The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 118

Chapter 118

“Excuse me, could you let me through?” Nina pushed her way through the crowd. Half an hour ago, Simon had called her to say there’d been a murder by the river.

Simon instantly picked out Nina’s voice from the noisy crowd. Noticing Nina getting shoved and off-balance by the pushy onlookers, he rushed out from behind the police tape.

Shouldering his way through the press of people, Simon placed a sturdy hand protectively behind Nina and, with his other hand, had already lifted the tape out of her way. “Watch your step. It’s uneven right here.”

Nina caught sight of the old man’s body lying on the riverbank and blinked in confusion. “Simon, what’s the situation here?”

“Leonard Jagger, a 67-year-old retired archaeology professor,” Simon told her. “Found by a jogger around 6:47 this morning on the shore.”

Simon lowered his voice and leaned in a little. “There are strangulation marks on his neck. Doesn’t look accidental, and it’s not drowning either. Right now, we’re treating it as murder.”

Nina grew even more puzzled. ‘Who could possibly hold a grudge against an archaeology expert?’ she thought.

Nina said, “I’m going to check out the riverbank.”

Just as she started toward the shore, Simon gently stopped her. “Hold up. Put these on first.”

He grabbed a brand-new pair of rain boots from a nearby bag and handed them over. “Don’t want your shoes and socks getting wet.”

Nina nodded, a little smile on her lips. ‘Simon really thinks of everything,’ she thought.

With Simon steadying her, Nina slipped into the rain boots and stumbled her way toward the muddy riverbank, every step sinking deep and wobbly.

As she walked on, her boots squelched loudly in the soft mud, making those funny squishy sounds. She crouched down, brushed her fingertips over the water’s surface, and watched ripples fan out in lazy circles.

In the cloudy, shallow water, a handful of tiny fish scattered in a flash, and some water striders zipped around, cutting little patterns on top of the water.

Nina pursed her lips, thinking, ‘They’re so simple, and their minds can’t even put together a whole thought.’

Not far off, Alex kept a close eye on her, taking in every move. He’d already scouted the riverbank. There was nothing here for a Canine Communication Specialist to work with.

Simon walked over and crouched down beside her. He handed her a bottle of water. “Here, take this. Is the water too shallow?”

Nina shook her head, a little disappointed. “There isn’t even a single frog out here.”

Simon gazed at the shimmering surface of the river, his gentle eyes lingering on Nina. “With wetlands this size, there’s bound to be all kinds of little creatures out and about here.”

He caught the hint of disappointment in her face and said, “Let’s walk the riverbank together. I’m sure we’ll stumble upon some little helpers eventually.”

Simon leaned closer, letting his voice turn even softer. “The ME says the victim died at night. Just think about it.”

He stretched the last syllable, giving Nina room to ponder. “What sorts of nighttime creatures do you think come out when

the sun sets, things you’d never spot during daylight?”

Nina thought it over, and her eyes suddenly lit up like stars. “Night Herons and otters. They’re both nocturnal.

Simon’s lips curved into a smile of approval. “Exactly. Who knows, maybe our key witness is fast asleep right now. Cracking a case isn’t something you rush. We’ve just got to keep faith.”

He gently tucked a strand of hair behind Nina’s ear, which had been tousled by the river breeze. “How about we come back after dark? I’ll go with you, okay?”

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