Murder Bites

by Addison Moore

  Something Paige said internally comes back to me. She mentioned Emily had gleaned something from Lad right before he was killed, something that humiliated her to the core.

  I blink over at Natalie. “So Emily was upset.”

  “Very.” She leans in. “And Lad told me not too long ago that she carries a gun.” Her eyes well up with tears again.

  “Did you tell the sheriff’s department?”

  “I can’t remember anything I said to anyone that night. I hardly remembered you. Sorry. I was a bit shaken.”

  “No, that’s okay.” I know for a fact she hasn’t spoken to Jasper again after that night. “I can let them know. I’ve been cooperating with the sheriff’s department. They’ve come by every day since.” The lead homicide detective just so happens to live at the inn, but I leave that residential tidbit out.

  Her lips cinch. “There’s one other person they should probably look into. A man by the name of Colt Ferguson. He and Lad had some crooked dealings.” She shudders. “I always told Lad that Colt was trouble.”

  “What kind of trouble?”

  She glances over my shoulder. “The guy deals in crooked loans.”

  “Like a loan shark?”

  She gives a single nod.

  “Why would Lad need a loan—a dicey one no less? I mean, Emily is loaded. She could have easily lent him the money.”

  “That was bound to happen.” She gives a husky laugh again. “But it didn’t. Before Lad met Emily, his grandfather’s farm fell on hard times and he wanted to help him out.” She shrugs. “He needed money fast and he took a loan out.”

  “That’s what people do, I guess.” I shrug back, trying to minimize my concern.

  The chime on the door goes off and she glances that way.

  “I’d better see if they need help out front. I hope you find your book, Bizzy.”

  I glance to the endless rows of self-help books and I’m pretty sure not one of them covers the supernatural topic I’m in need of.

  “Actually, after talking to you, I feel better about the whole thing.”

  “Good.” She clasps her hand over her chest. “I’m so glad. I just know he’ll accept whatever quirk you’re about to lay on him. Men are much simpler creatures than we give them credit for.” Her eyes cloud over with darkness. “Sometimes I wonder if we’re the ones that complicate things.”

  God knows I’d still be with Lad if things weren’t so damn complicated.

  She starts to take off and a thought comes to me.

  “Natalie? The inn is hosting another event thrown by Elvis Hendrix, the maker of the Dependable app. It’s this Saturday night. I’m sure you already know about it. I mean, since you’re a member of Dependable.”

  “Right.” She shakes her head. “But I hadn’t heard of it, though. Thanks for the heads-up. I don’t think—”

  “I won’t take no for an answer. You came to the blind date with Cupid looking for love.” Even if it was a desperate attempt to get Lad back, which I’m starting to believe it was. “Who knows? Maybe this time you’ll find it. For real.” Those last words come out soft and tempered, and I really do mean them.

  She nods. “I’ll think about it.”

  She takes off and I spot Jasper by the mystery section, so I head on over.

  “Find any clues?” I tease as I touch the spine of an Agatha Christie novel.

  A naughty grin glides up his cheek. “I’m betting not as many as you.”

  We hightail it out of there and jump into his truck before speeding out of the lot.

  I quickly relay the entire conversation, sans any mention of the secret that I plan on divulging at some point soon. Natalie really did offer up some sound advice. I’d like to think Jasper could overlook just about anything.

  “A farm, huh? That makes sense. But if his grandfather is a farmer in need of money, I’m sure he would have qualified for loans on his own.”

  “Maybe he didn’t want to take a loan out? Maybe he was too prideful for that?”

  “Maybe. But typically farmers aren’t a prideful bunch.”

  “What about the murder weapon? Natalie said Emily carries a gun. Lad told her himself.”

  Jasper tips his head to the side, his mouth opening and closing.

  “Why do I sense a reluctance in the force?” I ask, knowing full well why he’s hesitating. “Let me guess. It’s classified information?”

  He sucks in a breath through a grimace. And then, just like that, Jasper lets out a deep sigh.

  He nods toward the road. “I’m not sure if Emily owned the gun. The weapon you found was traced back to a pawn shop in Edison. It was sold to the killer about a month ago.”

