“Now, Ofelia is an adult and it’s none of my business what goes on in her personal life,” he continued. “I see what’s happening here, though, and I’ll be watching you.” He pointed his index and middle fingers at his own eyes and then jabbed them at Sully for emphasis. “You’ve been warned.”
Sully ran his tongue over his teeth, caught between amusement and annoyance. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said finally. “I want to know about Henrietta. I know you two were spending time together. If it wasn’t romantic, then what was it?”
“My estate lawyer. She wanted to tap me for information on him.”
Ofelia, her hands busy as she continued to dry glasses, was understandably confused. “Why would she care about your estate lawyer?”
Sully was already two steps ahead of her. “Because she thought she was dying. She wanted to get her affairs in order.”
Oscar bobbed his head. “That’s exactly what she wanted. When she first approached me, she said she was dying and needed to talk to someone about her estate. She swore me to secrecy. Two months later she announced it was a medical error and she was cured. I was happy for her and we celebrated with drinks down by Jackson Square. That was the limit of our contact.”
“That jibes with what I was told,” Sully mused. “You were sighted together down by the square. I don’t suppose you asked her how she was miraculously cured, did you?”
“I just told you that she said it was a medical error. I had no reason not to believe her. If you’re going to start chasing my daughter and be around a lot more, you’re going to have to learn to listen better.”
Sully glared at him. “I’ll keep that in mind.” Slowly, his eyes tracked to Ofelia. “I was on my way out. I’ll be back tomorrow so we can make a plan for the day. Try to get some sleep.”
“Just like that?” Ofelia couldn’t hide her surprise. “I thought you would push my father harder about his relationship with Henrietta.”
Anybody else and he would have, Sully realized. He didn’t go after Oscar because of Ofelia. He didn’t believe it was fair to her. “I got the information I needed. I’ll be back tomorrow morning.” He offered her a cheeky smile. “I’ll even bring breakfast. What do you like?”
“Oh, so cute,” Felix teased from behind the police detective. “She likes just about anything, but biscuits and gravy are the true path to her heart.”
“Don’t bring her grits,” Oscar warned. “They’re the one thing she’s never developed a taste for. She’s the only one in the family who refuses to eat them.”
“No grits. Got it.” Sully winked at Ofelia before heading toward the door. “I know you don’t like being bossed around, but lock up tightly. If word gets out that you’re poking your nose into Henrietta’s death, someone might not like it and decide to go after you. I would hate for that to happen.”
“Especially before he gets to date you,” Oscar said sagely.
Sully could do nothing but shake his head. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
TRUE TO HIS WORD, SULLY WAS outside Krewe’s door at eight. He had a huge bag of food and two cups of coffee.
“Oh, that smells amazing.” Ofelia went straight for the coffee. She wasn’t used to being up quite this early so her hair was still wet from her shower. She didn’t care about anything but the caffeine at the present moment.
Sully took a moment to look her over. She was barefaced and dressed in simple Army green shorts and a black T-shirt with the name of the bar emblazoned across it. She still looked amazing. And that smell ... .
“What is that?” He inadvertently leaned closer to her and sniffed. “Seriously, do you bathe in that perfume or what?”
Ofelia slid him a sidelong look. “I don’t wear perfume.”
“Um ... yes, you do. You smell like cloves and anise. It’s overpowering sometimes.”
“I don’t wear perfume,” she repeated. “Although ... you’re the second person to tell me I smell funny in two days. That’s weird, huh?”
“Who else said it?” What Sully really wanted to ask was who got close enough to smell her, but he figured that would be overstepping his bounds and he didn’t want to risk it.
“Pascal. He has a heightened sense of smell.” Ofelia was thoughtful. “I’m guessing you have a heightened sense of smell, too.”
Sully nodded. “I do. Are you honestly saying that smell is natural and not a result of perfume?”
