Page 49 of Wedding Cake Carnage
“It looks like I’m late to the party.”
Everett rises and greets me with a kiss. “There’s not a party I want to be at that starts without you, Lemon.”
A dark laugh bounces through me. Everett always knows the right thing to say. “What are you doing here?”
“My car is next door. I just finished up lunch with my mother and had her drop me off. And to kill some time, I wandered in here and asked Hook if he’d help me figure out if whoever owned that cabin held more real estate in the area.”
“That’s brilliant.” My cheeks flush with heat as Everett presses his blue-eyed gaze into mine.
Noah glances back. “It’s her father, I’m guessing. And yes, there are three additional properties, but they’re all currently rented out to other people. Everything checks out so far. And I still haven’t been able to get in touch with him regarding Hailey. I’ve left several messages for him to call me back.”
I twist my lips up at Everett. “Any other incidences?”
His eyes flit to Noah and they exchange a quick look.
“What?”
“She sent a bouquet of black roses.” He shrugs. “To Noah’s house.”
“Great.” I close my eyes. “I suppose this would be a good time to mention the threatening phone call I received a few days ago.”
“A few days ago?” Noah growls it out. “Lottie, are you insane? You cannot wait to tell us these things.”
“He’s right.” Everett’s brows dip down like birds in flight. “I’m sorry you have to go through this.”
“Don’t apologize to me.”
“What did they say?” Noah’s tone is demanding and for good reason.
“They told me to die.” I clear my throat as I glance to Hook. “Not to change the subject, but can I ask you a question about Underwood Investments?”
“Anything.” Hook reclines into his enormous leather seat. “I’m familiar with them.”
“You mentioned you thought they were a big operation, right?”
“They’re huge.”
“I thought so. But I was just there and the secretary said it was just the four of them.”
Hook’s cheek twitches as he considers this. Hook is handsome to a fault and a nice guy to boot. I couldn’t be happier for Meg.
“It’s probably a satellite office.”
“I see, that’s probably what she meant.”
We wrap it up and head next door, only to find out Everett’s car still has an hour to go so we head to the pizza place a few yards over.
“Suspects,” Noah says as he picks up a slice of steamy hot pepperoni pizza. “Let’s go over this, Lot. I bet the three of us could tease out a killer if we try.”
I make a face out the window. “I don’t know. This is a tough one. We’ve got Pierce—who is a lowlife snake that I’ve lost all respect for. I would never put my money in his investment company. I bet he cheats on his money, too.”
“Hear that, Noah?” Everett flexes a short-lived smile. “She doesn’t like a cheat.”
I tick my head to the side. “Tracy—Jana owed her money, and Tracy seemed pretty upset about it, too. But she seemed angrier about her brother’s behavior. Jackie—Jana’s best friend. It’s clear she’s still interested in Pierce. But maybe she figures now that Jana is gone she might have a chance?”
“Because she killed her?” Everett takes a bite out of his pizza.
A thought comes to me. “Hey, Jackie seemed to know about Pierce’s cheating when I talked to her about it this afternoon. What kind of a best friend would keep something like that from her?” My mouth falls open. “The kind that wanted to get in on a piece of the action. I don’t think Jackie was Jana’s best friend, after all.”