Page 11 of Wild Escape

JD and I perused the menus. He ordered the blackened mahi, and I went with the stone crab claws. We chowed down and kicked around theories about the cases. I called Brenda and asked her if she had a time of death yet.

“I haven’t nailed it down yet, but a rough estimate is sometime late Friday.”

I caught her up to speed on the investigation so far. She said she’d be in touch when she had something definitive.

After a few drinks, we called it an early night and returned to the Avventura. I took Buddy out for a walk before settling in for bed. The little Jack Russell had plenty of energy to burn off.

My phone buzzed bright and early the next morning. I reached a sleepy hand to the nightstand, grabbed the phone, and swiped the screen. Brenda's voice crackled through the speaker. "I think I may have a motive for you in the Gabby Templeton case."

I peeled open sleepy eyes and scratched out, "Do tell.”

"Gabby was about six weeks pregnant from what I can tell, give or take."

I cringed. "That might be enough for Joshua to want to get rid of her."

"I'll leave you to figure out the details, but that's where I'd start."

I thanked her for the information, ended the call, then pulled myself out of bed. After going through my morning routine, I stumbled down to the galley, threw on a pot of coffee, and started grilling breakfast.

Bacon sizzled in the pan. I cracked eggs and fried them up.

Jack stumbled into the galley a few minutes later with his long blond hair looking like a rat’s nest. We dished our plates and sat on the sky deck, enjoying the morning sun as it cast long rays across the marina. Gulls hung on the breeze, and boats swayed in their slips. It was a beautiful morning.

I caught him up to speed about Gabby.

After we ate, we pulled ourselves together and headed back to campus. I figured a stop by the sorority was in order.

Jack pulled to the curb at 715 University Boulevard. The stunning Georgian mansion housed some of the most desirable beauties on campus. There were worse places to conduct an investigation.

We hopped out, strolled the walkway to the front porch, and I banged on the door.

There was no reply, so I banged again.

Eventually, a bubbly voice filtered through. "Who is it?"

"Coconut County Sheriff's Department. We have a few questions."

A gorgeous blonde pulled open the door, and her eyes flicked between the two of us. "Is somebody in trouble?"

With a tank top, hot pants, and a mischievous look, I’m sure she had plenty of opportunity for trouble.

"No. I'm afraid I’ve got some bad news.”

Concern tightened her face.

“One of your pledges is deceased.”

“Potential new member,” she corrected in a snooty voice. “That’s what we call them now.”

“Did you know Gabby Templeton?”

7

"Not real well," Kennedy said. "But she seemed like a really great girl. We wouldn't have given her a bid otherwise. We don't give bids to losers.”

"When was the last time Gabby was at the sorority house?” I asked.

Kennedy shrugged. "I don't know.”