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Robby hiked his shoulders and deposited the cardboard carrier near the cash register. “According to Ashley Katz, there are tons of reasons. For starters, Cemetery Girl didn’t like the way he handled her legal case. And he wasn’t exactly quiet about the bill she contested. What about building up the drama at that stupid mystery party and things got out of hand?”
Stupid? As Jane’s mouth opened and closed, he radiated glee, thinking he’d hit some kind of target inside her heart. Then he pivoted on his heel and left. The bell over the door tinkled, but it didn’t drown out his soft laughter.
Oh! That man annoyed her. “I need to have a conversation with Ms. Katz,” she said, pushing the words through clenched teeth. Had the reporter printed another story? Had posts shown up online via the app? Might be time for a deep dive.
“If she’s spouting those kinds of lies, she’s not worth your effort,” Lucy assured her.
Jane’s chest puffed up. What a surprisingly fun cohort in anti-crime—also less and less of a suspect and more and more of a, well, friend. Shelikedthe loan officer. Really, really liked her.
First a boyfriend. Now a girlfriend.How had life gotten so rich with promise?
Trepidation suddenly prickled the back of her neck, as if the curse were kicking up a fuss.Uh oh. She gulped. Something terrible was going to happen soon, wasn’t it?
CHAPTERTEN
“Never forget. Second place is first loser.”
Tiffany Hotchkins, heiress and widow
The next morning, Jane completed initial rounds, taking notes about plots in need of tending, and returned to the cottage. In the kitchen, she set up a feeding station for Rolex and Cartier. The two acted like long lost friends, eating side by side and sneaking nibbles from the other’s bowl, even though they munched on the same thing.
She snapped a few photos and filmed a few videos. No more than ten each. Perhaps closer to fifty. And okay, yes, she might have taken too many, because Rolex glared at her as if she were seriously ruining his vibe.
“You have no idea how blessed you are. The Ladling curse only affects the women in our family,” she told him. The little darling could fall ears-over-paws for Miss Cartier without having to worry he’d lose her one day.
Sighing, Jane padded to the back office to key up today’s headline for the Headliner. Had Ashley Katz written another article?
Is There A Grim Reaper In Aurelian Hills?
Pressing her tongue to the roof of her mouth, Jane read on. Ms. Katz rambled about the previous two murders being linked to the third, all but warning people to stay away from the Garden of Memories.
Anger heated Jane’s blood. A chat with Ms. Katz shot to the second spot on her to-do list.
Once she calmed, she texted several of those breakfast photos to Lucy with the caption, “Look at our beautiful babies!”
Despite the early hour, Lucy replied right away.
Cartier’s Mom:A match made in Heaven!!!!! I’m hearing wedding bells!
Eighteen heart emojis accompanied the words.
Cartier’s Mom:Maybe I could come over later to see them in person? And you, of course!
Jane:That would be lovely. How about 7? I’ll whip us up something for dinner.
She would also invite Conrad, Beau, Fiona, and Sheriff Moore. Trick, Holden, and Isaac, too. All the members of Team Truth. She could gauge Lucy’s reaction to Holden and finally ask why the loan officer hadn’t mentioned their run in. There must be an innocent explanation. Either that, or Jane’s new friendship was soon to crash and burn.
Cartier’s Mom:See you then!!
She leaned back in her chair behind the antique desk, thinking about her next move. A call to Hagger. The number one item on her to-do list. Well, shetriedto think. A metal filing cabinet mocked her.
You should have digitally logged my contents ages ago.
“I know,” she muttered. Instead, she’d solved two murders and flirted with the like of her life. Kind of seemed like a fair trade to her.
“I’ll get to you when I get to you,” she promised. “Now leave me alone. I need to focus.” With a deep breath, she picked up the Garden of Memories landline and phoned the law offices of Hagger, Hagger, and Miller.
As soon as Ms. Butterfield issued her standard greeting, Jane said, “Yes. Hello. I’d like to make another appointment with Mr. Hagger. Devin. Mr. Devin Hagger.”
