sheepishly. “I’ve been thinking about it, and some things aren’t adding up.”
“Like he used the bathroom,” Orphie said with a sarcastic laugh. “That’s a sure sign of murder.”
“I think it is,” I said.
I might not be a detective, but I’d had some luck helping to solve the recent crimes in Bliss. Will knew this and paid heed to my instincts. “What’s not adding up?” he asked.
How could I put it without sounding as if I was reaching? I racked my brain, finally giving up. Maybe I was reaching, but I ran through my thoughts anyway. “His stomach was upset. He was breathing hard. And he was extra ornery.”
“That was probably his normal level of orneriness,” Orphie said, but I shook my head.
“No, Jeanette told me he’s not usually as bad as all that. Something had set him off.”
Will nodded, as if he understood. “Maybe he was hungry. When I need to eat, I’m as grumpy as all get out.”
“Or maybe he just didn’t feel well,” I suggested.
Orphie started, her eyes widening as if she’d remembered something. “Didn’t he say he felt sick?”
I nodded. He had. I’d chalked up the comment to how he felt about being stuck in Bliss for the photo shoot, but maybe he’d really been sick.
Orphie stared. “Wait a second, Harlow. You don’t think—”
I shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know what I think. I just know something doesn’t feel right.”
“Cassidy, you have a wedding to put on,” Will said, not looking convinced that my theories had any merit. “Don’t be getting involved in this guy’s death.”
He was right. And practical. And I knew he wanted me safe and sound and not mixed up in another murder.
The nerves stayed firmly coiled in my chest, but I tamped down my worry while we chatted. After a few minutes, Orphie checked her watch. “I’ll go for a walk,” she said.
“I can go with you,” I said.
“No, no. I’ll give you two lovebirds some time together. I’ll meet you back at the house, Harlow.”
Will put his elbows on the table and leaned closer to me, winking. He liked Orphie’s plan. With good reason. He and I hadn’t had much time alone lately. He’d been traveling for his job as city architect, and I’d been wrapped up in my collection and Mama’s wedding. “Can you find your way back?” I asked her.
She waved away the question. “Of course. I’ll probably be there before you.”
I laughed. That almost sounded like a challenge. “I don’t think so.”
She smirked. “Uh, Manhattan, remember? I can walk a ten-minute mile . . . in stilettos.”
Slight exaggeration, but probably not by much. I liked to stroll, but Orphie kept a rapid pace, and even did half marathons, something I’d never even thought about doing.
We agreed, both of us uncertain if the models would show, if the photo shoot would go on, or what else might happen that afternoon. “See you in a little while,” I said as she put Maximilian’s book in her oversized bag.
“Yep, in a little while.” She threw up her hand in a quick wave, her high heels clicking against the bakery’s floor as she walked out, leaving Will and me alone, the pall of death still hovering over us.
Chapter 7
Will left to go back to work and I walked home, waving to my friend Josie through the window of Seed-n-Bead, the bead shop she owned as I passed. The shop was a-buzz with customers, so I kept walking, lost in thought. The fact that Orphie had taken Maximilian’s book still bothered me. Was she a kleptomaniac? Had she discovered some secret about our former boss? Or maybe she was a woman scorned. Oh no. Surely she hadn’t had an affair with him?
I strode down the sidewalk of Mockingbird Lane, heading for my house. I passed under the arbor that was the focal point of my front yard. The wisteria was leafing, fuzzy pods forming and sprouting from the branches, swaying as I walked under it and along the flagstone path. Midori was at the front door, one hand on the doorknob.
“Like he used the bathroom,” Orphie said with a sarcastic laugh. “That’s a sure sign of murder.”
“I think it is,” I said.
I might not be a detective, but I’d had some luck helping to solve the recent crimes in Bliss. Will knew this and paid heed to my instincts. “What’s not adding up?” he asked.
How could I put it without sounding as if I was reaching? I racked my brain, finally giving up. Maybe I was reaching, but I ran through my thoughts anyway. “His stomach was upset. He was breathing hard. And he was extra ornery.”
“That was probably his normal level of orneriness,” Orphie said, but I shook my head.
“No, Jeanette told me he’s not usually as bad as all that. Something had set him off.”
Will nodded, as if he understood. “Maybe he was hungry. When I need to eat, I’m as grumpy as all get out.”
“Or maybe he just didn’t feel well,” I suggested.
Orphie started, her eyes widening as if she’d remembered something. “Didn’t he say he felt sick?”
I nodded. He had. I’d chalked up the comment to how he felt about being stuck in Bliss for the photo shoot, but maybe he’d really been sick.
Orphie stared. “Wait a second, Harlow. You don’t think—”
I shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know what I think. I just know something doesn’t feel right.”
“Cassidy, you have a wedding to put on,” Will said, not looking convinced that my theories had any merit. “Don’t be getting involved in this guy’s death.”
He was right. And practical. And I knew he wanted me safe and sound and not mixed up in another murder.
The nerves stayed firmly coiled in my chest, but I tamped down my worry while we chatted. After a few minutes, Orphie checked her watch. “I’ll go for a walk,” she said.
“I can go with you,” I said.
“No, no. I’ll give you two lovebirds some time together. I’ll meet you back at the house, Harlow.”
Will put his elbows on the table and leaned closer to me, winking. He liked Orphie’s plan. With good reason. He and I hadn’t had much time alone lately. He’d been traveling for his job as city architect, and I’d been wrapped up in my collection and Mama’s wedding. “Can you find your way back?” I asked her.
She waved away the question. “Of course. I’ll probably be there before you.”
I laughed. That almost sounded like a challenge. “I don’t think so.”
She smirked. “Uh, Manhattan, remember? I can walk a ten-minute mile . . . in stilettos.”
Slight exaggeration, but probably not by much. I liked to stroll, but Orphie kept a rapid pace, and even did half marathons, something I’d never even thought about doing.
We agreed, both of us uncertain if the models would show, if the photo shoot would go on, or what else might happen that afternoon. “See you in a little while,” I said as she put Maximilian’s book in her oversized bag.
“Yep, in a little while.” She threw up her hand in a quick wave, her high heels clicking against the bakery’s floor as she walked out, leaving Will and me alone, the pall of death still hovering over us.
Chapter 7
Will left to go back to work and I walked home, waving to my friend Josie through the window of Seed-n-Bead, the bead shop she owned as I passed. The shop was a-buzz with customers, so I kept walking, lost in thought. The fact that Orphie had taken Maximilian’s book still bothered me. Was she a kleptomaniac? Had she discovered some secret about our former boss? Or maybe she was a woman scorned. Oh no. Surely she hadn’t had an affair with him?
I strode down the sidewalk of Mockingbird Lane, heading for my house. I passed under the arbor that was the focal point of my front yard. The wisteria was leafing, fuzzy pods forming and sprouting from the branches, swaying as I walked under it and along the flagstone path. Midori was at the front door, one hand on the doorknob.
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