Page 43 of The Body in the Backyard

Chupacabra slung a duffel bag over her muscled shoulder, threw them a salute, and jogged out of the room.

“You’re here about my Griffy Wiffy, aren’t you?” Bella pouted, still snuggling the dog. “Someone tried to hurt Daddy, didn’t they?”

“I can’t tell if she’s talking to us or the dog,” Nick said.

“Bella, do you know of anyone who would want to hurt Griffin?” Riley asked, cutting to the chase. She was starting to feel claustrophobic…and exceedingly annoyed.

Bella’s eyes were wide and guileless. “No, of course not. Everyone loves us.”

“Do cartoon birds help you get dressed in the morning?” Nick asked.

Bella batted her spider-leg eyelashes. “Huh?”

“Someone left a threatening note, shot at, and then pushed Griffin down the stairs,” Riley said. “Not everyone loves him.”

Bella lifted her shoulders in a dainty shrug. “It must be jealousy. Not everyone can be as wonderful as we are.”

“Yeah, sure. Everyone’s jealous. Who pays Chupacabra and your Staff guy?” Nick asked.

“Griffy takes care of all those pesky bills.”

“Pretty sweet setup. Big house. Fancy clothes. Personal trainer. You don’t seem too concerned about someone trying to take out your meal ticket,” Nick pointed out.

Bella gasped. “Are you insinuating thatIhad something to do with poor Griffy’s troubles?”

“Nothing personal. Rule number one: always look at the spouse,” Nick said.

Bella’s face went cagey for a split second before smoothing back into youthful innocence. “We’re not married yet. If I’m after Griffin’s money, why would I throw it all away before I’m officially Mrs. Gentry?” she asked haughtily.

Riley’s nose twitched. Something was incoming from her spirit guides.

“Maybe the prenup’s not favorable? Or maybe he just chews his Cornish hen too fucking loud in the mornings. People try to kill people for a whole lot of crazy reasons.”

“We don’t eat Cornish hen for breakfast, silly,” Bella said.

The pink and blue clouds were rising up in Riley’s head. She took a steadying breath and let it happen. She could see Bella in a spectacular wedding dress. Pieces of paper flitted in front of the image. A legal document of some kind. Phrases popped out at her.Infidelity. Financial penalty. Bella was back, smiling smugly and pointing at a weather map of the state of Florida. The dog panted happily off camera in a Louis Vuitton tote.

“Just level with us, Bella. Do you know who’s after Griffin?”

Nick’s words brought Riley back into her body.

“No.” Bella’s expression darkened, and she pointed a very sharp fingernail at them. “But I want you to find them and make them pay.No oneis going to stop our wedding.”

“I assume what you meant to say is no one is going to hurt your fiancé,” he said pointedly.

She immediately transformed back into her bubbly weather girl self. “Of course, silly! That’s the most important thing.”

12

10:32 a.m. Friday, November 1

“Chupacabra Jones has got to be the coolest name ever,” Brian said as he reviewed his copy of the list of suspects.

“I know, right?” Nick agreed, frowning down at his phone. Riley sensed testosterone-fueled enthusiasm and wondered what he was up to.

“We’renotnaming the baby Chupacabra,” Josie said.

“Let’s at least put it on the maybe list,” Brian insisted.