“Yeah. I don’t wear perfume. I don’t really see the point of spending money on something to make me smell like something else. It seems like kind of a waste.”
Despite himself, Sully found the notion daunting. He was a goner. It was a hard realization to swallow, but he was nothing if not pragmatic. The smell alone was enough to draw him in. When you added the fiery personality and the ridiculous angles of her cheekbones, his libido had no shot of ignoring her.
“I brought you biscuits and gravy,” he offered lamely, lifting the bag. “They’re from Oceana.”
Ofelia brightened considerably. “I love their biscuits and gravy. They serve them in a pasta bowl. It’s like eating a huge bowl of fattening goodness.”
He chuckled at her enthusiasm. “I guess it is like that.” He dragged a hand through his hair before following her into the bar. “I got extra for your father in case he was here ... but I guess it’s just the two of us.” A quick scan told him that Oscar was nowhere to be found. “That’s probably good, huh?”
Ofelia shot him an amused look. “I’m sure my father is still asleep. He’ll show up when he feels like it. I wouldn’t expect to see him for at least another two hours, though.”
“Well, more for me.” Sully shot her a pleasant smile. “How did you sleep?”
The question caught her off guard. “Fine. I slept fine. Why would you ask about that?”
“Because I’m polite.” Sully pinned her with a look before he started doling out food. “I was simply curious. You had a big day yesterday.”
“So did you. How did you sleep?”
In truth, Sully’s sleep hadn’t exactly been restful. He had a series of dreams, each more sensuous than the next, and Ofelia was the star in each one. He couldn’t exactly admit that, though. He had a feeling it would only make things more awkward between them.
“I slept fine,” he replied after a beat. “I usually sleep fine.”
“Is that a panther thing? Cats sleep like eighteen hours a day. Do you want to sleep eighteen hours a day? Do you go nuts for catnip? I mean ... if I rolled around naked in catnip, would that drive you to the point of distraction?”
Sully found the question ludicrous. Of course, the idea of her doing anything naked was something of a distraction. “I think we should discuss something safer,” he countered. “For starters, I think we should focus on Brett. He was the first victim. If we stick with the assumption that Henrietta took him out as a way to save herself, he’s still the key. Who would want him dead?”
“It seems I’ve arrived at exactly the right time,” a new voice announced from the open doorway, causing Sully to swivel quickly ... and scowl at Felix.
“I should’ve locked that door,” Sully muttered, shaking his head. “That was stupid.”
Ofelia spared him a sidelong look. She couldn’t decide if he was worried about someone walking through the open door and being able to attack them, or if he was cursing himself because their private breakfast had turned into a threesome. One possibility freaked her out less than the other ... but one made her heart thump extra hard and she felt like a fool because of it.
“Why are you up so early?” Ofelia asked conversationally. From all appearances, she was merely curious as to her brother’s appearance. Inside, though, she was agitated. Why did he have to interrupt now? Was it on purpose?
“I haven’t been to sleep,” Felix replied, sauntering toward the table where Sully was spreading out food. “I knew that you guys were going to be together this morning and I figured it would be best to tell you what I overheard at the
Cat’s Meow now rather than later. Is some of this for me?”
Sully nodded. “The biscuits and gravy are for your sister. The omelet is for me. You can have whatever else you want from the rest.”
“Cool.” Felix grabbed the beignets and a container of eggs and hash browns. “This hits the spot.”
“Why were you up all night?” Ofelia asked, legitimately confused. “Don’t you have work?”
Felix made a face. “You’re starting to sound like Dad.”
“It’s a legitimate question,” she countered. “I’m not your keeper, but I have a vested interest in your future. I don’t care if you like it or not.”
He rolled his eyes. “Whatever. For the record, I’m conducting tours around the Quarter tonight.”
“You’re doing tours now, too?” Ofelia was flummoxed. “You really do need to find some direction.”
