Page 44 of Wedding Cake Carnage
“Well, maybe they made up? Couples go through rough patches. Maybe this was theirs.” She points to the rest of the list. “Besides, it looks like her business was picking up steam. She was really gearing up for that bridal expo.”
“You’re right. I think maybe we should go.” I take all the to-do lists I can find from the trash and shove those into my bag as well. “You were right, Keelie. The trash can prove to be a treasure trove of goodies.”
“You know what else is a treasure trove of goodies? The sock drawer and under the bed.”
“You take the bed and I’ll take the sock drawer.” I head over to her dresser, and sure enough the top drawer splits in two between her unmentionables and socks. I quickly rummage through the sock portion and come up with nothing but a pair of mismatched socks with unicorns printed on them. I do a quick swish through her unmentionables, and my hand hits something hard. I pull up a tiny jewelry box.
“I think I found something.” I open it up and gasp. “Keelie, this looks like an engagement ring.” We stare down at the enormous emerald cut diamond as it glistens and winks our way.
“Don’t you think it’s odd that she didn’t wear it to the bridal expo that day?”
“Huh. Maybe this is something else? Another gift her boyfriend gave her? He’s apparently loaded.” I put it back where I found it, and we take off.
I drop Keelie off at the Honey Pot and head on down to Ashford.
I have Jana March’s journal, albeit the juicy bits removed, her to-do lists, which have more line items for a twenty-four-hour period than an average person expects to get done in a month, and an itch to discover if her ring finger was bare.
I have a feeling there’s a certain detective that might just help me scratch that itch.
Jana March’s killer should be getting very nervous.
I’m closing in on you, whoever you are.
You can run, but you can’t hide.
I’m coming after you.
Chapter 16
The Ashford Sheriff’s Department is a white boxy building that welcomes me with its blissfully air-conditioned arms. It’s so boiling hot out, I’m sure I lost ten pounds walking from my car to the building in perspiration alone. Inside, it holds the scent of burnt coffee, the floors are white linoleum, and the walls echo the same snowy hue. I follow the hall to my right and give a quick knock on Noah’s office door.
He looks up over his glasses before plucking them off. “Lottie Lemon.” His dimples dig in deep at the sight of me and his eyes soften as he takes me in. “Please tell me you come bearing sweet treats. My stomach is rumbling something fierce.”
I wince. “Sorry. I sort of came over in a hurry.”
He points to the seat in front of his desk and I take it. Noah’s suit jacket hangs from a hook on the wall, and I can see his gun holster strapped around his shoulder as it circles to his back.
Looking large and in charge, Noah is handsome and sexy as anything behind his big black desk. Sometimes I wonder what life would have been like if Britney wasn’t in the picture. Would Noah and I have been married by now? I’d like to think so. And if we were, I’m sure this would quickly morph into a conjugal visit.
“Where’s Everett?” He glances to the door as if fully expecting to see him.
“Having lunch with Eliza. He’s having his windshield fixed later today, too.”
Noah tips his head to the side. “Any lions or tigers or bears with you this afternoon?” He does a quick visual sweep of the room before his eyes meet up with mine again, this time inspiring a sweet smile.
“It’s just me. I’m sorry if that’s a disappointment to you,” I tease.
“Are you kidding? You just managed to turn my day around with a smile. So what’s up? Are you hungry?”
“I’m starved.”
“Good. We’ll go to lunch.”
“That sounds perfect, but first would you mind if I went over a few things with you?”
“Shoot.”
And shoot I do. I tell Noah about Keelie’s surprise—the search of Jana March’s bedroom, the diary with its missing pages, the to-do lists, and the emerald cut diamond the size of a quarter.