Read Heavenly Highland Inn 05 - Suffocating the Sunflowers for Free Online Page A

the Lambard family,” he said as he studied Vicky. “I don't need to know who you are, I already do. You and your sister own this inn. Now, if you don't mind, I need to speak with Henry alone.”
    “ I'm sorry, I'm not sure that would be best…” Vicky began to say.
    “ I'm sorry, I didn't mean to give you the impression that you had a choice,” Barry responded and narrowed his eyes. Ida moved closer to him, her gaze locking with his.
    “ Listen Barry, we're all trying to understand what happened here. Perhaps I can interest you in a glass of ice water?” she offered, and batted her eyelids flirtatiously. Barry seemed to be distracted by Ida's behavior, and the corners of his lips even turned upward slightly. Vicky was shocked at how quickly they had arranged for a lawyer to come.
    “ Water would be nice,” he agreed with a slight nod. As Aunt Ida sashayed across the kitchen to retrieve the water, Barry turned back to Vicky. “Please excuse us,” he said sternly.
    “ I'm not going anywhere,” Vicky retorted growing more annoyed by the moment.
    “ It's okay, Vicky,” Ida insisted as she brought Barry his ice water. “I'll keep this strapping, young man company while he talks to Henry,” she purred as she drifted her fingertips along the back of Barry's hand. “You don't mind, do you, Mr. Baker?” she asked and offered a seductive gaze.
    “ Well, I suppose it couldn't do any harm,” he chuckled and watched Ida as he took a sip of his ice water. Vicky knew that Ida would keep a close eye on the situation, and she needed to warn Sarah about the lawyer's presence. She looked up at Henry who was starting to pull himself together. She met his eyes as she spoke to Barry.
    “ I think you'll find no matter what questions you ask, the inn is not responsible for Mrs. Holstead's death. In fact, your time might be better spent finding out who exactly her husband was having an affair with,” she suggested and then shifted her gaze slowly to Barry.
    “ Ha,” Barry smirked as he glanced over at Vicky. “If I spent my time tracking down mistresses I'd never have time for anything else. I'm not interested in affairs. Mrs. Holstead died of an allergic reaction, one she no doubt informed your staff about. Now, I want to know how this happened. Her family is expecting an answer, and I certainly will give them one,” he furrowed a heavy brow as he met Vicky's eyes directly. “Now, if I have to ask you again to excuse us, then I will have to launch an even more thorough investigation into whether you were trying to withhold evidence of negligence. Perhaps we should get local law enforcement involved?” he suggested.
    Vicky swallowed thickly. She could feel the bottle of oil pressing against the inside of her pocket. She kne w that if Barry, or even worse, Mitchell discovered that she was hiding it, she would be in serious legal trouble.
    “ Yes, sir, please excuse me,” she said quietly and stepped out of the kitchen. She hurried down the hall to her apartment and opened it to find Sarah just about to open the door from the other side. “Sarah, the Lambard family lawyer is here,” she gasped out in one breath.
    “ I know,” Sarah frowned. “Michelle is working the front desk, she texted me to let me know that he'd arrived. I need to get to him fast…”
    “ Sarah, wait,” Vicky grabbed her by the elbow and steered her back into her apartment. “You need to listen to me. He's questioning Henry right now.”
    “ That's okay,” Sarah shrugged and tried not to panic. “I know Henry wasn't involved in this so…”
    “ Sarah,” Vicky growled and pulled the bottle of oil out of her pocket. “I know he wasn't either, but someone is trying to make it look like he was. Whoever put the peanut oil in this bottle, was not just trying to kill Sandy, but also trying to frame Henry for the crime.”
    “ Oh no,” Sarah gasped when she caught the scent of the peanut oil. “This is terrible! Do you think Henry is