Daisy blinked, then her mouth split into a toothy grin, tongue hanging out sideways. I can do that.
I looked up and found Peter watching the two of us, a confused grin on his face. “What’s all this about?”
I shrugged. “Girl talk.” I pointed at the diary. “What happened next?”
“Oh.” Peter scanned the page. “Apparently, Joe didn’t take it well, and stormed off.” He froze, then looked up at me, expression grim. “On his way out the window, Joe told Letty to watch her back—that she couldn’t be too careful.”
Goose bumps prickled my arms, and I grimaced. “Letty was afraid—that’s why she locked everyone out of her bridal suite while she was getting ready.” I tipped my head to the side. “Well, everyone except for Bart, the bat.”
Peter nodded.
I sighed. “Was Joe warning her about the Harringtons… or threatening her?”
Our waitress sauntered up beside us, arms laden with plates of food. Cups of coffee and Daisy’s water hovered magically beside her.
Peter scooped up the diary to make room on the table for the waitress to dole out our dishes. “I’ll keep reading later—see if we find anything else.”
I nodded and took a sip from the striped straw of my milkshake. Yum. I closed my eyes for a moment, savoring the icy-cold rich chocolate. Just the pick-me-up I’d needed, especially combined with the earthy, hot coffee.
Peter grinned a little, watching me. I’d missed that grin.
I swallowed. “I think we need to go have a word with Joe after this though.”
His grin fell, and he nodded grimly. “Definitely.”
15
STRAWBERRIES
After we finished at the diner, I led Daisy and Peter to my neighborhood in the Darkmoon Night Market district. I knew Joe’s parents’ restaurant and had eaten there a handful of times.
A bell tinkled as I pushed the door open to the tiny space. A few dark-haired men and women, who looked like they were probably family members, sat at a few of the tables, ledgers in front of them. One woman rocked a crying baby. I nodded my hellos, but they all just stared as Peter and Daisy entered behind me.
Though the place was tiny and dingy, the rich, meaty aromas smelled delicious. Despite having just eaten, my mouth watered, and I itched to get a few servings of that pork adobo behind the glass of the front counter. Probably best not to eat from a place that might have poisoned our victim. I swallowed and eyed the stew, oil bubbles coating the surface. It looked so good, though.
Joe’s parents stood behind the counter, his dad holding the ladle, ready to dish up food, his mom behind the till. They sighed as they recognized us, then turned in unison toward the swinging doors that no doubt led to the kitchen and cried, “Joe!”
Peter and I exchanged looks, and a moment later Joe strutted out, wiping his hands on his apron. “What?”
His mom pointed at us, and he rolled his eyes when he took us in. “Whatever it is, can we go do this outside?” He raised his dark brows. “Cops are bad for business.”
A few moments later, we all crowded together in the tiny alleyway out back. A twisted metal fire escape dangled overhead, rattling slightly in the strong winds, and rats scurried in the debris. I crinkled my nose—unlike the delectable smells inside the restaurant, out back it reeked of trash and old fish.
Joe folded his arms. “What’s this about?”
Peter held up Letty’s diary. “You tell us. Seems you tried to win Letty back, she rejected you, and then you threatened her.”
I scooted closer to Peter as rain fell around us—he sheltered us both, plus Daisy, with a bubble spell.
Joe shook his head and sighed. “This is total detritus, man. I didn’t threaten Letty, I was warning her.” He jabbed a finger at us. “I should’ve been more specific, that I was worried that bottom feeder Chaz or his family would hurt her, but at the time, I was just angry that she couldn’t see that for herself.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Why would you think that the Harringtons would harm her?”
He took a sharp breath, then blew it out in a huff. His brows pinched together and he looked genuinely pained. “The night before the wedding, I found this outside the restaurant door.” He drew his wand, and in a flash, a small basket of fresh strawberries and a note hovered in front of Peter and me.
Joe paced as Peter and I exchanged wide-eyed looks. The strawberries smelled fragrant, though they were small and still on the vine, as though they’d been picked wild. Peter snatched the note out of the air and unfolded the parchment. I leaned close to read over his shoulder.
Take her out. You know what to do.
Joe kicked a crate out of the way, and it banged loudly into a metal trash can. He paced back toward us. “And there was a sack of merkles beside it.”
Peter’s eyes blazed. “Is this your confession?”
Joe scoffed. “What? No, man, I didn’t go through with it.”
Rain pattered against our magically protective bubble, coming in sideways. I frowned. “Well, Joe, she died of a strawberry allergy, and you were jealous and rejected, so…” I flashed my eyes at him. “Letty even thought you were threatening her.”
He stalked closer, the rain flattening his dark hair to his head, eyes wild. “I still loved Letty. I wouldn’t have done that to her.” His nostrils flared. “And I didn’t put anything in the food.” He jabbed a finger at Peter. “Your tests will prove that.”
Peter grew grim. “We’ll see about that.”
I let out a heavy sigh. As much as everything pointed to Joe, I had a hard time seeing him killing Letty. He could’ve just done it that night
