Grave Wars – A Jane Ladling Mystery Read Online Gena Showalter

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Suspense Tags Authors:
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Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
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“Do tell.”

“Bennett knew about the deputy’s plan to introduce the made-up mobster to the town. Gunn attempted to blackmail him into corroborating the claim that Bennett was his CI. A move meant to keep Sheriff Moore off his back and get the ball rolling on the investigation into the mysterious Gentleman.”

So, there definitely wasn’t a criminal underbelly attempting to wreak havoc in Aurelian Hills. Thank goodness!

“Bennett claims the deputy took the drugs from his daughter and tricked him into handling the baggies, thereby covering each with his fingerprints. That’s why he engineered a way to enter Gunn’s home. To seize the narcotics himself. We’re working to verify his tale, but several elements of his story already check out.”

Of course! She should have guessed. “Did he say anything about the bullet holes in the wall?”

“Gunn did it as part of his frame job.”

A suspicion she’d once entertained. “I must say, I’m glad to have official answers.”

Barrow took Jane’s statement, then Conrad’s, yet another hour passed before everyone cleared out of the bungalow. Only Beau, Trick and Tiffany remained.

Beau looked out the blinds. “That reporter, Ashley Katz, is on the front lawn, trying to interview Barrow.”

“Maybe I’ll give her an exclusive,” Jane said, thinking out loud. “Oh! I owe Fiona an explanation.” She whipped out her phone and texted her best friend in the world.

Jane: I have so much to tell you! We caught the bad guy—and the bad girl. Everyone is safe. I’ll come over tomorrow and fill you in (well, I’ll fill in the details the sheriff leaves off because men.) I’ll bring Tiffany (she helped!)

A response came only a few moments later.

Fionality: Yes! I demand every detail. Come over anytime, the earlier the better! I love you, Jay Bird. With all my heart.

Jane: I love you, too, Fee. With all my heart and soul.

“Oh!” Jane exclaimed, seeing her sister’s name and remembering The Text. “My sister is coming to visit me next month.”

“Is that dread I detect in your tone?” Conrad asked with a laugh.

“No! And yes. But mostly yes. She’s a handful.”

“Then I’m looking forward to meeting her.” To everyone else, he called, “All right, time to go.”

Beau and Trick snickered at him.

Tiffany yawned. “Can someone drive me back to the cottage?”

“We will,” Trick volunteered.

“We’ll be directly behind you,” Conrad said, surprising Jane. He gave her a soft smile. “I’m a hundred percent certain you want to get your eyes on Rolex ASAP.”

He knew her so well. “I really do.” What a day this had been. They’d gotten a happy ending with the case. But. Tears welled, blurring her vision. She could’ve died today. She would have lost Conrad and Rolex, Fiona and Beau, Tiffany and the cottage. This bungalow. Not to mention the dream she hadn’t admitted she harbored—until just this moment.

“Jane?” Conrad said, probably confused by her demeanor. “Get out faster,” he called to the others, shooing them out. Their snickering continued until he shut the door. He drew Jane against his chest, rested his chin on the top of her head and petted her hair while she clung to him. “What’s on your mind, love?”

“None of us are guaranteed a tomorrow.”

“No. We’re not.” He offered no more.

How to explain the things swirling in her heart? “What we compromise to keep, we will eventually lose.”

He went still for a moment. “What are you saying?”

“For too long, I’ve allowed the curse to dictate my decisions. I compromised my deepest desires to steal a taste of happiness with the world’s most incredible man. But I don’t want to compromise anymore.”

Cupping her cheeks, he tilted her head until her gaze met his. “If you’re attempting to break up with me, it’s not gonna stick. We’re together.”

“I’m not attempting to break up with you,” she replied with a soft smile.

Jane peered up at the man she loved more than life. Adoration and affection flooded her.

At the same time, confidence went to war with fear, her heart racing. She drew in a deep breath and finally uttered the words that would forever change her future. “Conrad Hotness Ryan. Will you marry me?”


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