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“I think I have a better idea. Let’s bring up the loan and the power that Meade was holding over our friend Natasha.

Which lets her know we’re not looking for dirt.

” Meg bit her bottom lip as she thought about the conversation she was about to have.

“Hopefully, my work has been good enough that she doesn’t fire me on the spot. ”

“She’d be a fool if she did.” Dalton reached over and squeezed her hand. Then he held it for a second too long.

She took a breath and glanced down at his hand as he released hers.

“We’re here. Here goes nothing.” He pulled into the driveway.

Lilly Aster stood on the steps, watching them. She waved them over, then looked back at the truck. “You didn’t bring Watson?”

“No. He’s been going a lot. I thought he could use a break,” Meg explained as they followed Lilly around the house to a pathway that led to the back. “Where are we going?”

“I wanted to get outside since it wasn’t raining. I’ll be locked in my office for hours today once the release interviews start. The good news is the book’s doing well. The bad news is the book’s doing well, so Sarah has all these requests for interviews. The life of an author, right?”

As they cleared the house, the trees opened up, and Meg gasped. It was the same view that she’d seen from the office windows, but somehow, being outside in the middle of it made it that much more beautiful.

“You have a lovely spot here,” Dalton said.

Lilly nodded and motioned to the table with chairs that sat near the Olympic-sized pool with a built-in hot tub. “Let’s sit here. I had Andrea set up coffee and baked goods. I had a feeling that this wasn’t about work.”

After they all took a seat at the table, Meg met Dalton’s gaze, and he nodded. He was letting her take the lead in the discussion. “It’s not about work. I love my job. I want you to know that first and foremost. And I don’t want anything I say to jeopardize it.”

“Meg, I’m not a wilting flower, even if people tend to treat me like one.

You want information. About Robert Meade’s death.

” Lilly poured them all coffee. “It’s a dark roast with a little bit of chocolate flavoring.

I don’t know how they do it, but I haven’t used cream or sugar in years since I found this. It’s here, though, if you want.”

Meg lifted her coffee cup and took a sip. Lilly was right. The coffee blend was amazing. “Well, we do live in the land of coffee, right?”

Lilly laughed and broke open a muffin, then buttered it as it gave off steam in the cool air. “So true. I enjoy having you around, Meg.”

“Thanks. I hope that doesn’t change.”

Lilly took a bite of the muffin and moved the basket toward Dalton. “Eat. I take it you’re Meg’s emotional support guy in this meeting.”

His eyes widened at her quick understanding of the situation as he took a muffin. “I am. Thank you.”

“Go ahead, Ask what you came to ask.”

Meg swallowed. Nancy Drew would have been much cooler in this situation. “Where were you when Robert Meade was killed? It looks like you’re the one with the most to gain from his death.”

Lilly finished another bite of muffin. “Does it look that way? I’d fired the man.

Yes, I’d found he’d been stealing from me for years, but I’d already talked to my attorney, and we were making arrangements to sue.

We’d put liens on his cash accounts, which was probably why he came over that day to talk to me.

He never found me. I was at a rental I have on the other side of the island. ”

Meg frowned. “You use a rental? Rather than working in your office? I don’t understand. It’s beautiful, and you have so much room here.”

Lilly glanced over at Dalton, then reached over and patted Meg’s hand. “I love how na?ve you are. It’s not a bad trait. It’s quite beautiful.”

“I don’t understand,” Meg stammered. She was missing something. Something that, judging from the blush on his face, Dalton had already figured out.

“I have a rental that I use when my ex-husband comes to visit. It sounds strange to say it aloud, but I’m having an affair with him.

He comes once or twice a week, and we go to the rental.

” She glanced over at the dock where Meade was killed.

“I was there all day, and when I came back, Jolene had found Robert in the water. Josh and I were together all day. He’s already talked to your uncle. ”

Meg sipped her coffee. That was the one thing she hadn’t expected.

“Your aunt told me that you and your friends were mystery sleuths when you were young. I suppose now you’re looking into Robert’s death?” Lilly finished her muffin and glanced over at the basket. Then she shook her head and turned back to Meg, sipping her coffee instead.

“We are, but we’re not getting very far. Every time we turn around, we find one more person that wanted him dead.” Meg smiled at her boss. “I’m glad you’re no longer on the list.”

Lilly’s watch alarm beeped. “So am I. But now I’m afraid I need to get inside. My stylist and hairdresser will be here soon, and I need to jump into the shower. Please be careful looking into Robert’s death. The man had some unsavory friends. A fact I’ve also shared with your uncle.”

Meg started to stand, but Lilly waved her down.

“Stay and finish your coffee. This view is too beautiful not to enjoy. I have so few visitors to share it with. Once this book is launched, you and your friend should come back for dinner one night. I’d love to hear about how your investigation is going.

Good luck.” With that, Lilly rose from her seat and headed back down the pathway to the house.

After she was out of earshot, Meg turned to Dalton. “I didn’t expect that.”

“Me neither. She’s charming. I can see why you enjoy working for her.” Dalton leaned back and studied the view. “And she’s right about the view from this spot. It’s amazing.”