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Rolex stretched, clearly not wowed by her newest suggestion.
She snapped her fingers. “I’ve got it. We can go as characters from a heartwarming Christmas movie. The cookie baker and the real estate developer. The hometown star athlete who returns home and the ex-girlfriend who’s losing her father’s candle shop. They’re all fated mates, right, so—”
Blink. Rolex-speak for get serious.
Okay, moving on. “Why don’t we go as Pops and Grandma Lily? I can dress in a gold lame halter top and Conrad can wear a belted cable-knit sweater. Although in this heat, he’ll pass out before the second course is served.” Though she supposed she could nurse him back to health…
She shook her head, and an idea struck. Grabbing her phone, she typed her response to Tiffany: Very excited. No dietary restrictions. Thank you for the information. Does salt and pepper count as fated mates? See you soon.
Surely Conrad would have no problem attending as a condiment. He could wear all black, and Jane could wear all white. Problem solved.
She ignored Tony and sent a message to Conrad: Just found out there’s a theme tonight. A THEME!!! Don’t worry, I’ve come up with the perfect solution. You’re gonna love it.
The more she typed, the more intense her excitement became. Conrad dressed up, even the slightest bit… Yes, please.
Agent Spice: Call Tiffany and cancel.
Oh, no, no, no. As his “sweetheart,” Jane deserved certain privileges.
Jane: But it’s Fated Mates, Conrad. FATED MATES!!!! Sounds fun.
Agent Spice: Cancel.
Jane: Think of it as role playing. Did I mention you’re gonna love my idea? I’ll give you a hint—you’re gonna be a little spicy and I’m gonna be a little salty.
Agent Spice: Really. Cancel.
Jane: Aren’t you eager to spend an evening with me??? But okay, fine. I guess I can ask Beau to accompany me instead. And yes, this is me manipulating you, bending you to my will. Beau and I will look amazing as a superhero and his unobtainable crush, don’t you think?
Agent Spice: I’ll pick you up at 7.
Her heart leapt. In costume?
Agent Spice: Yes. I’ve got it handled.
Jane: As a superhero???? Stop being mysterious, Officer Detective Special Agent Ryan. We’ve got to match, remember?
Agent Spice: I’ll be a hardened detective, and you’ll be my most elusive case. I’ll need to study you in great detail.
Wheezing her next breath, she fanned her cheeks. What was this guy doing to her?
Jane: I think I can manage that.
In fact, no shopping was needed. She already had the perfect outfit. Instead of an “elusive case,” she’d go as an ace reporter willing to leave no gravestone unturned—thank you, Conrad—to find all the clues and help the big bad detective solve the case.
When her stomach ceased fluttering, she texted Beau to remind him of the promise he hadn’t yet given to babysit Rolex and watch for those plotting, thieving Waynes.
Beaudyguard: I’ll be there, and I’ll bring my friends.
They’d arrived in town? Oh, how wonderful. First, she’d met Conrad’s brother. Now she’d get to interact with Beau’s military pals. The more the merrier. But that reminded her. This whole mess started because she’d wanted to set Beau up with a nice girl. While one of those girls had died, another was still out there. Why hadn’t Eunice Parks ever returned Jane’s calls?
Perhaps a visit was in order?
After washing up and completing the morning rounds, Jane (finally) typed up the sixteen nicknames with known identities, along with the list of attendants from Digging for Gold, then clicked her mouse to print. She added the photos of Ana’s purse contents to the queue. Then Tiffany and Jake’s selfie. As the ancient machine chugged along, slapping ink line by line, Jane recreated the journalist’s colorful sticky notes that detailed the crimes she’d posted on the Headliner.
Once all the pages finished printing, she spread everything on the kitchen counter. With a flick of her wrist, she opened Truth Be Told. Time to refine her thoughts, suspicions, suspects and plans, so she would know what to (stealthily) ask Tiffany and Jake tonight—while also preparing a meal for Beau and friends as a thank you. Chicken and dumplings should do the trick. And a few sides. No more than half a dozen, probably. And maybe a pan of banana pudding. Also bread pudding in case anyone hated bananas. Probably a whiskey and butter cake too.
Rolex stalked across the counter again and again, making sure to sit on a new picture or paper with each relocation. All the while, Jane alternated between baking and studying. Stir batter. Tape theory notes to the large rolling white board she borrowed from the office. Chop vegetables. Stretch lines of colored yarn between note cards or pictures to connect suspects with evidence or even one another. Each color represented a different speculation.
Though she nixed the shovel key and mini hammer, the bagged panties made the board. Conrad believed Ana had carried them for overnight surveillance, but Jane wasn’t convinced. What if Ana had been seeing someone? A re-try with Robby… a fling with Blake… or perhaps someone else. And what about Jake, who she’d encountered at Digging for Gold?