  “A month ago?” I bounce in my seat. “That might as well have been yesterday. Who was it registered to? I bet that will lead straight to whoever did this.”

  “Maine doesn’t require a firearm to be registered.”

  “What? Why not? It seems like common sense.”

  “I agree, but that’s the way it works right now. Which means—”

  “Which means we have no way to know who fired that gun.”

  “Not yet.”

  “Not yet,” I echo. “What about forensics? What did they find?”

  His lips twitch with a smile. Forensics. It’s as if she’s talking dirty to me.

  “They found two sets of prints. Yours and mine—and, yes, we have yours on file.”

  “Wonderful.”

  Someone fired that gun and it wasn’t me.

  Someone brought a weapon to my inn, killed a man in cold blood, and left me holding the smoking gun—and I very much plan on getting to the bottom of it.

  Chapter 10

  The Booze and Babble?

  I stare up at the banner erected outside of the ballroom with a mild sense of disbelief. Bodies mill about as Elvis Hendrix’s latest catastrophe in the making gets underway.

  “So that’s the best he could come up with, huh?” I say to Nessa as we watch the masses stream into the ballroom from underneath an arch of pink heart-shaped balloons.

  “I guess.” She shrugs as her red dress glitters under the lights. “It was a last-minute endeavor, so I guess we need to cut the guy some slack. Hey, you don’t think we’re going to find another dead body tonight, do you?”

  “Nope,” I say it with a touch too much confidence, when really I should have none. But then again, Nessa is my employee, and I want her to feel safe within her work environment. Speaking of safe. “Besides, Jasper has arranged for half the Seaview Sheriff’s Department to have a presence at the inn. You couldn’t be safer if you were on the moon.”

  Fish jumps in front of me, and I quickly scoop her into my arms.

  I don’t feel safe, Bizzy. And neither should you.

  “Aww.” Nessa gives Fish a quick stroke over her back. “The poor thing looks frightened out of her mind. It’s almost as if she knows.”

  “She knows plenty,” I say as I dip a quick kiss between Fish’s eyes. “Sorry, girl. I’ll hold you tight.” I hitch my head toward the ballroom. “Grady is manning the fort, and I say it’s time to party, Ness. Who knows? There might be a heart-shaped surprise in store for you, too.”

  She gives a little skip. “Now that puts a spring in my step.”

  The ballroom is festooned from floor to ceiling with balloons, streamers, and paper pompoms in every color of pink and fuchsia. It’s a virtual wonderland of doily-laced romance, and the room is twice as packed as it was that fated night.

  Elvis has essentially transformed the ballroom into a wine tasting venue. The only thing he requested the Country Cottage Café provide was Emmie’s raspberry cheesecake bites. And seeing that nearly everyone is holding one in their hand, right along with their wine glasses, I’d say they were a pretty big hit.

  The sound of soothing love songs filters through the speakers. And even though just about everybody is swaying to the music, there aren’t any couples officially dancing at the moment. Nessa takes off for the tables b
rimming with booze, featuring wine in just about every color.

  A giant glittery sign is erected at the front of the room that reads don’t risk your romantic future to just anyone, trust us—we’re Dependable!

  “Bizzy Bizzy,” a familiar deep voice calls from behind and I turn to find my father with his arm linked to a gorgeous brunette with a tight-lipped smile—Jasper’s mother, Gwyneth.

  “Dad!” I offer my dapper daddy a quick hug before offering Gwyneth a quick embrace as well. “Gwyneth, you look amazing,” I say, taking in her long black dress. The old me would have made a mental quip regarding a coven, but Gwyneth and I have moved beyond our rocky past. I hope. I think. I pray.

  Fish slaps me on the nose with her tail. Hold me tight, Biz. Word on the street is, she’s looking for a familiar.

  “You’re funny,” I whisper.

  “Bizzy.” Her expression sours as she gives my hair a quick flick. “You must see my hairdresser. She takes on even the most desperate of cases.”

  Dad lifts a finger. “And on that note, I think we’ll speed ahead to the wine tasting portion of the evening.”

