“I don’t know.” He plucks a lemon tart out of the box and shoves it into his mouth. “But if I pass out cold, just know I’m dreaming of you.” He waggles his brows. “Where’d you go earlier? Emmie said you had to run an important errand and wanted to make sure you got home safe.”
I make a face. “Fine, I went to Whaler’s Cove. Macy wanted to get a tattoo, and I just so happened to run into Dax. What’s his last name, anyway?”
“Tucker.” Any trace of amusement has since vacated his face. “Bizzy”—his tone lets me know exactly what he thinks of my little jaunt down the way—“I’m glad you had Macy with you.” His chin tips down as he narrows those silver eyes over mine. “What happened?”
“Jasper, I don’t know what went on the night Wyatt was killed, but Dax and Stormy Westin were definitely up to no good. I’m not sure if they killed Wyatt, but Dax said something about cleaning Wyatt out. And then when I asked if he knew that the book was missing, he seemed stumped, and somewhat angry that Stormy didn’t know about it. He said they could have cleaned Wyatt out upstairs and downstairs.”
“Cleaned him out.” Jasper’s leg begins to bounce as he glances out the window. “Bizzy, I think I gotta go.”
“What? Gotta go where?”
“I think I know what Dax meant.” He gives Fish a quick kiss on the forehead and does the same to me. “And if I’m right, we’ve got yet another crime that occurred at Killer Books the night of the murder.” He heads to the door and I chase after him.
“Like what?”
Jasper nods. “If I’m right, they stole money.”
I snatch him by the sleeve. “Where are you going?”
“I’m just going to run over to Killer Books. I’m going to check the registers and ground safe.”
“Well, I’ll come with you.” I snatch up my phone and my keys while jumping into a pair of flats I keep next to the door.
Sherlock and Gatsby trot over along with Fish.
You’re not leaving without us. Fish yowls as I pick her up.
“Bizzy?” Jasper gives a wild look to the menagerie determined to join us.
“They can use a walk. Besides, they’ll wait outside.”
We take off like a crime-busting, mostly furry, gang on a mission as we hightail it up Main Street.
I miss the shop, Bizzy. Gatsby howls.
“You poor thing.” I bend over and give him a quick peck on the nose. “You were one of the best things about that place. And lucky for you, you’re with you wherever you go.”
But what will become of me? Wyatt didn’t have anyone that could take me in.
“I have you. And if another home isn’t in your future, then you’ll stay with me forever.”
Fish lets out a wild purr. You hear that, big boy? You’ll be mine, all mine. She meows again and again and it sounds as if she’s cackling.
“I’ve never seen Fish so taken with anyone.” I dot a kiss to her ear. I’ve strapped her to that cloth baby carrier I sometimes use when we step out. Not only is she easy to keep track of this way, but she warms me with her body and tickles me with her purring.
Jasper wraps an arm around my waist and I take in the warm scent of his spiced cologne. The street is empty, it’s a virtual ghost town, and the air is warm and balmy.
“I know how Fish feels.” He lands a warm kiss just above my earlobe. “Are we done here yet? I’m already anxious to get back.”
“I like how you think, Detective. You have a way of making me forget everything else going on around me. Why are we here again?”
“Because your curious mind has yet again unlocked another mystery.”
“You mean sank us in the middle of one. And it was you who figured out the potential theft.”
Jasper does a double take at something up ahead. “Looks like we’ve got company.”
Sure enough, I spot Leo Granger sans his deputy uniform.
“Well, well,” I say. “Does Emmie know you’re out and about, roaming the mean streets of Cider Cove all by your lonesome?”
Leo laughs as he wrangles Sherlock and Gatsby to himself and gives them the affection they deserve.
“Actually, I just left her place.”
“Oh? At this hour?” It’s far past eleven. “Is this the walk of shame we’re witnessing? Don’t answer that. Have you got a minute? We need to head up the street, and we might just need a smart guy like you with a high-powered assault weapon strapped to his thigh to keep an eye out while we do the dirty work.”
He gives a long blink. “It’s not a high-powered assault weapon. It’s a semi-automatic pistol, and it’s not strapped to my thigh. It sits at my waist.”
“Tomato tomato. Has anyone ever told you you’re far too black and white for your own good? Come on, Leo. We’re going to have a little fun. And once we’re through, I might actually approve of you dating my best friend.”
Jasper chuckles.
“All right.” Leo gives a reluctant nod toward Killer Books. “I’ll do it for Emmie.”
I tip my head to the side. And?
His cheek rises on one side. “And you.” He nods to Jasper. “What are you up to?”
Jasper takes a breath. “Bizzy spoke with another suspect this evening. He admitted to cleaning this place out.”
Leo catches my eye. “I bet he didn’t say a word of it out loud.”
“No, but a confession is a confession,” I say. “Too bad he didn’t confess to the murder. But what he did say was incriminating enough for other reasons. After the killing, Dax looked right at Stormy. She wanted to bolt and he shook his head and thought to himself, Don’t do it. Stick around. We didn’t come this far
