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“Yeah. He was moping around, kicking himself for what had happened in the kitchen.”
Leo raised an eyebrow. Sasha waited with her pen poised over her paper.
“What happened in the kitchen?” she prompted.
“Oh, not our kitchen, this kitchen. Rex sent Paul up to fetch some package he’d had delivered here earlier in the week. Candied orange peels, liquor, and bitters for this fancy drink he always makes. The Carlisles were storing them in their kitchen. I have no idea why Rex didn’t just get them when we checked in.” She paused and laughed without humor. “That’s not true. He probably wanted to be able to order someone out into a snowstorm to act as his errand boy to remind us all who was in charge.”
“And he sent Paul?”
“Right. Rex has been pushing Paul around ever since they were roommates in college. I don’t know how Paul puts up with it, to be honest. I’d have snapped a long time ago.”
Her hand flew to her mouth as she realized what she’d said. “I didn’t mean—”
“So Paul barreled into the kitchen, crashed into Hatty, and burned her?” Leo sought confirmation.
She shook her head. “Yeah, he feels terrible. I know he does. He was so mad at Rex for ordering him around that I’m sure he stormed through those swinging doors and smacked right into her.”
“Would you say Paul’s a hothead?”
A furrow creased Tessa’s forehead. “I don’t know if I’d use that word. But he’s an act first, think later person. I guess you’d say he’s impulsive. Very impulsive.”
“Impulsive enough to pick something up and swing it at Rex’s head?” Sasha asked softly.
Tessa bit down on her lower lip and stared at the table, shaking her head. After a moment, she looked up and met Sasha’s eyes. “I honestly don’t know.”
CHAPTER12
As Sasha and Leo walked Tessa back to the parlor, Bodhi rushed out from the office and waylaid them.
“Hank needs to talk to you,” he said, “I’ll take Tessa back to the others.”
“Oh, we can drop her off first,” Sasha hedged.
“I know you want us to stay in pairs, but Tessa and Iaretwo people even though neither one of us knows how to kill someone with our bare hands.” He flashed Tessa a look. “I’m making an assumption here.”
“Assume away,” Tessa told him dryly.
He turned back to Sasha and Leo. “We’re walking approximately a hundred feet. We’ll be fine.”
Bodhi was right, and Sasha knew she was behaving like an overprotective mother. In her defense, she and Leo had protected these eight people during their disastrous wedding. She certainly didn’t intend to lose one of them during the anniversary party.
“Okay,” she said grudgingly. “But stay alert.”
Leo said, “Thanks for talking with us, Tessa.”
“I’m not sure how much help I was, but sure.” She managed a wan smile and then headed off with Bodhi.
As Bodhi and Tessa neared the parlor, Sasha and Leo slipped behind the reception desk and into the office.
“What’s up?” Leo asked, rapping a fist on the door frame.
“I’ve got good news.” Hank stepped out from behind a mahogany ball and claw foot writing desk, waving a molded plastic device at them.
“Is that a walkie-talkie?” Sasha asked hopefully.
“No, that would be great news. Way to put a damper on my good news.”
“Sorry. Go ahead.”
