I turned to Peter with wide eyes, and he gave a solemn nod. Okay. I saw what he meant now by out of commission. I frowned down at the dog, a mix of amusement and pity battling within me.
I crouched down and let out a quiet whimper. I’d say karma is a dish best served cold, but with the sniffles, you probably wouldn’t be able to taste much of it anyway.
She swiveled her head my way and narrowed her dark eyes.She bared her teeth and snarled. I don’t have to taste to still bite!
I smirked but stood back up. There’d be plenty of time for relentless teasing later. The important thing for now was that Peter and I were flying blind on this case. I could see why he’d called me in—my ability to speak to animals would be the only extra advantage we’d have on this one.
“Do you know anyone who might have had a motive to kill Letty?” Peter’s quill scribbled away on the roll of parchment.
Mr. Harrington shook his head, but his wife rolled a wrist. “I can’t think of anyone specific, but I can’t imagine she was a popular girl.”
I shook my head. Real vote of confidence from the mother-in-law.
“Thanks for your time.” Peter gave a polite nod. “We’ll be in touch if we have any further questions.”
They nodded back, and Peter, Daisy, and I headed away from them and the castle, back across the moonlit lawn.
“What’s next?”
Peter jerked his chin toward a young man in a tux sitting alone at a table with a cop standing just beside him. “Let’s go have a word with the groom.”
I nodded. “Do we suspect Chaz Harrington’s political rivals?”
He shook his head. “Not at present. Russo checked into it—they’re both traveling in other kingdoms at the moment, and it’s unclear why they would have targeted Chaz Harrington’s bride, versus the candidate himself, if they wanted to take out an opponent.”
I nodded. “So we’re thinking someone attending the wedding did it?”
Peter nodded. “Exactly. Either that, or the bride triggered her own allergic reaction.”
With thousands of guests in attendance, suicide an option, and Daisy’s abilities on the fritz, I doubted this would be an easy case.
CHAZ
“Mind if we ask Mr. Harrington a few words?”
The cop guarding the redhead nodded at Peter, then moved off among the crowd of murmuring wedding guests.
I pulled out the white chair beside Chaz and plopped down, while Peter and Daisy stood just to my left.
The groom winced, his green eyes dull, shoulders slumped. He’d certainly lost a lot of the overeager smarm that he oozed in the campaign posters plastered all around the city.
“Chaz, if you don’t mind.” He pressed his full lips tight together. “Mr. Harrington’s my father.”
“Sure.” Peter cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak, but Chaz cut him off.
“I just don’t understand how this happened.” He clutched a plaid blanket around his shoulders with one hand and gestured at us with his other. “We warned everyone that Letty was allergic to strawberries.” He raised his red brows. “I even inspected every single ingredient and dish brought into the house over the last week. Had the housekeeper double-check, as well.”
He frowned and half turned toward the steaming mug of coffee on the table in front of him. I took a sniff and itched for my own cup of the earthy, rich brew.
“The only exception were some dishes brought in by that caterer Letty insisted we use.” He tilted his head to the side. “It was interesting food, some kind of Asian thing I think. Letty told me, but I forgot.” He shrugged. “I tried to check all their dishes today, but they seemed, er—” He winced as if searching for just the right word. “—resistant to my efforts. Wouldn’t let me look in some of the pots.”
He shook his head. “But I figured, this was Letty’s choice, so I didn’t push it.” He blinked up at us, eyes wide. “You don’t think that was it, do you? Should I have insisted? Oh goddess, Letty.” He brought a fist to his mouth and bit it. “Letty mentioned that she and the son had been childhood friends. You don’t think he…?”
He let out a shuddering breath and dissolved into gulping tears.
I swallowed, uncomfortable. I mean, the guy had just lost his new bride, but dramatic much? I flashed my eyes at Peter, who shifted on his feet, red around the collar. “We’re, uh, very sorry for your loss.”
Chaz kept one hand over his eyes, sobbing, but lifted his other hand in acknowledgement of Peter’s condolences.
I pulled my lips to the side. “Er… ditto.”
Daisy sniffed the air, her nose twitching delicately, then sneezed.
I shot her a look. What a contribution.
Peter cleared his throat. “We understand this is a difficult time, but I’m sure you’d like to see justice done for Letty.”
Chaz kept his eyes covered but nodded. “Of course.” He looked up suddenly, eyes red. “Wait. Are you officially suspecting foul play?” He sucked in a breath. “I of course don’t want to believe that Letty took her own life by eating strawberries, despite all the evidence pointing that way. But am I to understand the police are of the same mind?”
Peter frowned. “We’re exploring all possibilities at the moment. Can we ask you a few questions?”
Chaz nodded.
Peter grabbed the scroll and perused his notes for a few moments, then looked up. “A few of the guests we interviewed mentioned that Letty looked flushed in the face and seemed to be having trouble breathing at the altar.” Peter let the scroll go, and it floated back into its usual place just over his shoulder. “Could those have been symptoms of her having an allergic reaction? And if so, why didn’t you recognize that in the moment, or try to help her?”
Chaz paled slightly and darted a look toward the wedding guests. I turned and followed his gaze to a strawberry blond in an outrageously enormous hat. Huh. Who was that broad?
Chaz sniffed and