  “Good call,” I say.

  They start to take off and Dad hops back on one leg.

  He winks my way. “Once I get a little liquor in her, she tends to loosen right up.”

  They dash away just as I spot my sister shuffling her way over. She’s donned a frilly pink number that has her looking like a saccharin confection. That coupled with the sour look on her face makes for a delicious candy-coated irony.

  “Don’t you say a word.” She points right at me. “And give me my furry little niece.”

  Macy scoops Fish out of my arms. “You, my little princess, are about to be my wing cat.”

  “Wing cat?” I’m not sure if I should be amused or frightened.

  “Yeah, you know. They say pets and babies are chick magnets. Well, it works the other way, too. This place is crawling with detectives and deputies and the sheriff himself. I’m taking a page out of my baby sister’s playbook—the chapter on snagging yourself a man of the law.” She leans in. “What’s not to love about a man who brings handcuffs along on a date?”

  “Stay away from the wine,” I advise as she strides off, much to Fish’s furry protest.

  I’m about to make a run for the raspberry cheesecake bites when a redhead pops up, dazzling the room in a sleek silver gown that looks as if it were a disco ball in its previous sassy and, might I add, sexy life.

  “Wow,” I say as I jump back. “Natalie, you look fantastic. You don’t play fair, do you? All the other women in the room might as well go home.”

  She tosses her glossy red hair back and belts out a laugh.

  “You’re too kind, Bizzy. I feel like a human reflective strip. I like your dress.” She gives a nod to the navy number I’ve donned. It’s an A-line linen sheath that touches above my knees with a layer of chiffon over it to soften it. This isn’t the first time I’ve pulled it out of the closet, but it’s the first time Jasper will see me in it.

  “Believe me, I’m not the one stealing the show. You look like you’re ready to take on the world. And I’m really glad you came. I think this is a step in the right direction. You have a life to live.”

  She takes a breath as she glances around. And Lad doesn’t.

  “I know I should feel terrible being here.” She shakes her head. “Being anywhere, but I guess it would be nice to get out there again and meet someone.” Someone who actually knows what it means to keep their word.

  I tip my head to the side. What could she mean by that?

  She nods to the refreshment table. “I’d better get a glass of wine in me before I turn around and leave the room.” She takes off, and no sooner does she take up a glass than the bartender strikes up a friendly chat with her.

  That didn’t take long. Good for her. She deserves a little attention tonight, and many nights thereafter.

  Speaking of attention, I scan the room for Jasper, and instead, I find Georgie and the king himself as they speed this way.

  “You both look fabulous,” I say, marveling at the fact not only is Georgie wearing a purple kaftan with pink sparkly hearts stamped over it, but somehow, in some alternate universe, Elvis is wearing a shirt that looks strikingly similar.

  Elvis twirls in his glittery getup. “Georgie dared me to wear it, and I’m not one that backs away from a dare.”

  Georgie pulls him close. “It was a Valentine’s Day special. Buy one get one for your man. It tells the world we’re a power couple.”

  “You’re a couple, all right,” I say, trying my hardest to read his mind.

  Yup. I’ll do anything for fifty bucks. Ten minutes and I’m ditching the duds and maybe the psychedelic princes now that I see a silver beam of light calling my name.

  I follow his gaze to Natalie and my mouth falls open.

  “Do you know Natalie Weiland?” I ask, practically calling him out on it.

  “Is that Nat?” His expression quickly sours. “Yeah, I know her. That was Lad’s chick. The first one.” That’s no silver beam of light. More like a portal of darkness. That’s all right. There are plenty of short skirts where that one came from. And I plan on catching a few before I leave.

  Figures. Elvis developed Dependable as a means to an end—his own end, in his own bed.

  “Elvis”—I choose to ignore his perverted mental musings for a moment—“why do you think she and Lad broke up?”

  His eyes widen a moment. “Let’s just say Lad had a hankering for the finer things in life. And Natalie, well, she just works in a bookstore.”

  Georgie groans, “Sounds like he was looking for a sugar mama.”

