Which one of them did it?
Which three will have a happy holiday season, and which one will go to prison for life?
Which one indeed.
Chapter 8
Shepherd Wexler’s eyes nearly fell from his head when he picked me up at seven. I left that pneumonia trap of a uniform on but paired it with a heavy wool coat and thigh-high boots—a footwear decision I slightly regretted once Shep asked if I wanted to walk since the restaurant was less than five minutes away.
We opted to eat dinner right there on Main Street at a place called the Gourmet Kitchen where Shep enjoys the garlic buttered grilled steak and shrimp dish, and I nosh on the ever delectable lamb chops with balsamic reduction.
After the first few initial bites of our meals, I decide Holly Wright’s homicide should be introduced as the sparkling dinner conversation it is.
“So how’s the case going?” I ask, trying to sound as if it really didn’t matter to me.
Shep pauses from sawing at his steak to glance up at me with those pale eyes.
“Bowie.” His lips attempt to arc upwards but decide otherwise.
What is it about men who hardly smile that makes me antsy to have them? I blame that pack of mobsters I was raised by for the delusion that tough men are best. But in Shep’s case, I would be right.
“Okay,” I say. “I’ll go first. I stopped by the library today.”
He drops his fork and offers me that slightly disgruntled look while bearing into my eyes.
“Relax, hot shot,” I say. “I had a totally legit reason for being there. Tilly and Lola were in need of some new reading material. And it just so happened that Kaila was filing books in the steamy reads section. So while my bestie and my sister filled their arms with all the books that had pictures of shirtless men on the cover, I engaged in a little chitchat with the librarian. I have news for you, Shepherd. I don’t need those kinds of books in my life. My boyfriend happens to be the hottest best-selling author the world over. Have I mentioned he wields a gun?”
His lips twitch. “I’ll keep an eye out for him.”
I give him a light kick from under the table.
“Nice.” He strums his fingers. “Well, it just so happens that my girlfriend is the hottest, kindest, and perhaps the sassiest woman I know. Have I mentioned she doesn’t wield a gun?”
My teeth graze over my lips. “Maybe we should skip dessert and head straight for your place. Talking about ourselves in third person is making me want to attack you in ways that would be frowned upon in a restaurant of this caliber.” I lean in a notch. “You were talking about me, weren’t you?”
He nods. “Yup.”
“I guess we’re officially official. I’ll be honest, Shep. After that nightmare with Johnny I never thought I’d have another boyfriend as long as I lived. I thought I was done with men and relationships, mostly because I thought I was headed to a women’s correctional facility, but I digress. You’ve made me feel things, you’ve challenged me intellectually, and you charge the deepest part of me in ways that make me feel more alive than I ever have before.” Tears come to my eyes, and I blink them back. “In a lot of ways, this right here, is my first adult relationship.”
He takes up my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Then let’s focus on keeping you alive so you can continue to enjoy it. Believe me when I say, the best is yet to come. I feel the exact same way about you. I think about you constantly. You’re my first thought when I open my eyes in the morning and my last when I close them at night. And when I’m asleep”—the hint of a dirty grin blooms on his lips—“I dream of you. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m all in. I’ve jumped into the deep end with you, Bowie. And because of that, I need you safe. The fact you deliberately went to speak with Carol the other night, and now Kaila, lets me know exactly how determined you really are.”
I’m about to remind him that we also spoke to Mayor Wright together but think better of it.
“Shep”—I press my lips tight in hopes of keeping my emotions in check—“those words you just spoke. They were the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me.” My transmundane status comes floating to the surface of my mind. I had never shared that with anyone before outside of my family—and well, Tilly and Opal once I came to Starry Falls. But, to be fair, I already felt as if I was losing my mind at that point. “I just hope you continue to feel that way when you hear what I have to share with you.”
He inches back. “Of course, I will. Is that why you’re hesitating? Bowie, nothing you tell me can change my opinion of you. I’m already apprised of your past.” His brows hike a notch. “I’m in. No matter what it costs me. There is nothing you can say that can shake me. And if you have something in your past that you’re ashamed of, I just want you to know that I will never judge you for decisions you might have felt forced to make. And if this has something to do with an experimental phase—”
“Oh my goodness.” I knock my head back. “Boy, you’ve really let your imagination run wild, haven’t you? Don’t answer that. There’s a reason you’re a best-selling author, and that imagination of yours has a lot to do with it. And what makes you think this has anything to do with my past? Of which there was no experimental phase, thank you very much.”
Shep tips his head. “Because each time you have one of these episodes, you get this blank expression, your eyes go vacant. It’s almost as if you’ve checked