“And you definitely sound like Dad.” Felix flicked her ear. “Anyway, as much as I like talking about myself, that’s not why I’m here. I was singing karaoke all last night and I wasn’t alone. There were a few faces there that I think you’ll be interested in.”
“I’m not really a fan of karaoke,” Sully countered. “I have a voice like a dead frog when I try to sing ... even in the shower.”
Ofelia snorted. “Join the club.” She raised her hand and gave him a high-five before she realized how lame the action probably came across. “Er ... .”
Sully found her reaction adorable, which made him want to high-five himself right in the head. “What did you see at karaoke?” he asked, thankful to have a distraction.
“Well, you know your dead guy? All of his friends were at the karaoke bar last night. I didn’t realize who they were until someone pointed them out to me. They didn’t exactly look like they were mourning.”
Ofelia was taken aback. “They’re still in town? I thought they would’ve left by now.”
“They can’t without having to pay more for their flights,” Sully volunteered, thoughtful. “Were they whooping it up?”
“Pretty much,” Felix confirmed. “They were singing ... and dancing ... and the one who was supposedly dating the dead guy had a new guy on her arm. I don’t know if he was a local or a tourist, but they were definitely hot for one another.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound like grief,” Ofelia noted.
“No,” Sully agreed. “No two people react the same way to someone they love dying, but to pick up a new guy two days after the fact ... that’s cold.”
“I guess that means we need to dig deeper on the friends,” Ofelia volunteered. “You said Brett was the key. Maybe one of the people he was traveling with had motive to want him dead.”
“I think that’s the best place to start,” Sully agreed as he watched Felix enthusiastically dig into his breakfast. “Breathe, Felix,” he chided after a beat. “The food isn’t going anywhere.”
“He’s always been like that,” Ofelia explained. “He can’t help himself. He’s a glutton.”
“Oh, you guys are so cute,” Felix commented with his mouth full, grinning. “You’re even starting to rip on me together. I’m thrilled that you’ve found each other. It’s going to be entertaining going forward.”
Sully felt the same way, but he knew better than to give voice to his opinion ... at least right now. “We need to dig deep on the girlfriend and see what we can find on the other friends. They’re our best options right now.”
“I agree.”
Sully lifted his hand and waited, earning an odd look from Ofelia.
“What are you doing?” she asked finally.
“Waiting for you to high-five me again. That was the funniest thing I’ve seen in ages.”
Her lips curved down. “I don’t need to take this abuse.”
“I’m being serious. High-fives are awesome.”
Felix snorted. “Geez. You guys even flirt like imbeciles. Let me know when you need me to tell you what to do to fix this. I think you’re going to ruin everything if I leave you to your own devices.”
Ofelia wanted to argue, but she had a sneaking suspicion Felix was right.
Thirteen
The plan was for Ofelia to head to the hotel and watch Kim. Even though all of the friends were potential suspects, Sully pointed out that the love interest was most likely to have the ultimate motive and he wanted to focus on her. That meant questioning the other friends without Kim present.
Ofelia readily agreed, still shocked that he actually wanted to include her. She was willing to play her part and, truthfully, she was suspicious of the woman’s motivations, too.
They walked to the hotel together, conversation between them light. It seemed there was something unsaid hanging over them — and Sully hoped he wasn’t the only one feeling it — but now was not the time to delve deep into emotional issues. The practical had to take precedence.
They separated on the corner. Since Ofelia knew the concierge, Sully wasn’t worried about her being removed from the premises. He instructed her to text if she ran into trouble, something she rolled her eyes at but ultimately promised to follow through on.
He entered the hotel first, touched base with the manager so there would be no questions about his presence, and then headed up to the second floor. He caught a glimpse through the window of Ofelia sitting in the shaded courtyard as he ambled toward the stairs. She had an iced tea and a book so she looked casual. He reminded himself that she was hardly a novice and would be okay. Still, though, he felt responsible for her now. It was a feeling he couldn’t quite shake.
