I laugh as I translate it to Jasper. But Fish isn’t so amused. She chases him across the cove and back so fast we can’t keep pace with our eyes, let alone with our feet, so we let them have at one another.
“All right.” Jasper glides his arm around my waist as we walk toward the shoreline. “So you went to Minty’s, I take it? That’s where Michaela works, right?”
“You know where she works?” I bite down on my lip as I look up at him. “I take it she’s on the official suspect list.”
“She argued with Julian last night. Two of the people I questioned last night brought it up when I asked if they saw him having a disagreement with anyone.”
“Just for the record, Detective, I saw that, too.”
“You did?” His brow hikes. “What exactly did you see?”
“They were having an exchange. It looked like it was getting pretty heated. She shoved him in the chest and took off. And when she tried to storm out of the ballroom, McKenna caught her and introduced us. And—Detective”—I give him a playful poke in the chest—“that’s when I was invited to head over to Minty’s. Michaela was there this afternoon.” My gaze falls to the sand. “She mentioned that after her parents died, she and McKenna went to live with their aunt. From the sound of it, the aunt was having a tough time. McKenna went off to school and Michaela was stuck at home. Once she graduated from high school, she started up at Minty’s and never left.”
“Sounds like she found something she enjoys doing. That’s worth its weight in gold. Did she mention anything about Julian?”
“She mentioned that he always said he wanted to leave this world surrounded by friends. And that he got what he wanted.”
“That’s dark,” he says as we pause by the waterline. “Anything else?” he asks as he wraps his arms around me.
“There was something.” A couple walking down from the bluffs at the other end of the cove garner my attention briefly. “I told her I felt bad for her to have witnessed the horrific scene last night, and she agreed, but I heard her say internally that she was glad to be there to see it.”
Jasper inches back. “What do you think made her feel that way? Relationship gone awry?”
“She didn’t imply it. She did mention that Bernie, the girl with the short dark hair who was his assistant last night? She said that Bernie and Julian were together and broke up abruptly. I guess it’s possible that Michaela could have been seeing him, too. She was displaying some strong feelings, that’s for sure.”
The couple up ahead comes into focus, along with a man trailing them by a few feet. And then in a burst, a tiny gray kitten barrels this way followed by a gorgeous black and white husky with determined blue eyes—Misty and Lucky.
“Hey, we know that couple. It’s McKenna and Caleb,” I say as I pull Jasper in their direction.
The husky barks as Sherlock jumps in his path.
It’s Lucky! Sherlock roars with what sounds like something between a bark and a laugh.
And Misty, Fish says as she pounces on the sweet kitten and they begin to roll around in the sand.
McKenna laughs at the sight. “I guess they get along.” She moves in quickly and pulls me into an embrace. “Fancy meeting you two here. But I bet you do this every night.”
Caleb shakes Jasper’s hand. “We just might have to move to the coast.” He motions to the man that’s with them. “You remember Archie.”
Jasper and I say a quick hello to him. Archie has on a ball cap that reads Magic Castle and his dark hair curls up around the sides. His smile is a shock of white against his olive skin and it glows like a Cheshire cat’s smile.
Jasper nods to the bluffs. “Checking out the gazebo?”
McKenna nods. “We were doing exactly that.” She takes my hand. “Bizzy, I love the fall leaves you’ve woven through it. And the pumpkins surrounding it are sheer perfection. They’ll go perfectly with my fall theme.”
“My handyman, Jordy, must have done that. But I’m glad you like it, so I won’t ask him to remove it.”
“Are you kidding?” McKenna leans in. “I’m a fall girl. The more pumpkins the better—and, of course, flowers.”
Caleb slaps Archie on the back. “This guy right here is our point man for all things floral.” And let’s hope he gifts them to us instead of sticking me with a bill.
Archie snickers as if he heard that internal quip.
“I’m a landscaper, but I’ve got connections.” He pretends to shoot Caleb. “And I am overseeing the flowers.” I don’t need to be a mind reader to know Caleb is freaking out about the cost. I’d put him out of his misery now, but I’d much rather let them know on their big day that this one is on me.
“Oh, Archie”—McKenna points my way—“Bizzy is the manager at the inn. I’m sure she won’t mind the pots.”
“The pots?” I lift a smile his way.
“Perfect,” he says. “I was just telling McKenna and Caleb they should create a grand entrance. I’ve got just the perfect pots that would create a majestic feel to transport their guests to another world.”
“That’s a great idea,” I say. “In fact, we have pots right here at the inn. I could have Jordy set a couple out.”
Archie shakes his head. “Please allow me. These are four feet high each and have intricate seaside reliefs impressed around the periphery. I’ll have them brimming with flowers in keeping with the fall bridal theme. And if it’s all right with you, I’d like to donate them to the inn. I’m afraid I can only afford the shipping here. But I can deliver them this week.”
“Wow, thank you,” I say. “The inn would be thrilled to accept them. When you show up, just ask the front desk to find me and I’ll
