“The one in Cider Cove, the Country Cottage Inn.”
“Oh, the one with all the Halloween activities.” Any trace of a smile quickly dissipates. Small world.
“Yes, that’s the one. We’re hosting the town’s Halloween Festival, which might explain the reason I’m so jumpy. It’s certainly not business as usual in my neck of the woods. In fact, it’s been downright scary.”
“So I’ve heard. I’m familiar with the venue.” He takes a deep breath as his gaze falls to the floor. “A friend of mine was killed there.”
“You knew the girl?”
Wow, everything about William Helsing is seemingly falling into place.
Hey? Maybe he’ll confess, and this entire case will wrap up this afternoon. Stranger things have happened—like me stumbling upon Annabeth’s long-lost haunted sister.
“I did,” he’s quick to add. “She was a student of mine.”
“I’m so sorry to hear it. I still can’t believe she met with such a violent end. You mentioned you were friends, did she ever say anything about having trouble with anyone? I mean, a horrific event like that couldn’t have just come up out of the blue.”
“It could with Blair.” He slaps the back of his neck as he bounces his brows. “She had a bit of a polarizing personality.”
“Oh? Hard to get along with?”
“No, not that.” He dismisses the idea with a shake of the head. “She was actually very easy to get along with.” Because she was manipulative as the day was long. “Let’s just say she liked to get her way.” I let her get just that for far too long. And look where it cost me? Or nearly cost me, I should say.
“I see.” I nod. “I have a sister who is the exact same way. I guess some people are just born to lure others into their schemes.”
“Schemes?” He tips his ear my way. She’s not one of Blair’s ridiculous Midnight Maidens, is she? “Did you know Blair?”
“Not at all. Like I said, I just run the inn. I did interact with her briefly when she was picking up her ticket.” Here’s my chance. “She mentioned something odd, though, something about meeting her Maidens.” I snap my fingers and do my best to look confused. “Something about midnight. Midnight Maidens? Did she ever mention anything about that to you?”
His eyes widen a notch as he shakes his head. “Nope.” It’s best I steer clear of both my relationship with the deceased and her dicey dinner party dealings. I couldn’t believe what she told me about that little societal farce of hers when she gave me the details. It’s sad to see she was probably recruiting more members that night. Leave it to Blair to be greedy right to the bitter end.
Darn it. He’s not budging. Although he did mention something about her recruiting for this societal farce.
I guess I’ll have to wait until tomorrow night to find out the details.
“Oh well.” I shrug. “It’s just such a tragedy that she had to go so young. I mean, she’ll never have a chance to get married or have children.” I hold up my wedding ring. “Sorry. I just got married, and that’s sort of the lens I’m seeing the world through right now.” That might be true, but it doesn’t mean that I mind steering him to at least think about the child Blair was carrying.
His chest expands as he gazes past me. Blair wasn’t the marrying type—she far better fit the mold of the other woman. I should know, she told me so herself. But what she didn’t tell me was that she stopped taking her birth control pills. Blair was about to become a mother, all right, one that I’d have to take care of for the next eighteen years. That little lying witch was willing to take down my marriage and my bank account all in one fell swoop. I’m not sure what I was thinking giving her the cash, but she took it and she said she’d take care of things on her end.
Ah-ha! He was paying her off to get rid of her and the baby. What a two-timing snake.
“That’s okay.” He shakes his head as if forcibly pulling himself out of a trance. “Congratulations on the wedding.” He offers a sorrowful smile. “My wife and I haven’t always seen eye to eye, but let’s just say something shifted recently and it has me appreciating my marriage in a whole new light.” If I weren’t married, I probably would have flaunted my relationship with Blair. She was young and beautiful, but she was trouble until the very end. And to think I actually considered leaving Stacey for Blair at one point. Good thing Blair and I are over for good. And I don’t regret one bit doing my part to ensure that happened.
I suck in a quick breath, and our eyes lock a moment too long.
There’s a knock on the door, and it’s a student, a young girl with an innocent look to her. Here’s hoping Dr. Feel Good doesn’t strike again.
“Thank you for your time,” I say as I inch my way backward, and a thought comes to me.
“Halloween is the final night of the festival. And it’s the last night we’ll have Blair’s memorial up if you wanted to come by and take a moment to say goodbye.”
He tips his head as if considering the idea. “Maybe I will. Thank you for that.”
The student barrels in past me, and I step outside, taking a second to catch my breath.
Why do I feel as if I just spent some time with Blair Bates’ killer?
I glance back into the office just as the student chucks her backpack to the floor and the commotion causes Annabeth’s blonde twin to give a slow wink my way.
A mean shiver rides through me as I head for the stairs, and I slam right into a tall, vexingly handsome homicide detective that I happen to know on an intimate level.
“Detective
