Chapter ONE - Weebly

“There weren’t any others, even men she might have
known before Mister Derne and she became close?”
“None who had reason to hurt her,” the merchant
said.
Ethan wasn’t entirely certain that he believed this.
Berson’s daughter had been young, beautiful, and
wealthy; such women were bound to attract at least a
few rogues along with more appropriate suitors. Then
again, a spurned lover was apt to be more violent in
wreaking his vengeance than Jennifer’s killer had been.
“Then what about your enemies, sir?”
“Mine?” Berson said in a way that told Ethan the
man hadn’t even considered the possibility.
“A man in your position is bound to have rivals. Is
that not so?”
“Well, of course, but—”
“Do any of them dislike you enough to strike at your
family in this way?”
“I—I don’t know.”
Ethan eyed him closely. “Then there are some who
might.”
“Well … I suppose that … some … Derrin