  Elvis shakes his head. “You said it, not me.” He nods my way. “I don’t like to speak ill of the dead.”

  “How did the two of you meet?” I ask him. “You and Lad?”

  Elvis squints into the crowd. “Sports bar. The guy put the fan in fanatic for just about every sport you can think of. Word got out that I was working on Dependable and he wanted in on it. Lad always wanted in on the ground floor. He liked to turn a buck.”

  Georgie smacks him on the stomach with a wink. “Who doesn’t?”

  A pair of warm arms wraps themselves around me from behind, and judging by that heady, thick, spiced cologne I know exactly who it is.

  “Whoever you are, I think I’m going to kiss you before my boyfriend gets here. I’m a bit lonely.” I spin on my heels, landing a kiss over his lips and Jasper hums a dark laugh.

  “You think we’ll get caught?” he whispers right over my mouth, and I bubble with a laugh.

  “With you? It’s a risk I’m willing to take. But you might want to watch your back. He’s packing heat.”

  Jasper looks to Georgie and Elvis.

  “Sorry I’m late, but it was for a good cause. Georgie, I have great news for you. I spoke with Juniper Moonbeam’s attorney, and I know exactly what she’s doing time for.”

  “What?” Georgie and I sing like a choir.

  “Bribery charges.” He nods to Georgie. “Apparently, she had racked up quite the stack of traffic tickets. And once she figured out there was a warrant out for her arrest, she tried to bribe a city official to have them removed. And that garnered her exactly twenty-two days in the Collingsworth Correctional Facility.”

  Elvis groans, “I’m sorry, Georgie. I didn’t know your kid was in prison.”

  Georgie shoots him a look. “Don’t knock it till you try it. She’s playing doubles on a tennis team, and they serve rice pudding with cinnamon for dessert.”

  “Georgie”—I shake my head at my sweet friend—“I can promise you, she doesn’t want to be there for long.”

  “And she won’t be.” Jasper lifts his chin. “She’s being released Monday. I told her attorney to expect a call from you.”

  “Monday?” Georgie gives a wild clap. “I need to go. I need to get all of my ducks in a row and make sure Juniper Moonbeam lands in Cider Cove safe and soun
d. Your father said he’d help.” She pulls me in and kisses my cheek. “Thank you, Bizzy.” She pulls Jasper in and kisses him on the lips. “Thanks, hot stuff.” She looks to Elvis and waves him off. “You go chase those skirts. I don’t need to be a mind reader to know where your head is.”

  He opens his mouth as if to refute the idea before his lips stretch across his smarmy face. “Thanks, Georgie.”

  The two of them disappear into the crowd, and I look over at Jasper, only to find his lids dangerously hooded.

  He leans my way. “Can I have this dance?” It comes out like a rumble of thunder, and every last part of me wholeheartedly approves.

  A laugh gets caught in my throat as I give a quick look around and moan.

  “Oh shoot.” I make a face. “No one is dancing yet.”

  “Then I say we start a trend.” Jasper wraps his arms around me and glides us to the middle of the room, and slowly but surely other couples follow suit. Jasper holds me close and the heat emanating off the two of us could start an inferno.

  Soon, it seems the entire room is swaying to the rhythm. It’s safe to say Jasper and I started a trend.

  Jasper dots a kiss to the top of my head. I love this woman, and I want everything with her—for life.

  I glance up at him as my heart riots in my chest.

  Jasper wants everything with me.

  And I bet that includes the truth.

  The event winds down, and I help to make sure the cleanup gets underway. I spot Jasper saying goodnight to his mother, and I’m about to head over when I cross paths with Elvis.

  “Thank you, Bizzy, for the do-over. No one died, so I’m counting it a success.”

  “Indeed.” I’m about to take off when I lift a finger. “Elvis, did you and Lad have any mutual friends?” By the name of Colt, maybe? But I don’t ask that. I’d like to see if he comes up with a broader pool of people who couldn’t stand Lad that I may not have come across yet.

  He clucks his tongue. “No, but we shared a bookie.”

  He takes off and my mouth falls open.