Sherlock lets out a friendly bark as they pass us. Keep up the good work! There’s bacon in it for you, buddy! In fact, I’ll help you eat it.
Lucky and Misty take their rightful places just as the music changes tempo.
McKenna appears like a vision in white and strides down the aisle with a pom of red roses in her hands.
Tears come to my eyes. She’s so beautiful, she’s stunning. Her butter yellow hair is swept up, and her dress is gorgeous with its sweetheart neckline and full skirt. And once she takes her place next to Caleb, they look like the quintessential wedding cake toppers.
Jasper lands a kiss just shy of my lips. I love you, Bizzy Baker. You’re going to make a stunning bride, and I can’t wait to see you walking down that aisle. You’re everything to me. I can’t wait to make this official, to bind ourselves as family, to begin our happily ever after.
My chest bucks with emotion as I look up at the gorgeous man by my side.
“I can’t wait either.”
The ceremony goes off without a hitch, and soon Caleb and McKenna are pronounced man and wife. They share a sweet kiss and run down the aisle with Lucky by their side and Misty in McKenna’s arms.
The entire wedding party migrates back to the patio outside of the café where tents and tables have been set up and furnished with appetizers and refreshments.
The forensics department called Jasper and he had to step away for a moment, so I head off toward the cake table to help Emmie with the arrangement.
The two of us put the last-minute touches on the cake table by sprinkling rose petals around the periphery. The table itself is set off to the side with its three-tiered cake covered in lavender fondant. Emmie really outdid herself with this one.
Lucky and Misty are busy running in circles with Sherlock and Fish, much to the delight of the guests.
Emmie laughs at the sight herself. “Would you look at that? An entire train of children is trying to capture them.”
A tiny moan evicts from me. “And I secretly hope this doesn’t end in disaster. They came within inches of the table we have set up for the wedding party.”
Emmie giggles. “If it does end in disaster, I’m pretty sure that photographer will capture it all. Speaking of which, I’ve already asked one of them if she could be here for your wedding, and she said it would be an honor. Not only that, but she said she’d only charge you half because you’ve already given her so much business here at the inn.”
“Ooh, in that case, I’ll make sure she gets even more business here at the inn. Thank you, Emmie. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I glance around as the wedding party mingles in the crowd, and I can’t help but wonder if the killer is mingling in the crowd as well.
“You’ve got that killer on your mind, haven’t you?” Emmie shakes her head. “Don’t answer that. I can tell. I’ve been reading your mind for years now.”
“You have?” I all but shriek at her. My God, what if Emmie has shared my strange gift all along?
“Yup.” She nods. “Your face is practically an open book. You can’t hide what you’re thinking. It’s what I love about you.” A throaty laugh emits from her. “Can you imagine if I really could read your mind? But then, you’re so sweet I’m sure you have nothing but innocent thoughts. Be glad you can’t read mine.” She gives a sly wink. “I’m not so innocent.” Leo blinks into her mind, and just like that, her thoughts turn into a jumble of white noise as she takes off for the café.
Emmie may not feel so innocent, but she’s a far cry from a killer.
I scan the crowd and spot Michaela standing near a small table set up next to the inn, and I don’t hesitate heading over.
“Michaela!” Her name comes out bright and cheery, and yet once I spot what she’s looking at, any bright and cheery affect I may have had goes right out the window.
Set in front of her, on a small round table, sits an eight-by-ten framed photo of Julian Fletcher with the letters RIP beneath it in a handwritten note. He’s dressed in a tuxedo and is looking into the camera as if he were trying to hypnotize the viewer with that enthralling look in his eyes.
Michaela nods. “My sister thought it would be a nice touch, seeing that he died at their party.”
“That was very nice of her,” I say. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m just glad it’s over.” She glances past me. “You’re not going to say anything to McKenna, are you?”
“No way. Not on her wedding day. Not on any other day either. That’s entirely up to you. But—the offer still stands. I will be there for you if you want me to.”
She closes her eyes a moment and nods. “Thank you, Bizzy. I thought about it last night, and I think I will wait until after they get settled from their honeymoon like I had mentioned. So expect a phone call.”
“I’ll be waiting.” That strange closet Jasper and I stumbled upon the other night comes to my mind. “Michaela, did Julian ever strike you as a dangerous individual? I mean, did you ever feel unsafe around him?”
A soft laugh bucks from her. “Aside from being the mastermind behind the Collective, no, not really. He didn’t even try to score a date with me.” She shrugs. “He was far too into Bernie,
