He wore a satchel and flipped through some papers and envelopes stacked high on a table near the door. He didn’t look up as we crept closer. At my side, Daisy stalked toward the man, her lips curled back to reveal white, sharp teeth.
“Hope I’m not interrupting. Just picking up your delivery today since—” He glanced up at us, did a double take, then jumped. He dropped the packets he’d been holding to the floor and they scattered. “Oh!” The whites around his eyes shone against his dark skin. “Who are you guys?” His gaze darted around the space. “Where’s Bim?”
Peter lifted a palm as the man edged backward toward the open door to the hallway. “Wait.”
The guy slipped on an envelope and nearly fell, but caught the doorframe and righted himself.
Peter tucked his wand back into the pocket of his trousers and held up both palms. “I’m Officer Flint; this is my partner, Daisy, and our associate, Jolene.”
The man’s heaving breaths slowed and his shoulders dropped, though he watched us warily as he edged back into Bim’s studio. As he came closer, a gold name tag glinted on his tan button-up uniform: Ronnie Johnston.
I frowned. I’d heard that name before. “Hey—do you courier for Turk Molino’s business, too?” I looked up at Peter. “What’s it—?”
He nodded at me and turned to Ronnie. “Darkmoon Outlet, Inc.?”
“Oh. Heh.” Ronnie ran a hand over his buzz cut and grinned, revealing a bright smile. “Yeah, I do. You know them, too?” He lifted a palm and looked between Peter and me. “I courier for a lot of people in the area.” He grinned down at Daisy, who slowly advanced on him.
“Oh hey, girl. Aren’t you just the cutest—” He reached a hand out to pet Daisy’s head. “Ah!” She barked and he lurched back, eyes huge.
Guess I wasn’t the only one Daisy took issue with. I bit my lip as I looked Ronnie over. He edged away from Daisy, then crouched down and fumbled with gathering up all the large black envelopes he’d dropped when we startled him.
He had access to Turk’s place, where Bim had been killed, and frequented her boudoir studio. He had opportunity and means—but motive? I looked up at Peter, my brows raised in a question and he gave me a slight nod to proceed.
I stepped closer and crouched beside Ronnie. I grabbed a few of the big, flat packets. “Unfortunately, you’ll be doing a little less business in the area now.”
Ronnie lifted his huge eyes to my face. “What do you mean?”
I watched closely for his reaction. “Bim’s dead.”
He gasped and covered his mouth. “Oh my gosh.” His big dark eyes darted to Peter. “That’s terrible. Oh my gosh.” He shook his head, gaze far away. “Poor Bim.” His eyes focused on me. “What happened?”
I rose to my feet and he did the same, though he gripped the table by the door to steady himself.
Peter strolled up to us. “She was murdered.”
“No!” Ronnie covered his mouth with both hands and shook his head. “Oh my sea goddess.”
Peter and I glanced down at Daisy, who whined and wagged her tail. He’s being genuine.
I pulled my lips to the side. There went my “the courier did it” theory. I hiked a brow. Plus, why would he come by the studio to pick up the delivery if he knew she was dead?
With trembling hands, Ronnie went back to gathering envelopes and moved to place some in his satchel.
“No.” Peter lunged forward, palm out, and Ronnie froze. “Thank you for your dedication, but that’s evidence now.”
“Oh, right.” Ronnie blinked and shook himself. “Of course.” He replaced the packets on the table in a messy pile. He nodded a few times. “I just—I just can’t believe this.” He grew still, then jerked his head up, eyes round. “She’s not—her body’s not—she didn’t die in here, did she?”
He edged backward toward the door.
Peter shook his head. “No. We’re just here to learn about her. Anything you can tell us?”
Ronnie paused in the doorframe, clearly freaked out by the idea of being anywhere near a dead body. “I—I didn’t know her well. She was always nice to me.” He shrugged.
Peter nodded. “If you think of anything else.” He slid a hand into the breast of his uniform and withdrew a card, which he handed to the courier.
Ronnie took it and looked it over, then nodded at each of us. “I should—” He hooked a thumb under his messenger bag and jerked his head toward the hallway. “—get back to my rounds.” He flashed a faltering smile, then dashed out. His quick footsteps thudded down the hall and faded.
Peter nodded to himself. “He seemed pretty upset about Bim’s death.”
I grinned. “I think he’s just got a weak stomach for dead bodies.” As I fiddled with the corner of one of the black envelopes, a thought occurred to me. “Hey.” I snatched up the envelope and tore it open. I reached inside and, just as I’d expected, pulled out a thin booklet full of black-and-white boudoir photos.
I flashed a smile at Peter as I shook them. “I’ve seen this same envelope before.”
Daisy’s ears pricked.
“You have?” he cocked a brow.
I nodded and bounced on my toes. “Uh-huh. Under Millie’s pillow.” I’d spotted it during my recon mission to the bathroom.
A grin slowly spread across Peter’s face. “Which means she was lying when she said she didn’t know what Bim was doing at the studio last night.”
I nodded. “Which means she’s probably lying about something else, too.”
27
MILLIE
The next morning, Peter and Daisy picked me up bright and early—rude. At least he had a coffee cup in his hands. I thanked him with a grunt as he gave it over, the steam curling into the gray, misty sky as gulls and ravens cawed overhead.
Stay away from my nest!
You stay away from my nest!
“You’re sure you saw the same envelope under Millie’s pillow?”
I nodded as I
