Page 26 of Bobbing for Bodies

I waste no time in picking up a platter of fresh oatmeal cookies with adorable iced spider webs over the tops and head over to Micheline, but Lily Swanson gets in my way.

“The sign in the front says you’re hiring, and I want in.” Her large, glossy, green eyes look as if they’re about to pop with anticipation. “Rumor has it, that hot judge keeps hanging around. And, seeing that I’m newly single”—so another rumor is true, she’s up and dumped Travis—“I can use a handsome man with a hefty paycheck.”

I can’t help but frown. I’m about to shut down the gold digger in front of me when—although I have no doubt she’s attracted to Everett—she is right, he is a rather hot commodity—Keelie bubbles her way over.

“Yes!” Keelie threads her arm through Lily’s. “The bakery is running off fumes from the Honey Pot, and we so need our staff back. Can you bake?”

Lily shudders as if the concept offended her. “No, but I can run a register like it’s nobody’s business.”

“You’re hired.” Keelie doesn’t waste a moment as she whisks her away. “I just need you to fill out an application, and then I’ll assign you some hours.”

So much for discerning the right people to populate the bakery with.

Micheline whips on her jacket, and I quickly dash in front of her before she has the chance to leave. I just have to know if she’s aware of any girlfriend Hunter might have had who happened to be a mother. I’ve been racking my brain trying to think of anyone in Honey Hollow who fits the description but come up with blanks.

“Oatmeal cookie?” I hold the platter in front of her, and she’s quickly overcome by the heavy scent of cinnamon and vanilla.

“My God, these smell divine.” She snaps one off the tray and indulges in a moaning bite. “So good. I’d say you really should sell these, but you beat me to it.” A tiny dimple imbeds itself into her cheek as she grins.

As much as I loathe to ruin her good mood, Hunter’s murder investigation is growing colder by the moment, so I dive right in. “Hey, I heard a funny rumor about Hunter, and I wondered if you heard it, too.” I wrinkle my nose while playing up the chagrinned angle. “Was he dating someone with a kid? I mean, it’s no big deal, but Hunter and I were pretty close, and he’s always liked kids, so I wondered why he never mentioned it.”

Her naturally pasty complexion turns a bright shade of pomegranate, and I can’t help but think I’ve stumbled upon something big. Either that or I’ve just shocked her so badly there won’t be enough spider web iced oatmeal cookies in the world to revive her.

“He”—a croaking sound emits from her throat as if she were deciding which lane she wanted to get into—“he was seeing someone.” She closes her eyes a moment and shakes her head as if she couldn’t believe she had to go there—as if she couldn’t believehehad to go there. “It was stupid. Some stripper from Leeds.”

I suck in a quick breath, trying my best to think on my feet. “The one from Red Satin?”Brill! Suddenly, I’m thankful for my minute knowledge of all things scantily clad.

“No”—she bats her eyes to the ceiling as if trying to remember the name and, dear God, I pray she remembers the name—“it was Girls Unlimited.” Her lips purse with disgust. “Anyway, that was a bigger deal than he intended it to be. You might even say it was the nail in our casket.” She winces. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be disrespectful.” Micheline’s whole affect shifts, and suddenly she looks crestfallen. “I’d better get going.” She snaps another cookie off the tray. “Thanks for being such a good friend, Lottie.”

“No problem.” A good friend who pumps a grieving girl for info. Some good friend I am.

Lainey comes up, and I manufacture a smile for my sister. “Are you free tonight?”

“Yeah, why?” Her brows dip as she sinks her suspicion my way.

“You might want to let your hair down and leave your reading glasses at home. We’re headed to a strip club in Leeds.”

Naomi and Collette Jenner scuttle over with their eyes agog.

“I’m in.” Naomi doesn’t miss a topless beat.

“Me, too,” Collette gruffs it out as if she’s angry about it before stalking to the door. “Naomi, text me with the details. I’ve got a board meeting all afternoon, and God knows I’ll need to unwind.” A salacious grin rides up her cheeks. “I’m all for an appetizer before I sink my teeth into Judge Baxter’s neck.” She bares her fangs as she speeds into the chilled autumn air.

“She’s quite the vampire,” Lainey notes. “So, what’s with the strip club? Two men not enough for you, lady?” She shakes her shoulders in a suggestive manner. Good Lord, Lainey really is in training to become my mother.

Keelie shuffles over, nearly tripping over a chair. “Did someone say strip club? Dear God up in heaven, you are not going without me. You’ll need a tour guide who speaks the language and knows where to put the dollar bills!”

Lainey chortles. “I didn’t know you speak banana hammock?”

The three of them share a titillating laugh.

Little do they know there won’t be a banana hammock in sight at Girls Unlimited. I may not know which stripper Hunter dated, but I do know she’s got a kid. That should narrow the field significantly.

I have a feeling I’m about to split this case wide open with a stripper pole.

Noah bounces through my mind. I know for a fact he wouldn’t want me digging back into the investigation, but then we’re technically not speaking so he doesn’t really have a say.

Keelie and Naomi screech with laughter at something Lainey says, and I cringe.