once told me he has a strong drive.