Page 46 of Wedding Cake Carnage
“I believe it. So, someone must have wanted something from her. Money maybe?”
“She didn’t have two dimes to rub together.” She takes another bite.
“But her boyfriend was rich, right?” I glance around. “I mean, maybe it was someone trying to get to him?”
She inches back as if it were absurd. “I don’t think so. It’s pretty mellow around here. Or it used to be before Jana died. It’s been utter chaos ever since with Pierce practically ghosting this place. His head just isn’t in the game anymore.”
“What was she like—that last week before she died? Did anything seem off to you?”
Jackie tips her head to the side thoughtfully. “You know, she was a little quiet, withdrawn, but that’s exactly how she would get when she threw herself into her work. Your sister’s wedding was her biggest event to date. She was really hoping it would help launch her wedding planning career. The poor girl needed a break, and she certainly didn’t get one.”
“No, she didn’t.”
A spasm of light erupts behind her, and a giant white tiger jumps right onto her desk before landing to the floor with a thump.
Jackie’s face smooths out. “Was that just an earthquake?”
“Huh? I didn’t feel anything.” I shoot Beasty a look.
“Get rid of her,” he roars it out low. “She’s hiding something. I can feel it.”
I shake my head his way.
I can’t get rid of her. This is her office.
Geez. He really is ornery.
“Is something wrong?” Jackie leans forward.
“Oh no. I just thought… the rest of the people in the office might want a donut while they’re still warm.” So lame. As if she’s really going to fall for that one.
“Steven’s in the back. I’d best deliver these, lest I eat the whole box. Just a second.” She takes off with the pink box, and my mouth falls open.
“Look on her desk,” he grouses. “Something is there.”
I lean over and do a spastic scan of the vicinity, a couple of legal pads with notes confirming clients, a magazine opened to a page with a picture of a swimming pool, a couple of coupons for the coffee shop down the street, a calendar. I crouch over her desk to get a better look at it and note every brick of time is filled straight through this week and next—and then I see it. A big fat circle with an X through it around the day after the funeral. The words BIA.
Burlington International Airport. That’s right. Pierce is off to Greece to sail around the Mediterranean with his friends.
Jackie comes back, and I fall hard into my seat.
“You’re officially Steven’s favorite person,” she beams.
“They do say the way to a man’s heart is through a warm donut.”
She laughs as she falls back into her seat. “I’ll have to remember that.”
“So, how is Pierce? I bet he’s looking forward to getting out of town.”
She shakes her head. “He’s changed his mind. Actually, I managed to change it for him. He’s not leaving for another few weeks. We still need him around here. I still need him.” She says that last part almost to herself.
“Do you think the rumors were true?” I manufacture a pained smile. “You know, that he was cheating on poor Jana?”
Her eyes enlarge. “Who told you that?”
“You know how Honey Hollow is. It’s such a small town, everyone knows everything. It’s just a shame that Pierce didn’t think Jana was enough.”
She swallows hard as she reaches for a water bottle. “It’s funny, in the beginning I was madly attracted to him. Then Jana started working with his sister on one of those wedding planning gigs when Pierce and I walked in. I saw her eyes light up, his eyes lit up, too, and the rest is history.”