Dandelion Dead by Chrystle Fiedler Page B

are, I mean were , the same way.”
    I glanced at Ivy. “I guess that comes from being twins. She must miss Amy so much, even more so than a regular sibling.”
    â€œThey loved each other, for sure. Even though they didn’t always get along.” David sipped his wine. “They were just very different people—personality-wise, the way they acted, even the way they dressed. Ivy’s more uptight, Amy was more easygoing. It rubbed both of them the wrong way at times.” He patted his jacket pocket. “I’m going outside for a smoke. I’ll see you in a bit.” He squeezed my hand, smiled, and headed for the door.
    Jackson came over to me. “How’s it going, McQuade? Learn anything new?”
    â€œNot really. Besides Gerald, and his father and brother and whoever is sending those messages, he can’t think of anyone who would want to hurt him, but I’m not sure if he’s being completely honest about his love life or his marriage. I’m going to talk to Ivy next.”
    â€œOkay, but go slow. You don’t want them to know exactly what you’re up to.”
    â€œBut I’m investigating for them.”
    â€œYou’re helping Simon, a friend. We really don’t know David, and Ivy, especially, all that well.”
    I kept his warning in mind as I made my way across the room to Ivy, who had finished eating and was talking to Gerald. But as I walked over, Gerald stepped away.
    â€œI’mvery sorry about your loss,” I said. “This must be a really difficult time for you.”
    â€œIt’s a terrible shock. I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do without her.”
    â€œI just wanted you to know that Simon asked me to help out with the investigation.”
    She arched an eyebrow. “I don’t understand. I thought you were some kind of holistic doctor and ran this health food store, certainly not a detective.”
    â€œActually, I do both. I got involved in amateur sleuthing when my aunt Claire Hagen was murdered, and I’ve solved several cases since then, with Jackson’s and Simon’s help.”
    â€œReally?” She gave me a look as if she didn’t believe me.
    I ignored her tone and plowed on through. “Besides Gerald and his family, does David have any other enemies?”
    â€œI think it’s one of the rival vineyards, which is what I’ll tell the police when they interview me.”
    â€œSo you and David are good, I mean, after your fight yesterday morning?”
    She stared at me. “Eavesdropping is an ugly habit, Willow. But if you must know, my husband and I are just fine.”
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    By ten o’clock Monday night all the guests had gone home—along with Merrily, who was exhausted. Jackson was upstairs with the dogs, and Lily and I were left alone to finish the cleanup. This wasn’t a coincidence.I’d sent her uncle Wallace home as well, since I wanted to talk to her about David Farmer.
    Merrily had cleaned up the kitchen before she left, and Lily and Wallace had cleared and reset all the tables in the café, so the only thing left to do was to move the rest of the furniture on the lawn back inside.
    We were setting up the last table on the porch when I said, “So what’s going on with you and David Farmer?”
    Upon the mention of David’s name, Lily, startled, dropped four settings of silverware on the floor. As it clattered, she sucked in a breath. “How did you know?”
    â€œI’m a pretty good observer and I noticed that you two didn’t seem very comfortable around each other. In my experience, that usually means something is going on or something’s over.”
    She went pale, and I pushed back a chair and helped her sit down. “It started when we began planning for the party for Pure. Remember, I had to go up there a lot?”
    I sure did. There was plenty to do to get ready,