He knocked on Stuart’s door first. It took the man a full two minutes to answer, and he looked cloudy and confused when he realized who was standing on the other side of the threshold.
“Did you find anything?”
“I’ve made progress,” Sully replied. “I have a few things to discuss with you. Is now a good time?” It was a ridiculous question because Stuart was obviously hungover — or maybe still drunk — but he figured that might work to his advantage. “It’s important.”
“Um ... sure.” Stuart gestured for him to enter. There was a lump in the bed, under the covers, that signified someone was still sleeping. Sully assumed it was the girlfriend Stuart had mentioned before and he’d yet to meet. He didn’t pry, though.
The door between rooms was open and Sully cast a curious look into the adjoining suite. “Is that Peter’s room?”
Stuart nodded dumbly. “Yeah. We ... um ... everyone is still sleeping. It’s been difficult for us to deal with everything that has happened. I apologize, but I’m not exactly feeling on top of my game.”
“That’s what happens when you stay out all night singing karaoke.” Sully saw no reason to play games. He wanted to monitor Stuart’s reaction. He wasn’t disappointed when a tinge of guilt flooded the man’s cheeks. “It’s not my place to say, but I wasn’t expecting that sort of thing from you.”
“It wasn’t my idea.” Stuart made a groaning noise as he sank onto the couch. He was pale, dark circles under his eyes, and his hair stood out at odd angles. “The girls were sick of hanging around in the hotel and they wanted to sing karaoke.”
“Uh-huh.” Sully slid his eyes toward the lump, which wasn’t moving. Either she was dead to the world or purposely pretending there wasn’t a detective in her room. He honestly had no idea which way he was leaning. “I need to ask you about Kim Dixon.”
Whatever Stuart was expecting, that wasn’t it. His eyes went wide at the notion. “I don’t understand. Why are you asking about Kim?”
“Because we need information on Brett if we expect to track down his killer. I don’t believe he was picked as a random victim, and I need to start digging. You’re his friend, which means I need to start with you.”
“I don’t know.” Stuart hesitated. “When I called my parents to tell them what was going on, they suggested I talk to an attorney. I thought that sounded stupid — like a waste of money — but now I’m not so sure.”
Sully
was smooth with his response. “If you want an attorney, that’s certainly your prerogative. You’re not under arrest, though. If you retain an attorney, that means we’ll have to go to the precinct for questioning, make it formal. Is that what you want?”
“Of course not.” Stuart made a protesting sound. “I just ... nothing like this has ever happened to me. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
“I don’t believe there are any rules in a situation like this.” Sully sat in the chair next to the couch and crossed his legs at the ankles. His goal was to appear relaxed so Stuart would be more likely to open up. “I don’t expect you to react a specific way. I would be lying if I said that your actions last evening weren’t surprising, but it’s none of my business.”
“I don’t even understand how you know about that. Have you been following us?”
“No. The brother of a friend was there and mentioned that you guys were the talk of the bar. Everyone knew who you were and it spread like wildfire. I was having breakfast with his sister this morning when he stopped by and shared the information. We haven’t been following you. We don’t have the manpower for that if there’s no reason to warrant it. Up until now, there’s been no reason.”
“And now you think there’s a reason,” Stuart mused, blankly rubbing his cheek as he considered the conundrum. “It wasn’t my idea to go to the bar. That was all the women.”
“Oh, geez, Stuart.” The lump in the bed stirred, and when Sully flicked his eyes in that direction he found a blonde with wild hair and makeup smeared under her eyes glaring at them. “Way to blame it on us.” She clearly didn’t look happy.
For some reason, Sully found the situation surreal. He had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. “Good morning,” he offered in an amiable voice. He wasn’t surprised that she’d been awake. It would’ve been hard for her, even hungover, to ignore the conversation going on four feet from the bed. “I’m Detective Zacharias Sully. Who might you be?”
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