Wicked Delight

by Lily Harper Hart

  “It does open up another avenue of investigation,” Ivy noted.

  Brian shifted his eyes to her. “How so?”

  “Maybe someone wants to be a television star,” she suggested. “I mean ... maybe someone here thinks she has the inside track on becoming Éclair’s replacement.”

  Brian’s eyes automatically moved to Maisie and Ava. “You don’t think ... .” He left the question hanging.

  “I don’t think they’re smart enough to pull it off,” Ivy replied hurriedly. “They may want to be the center of attention, but there’s no way they could’ve foreseen this. They might be willing to take advantage of the current situation, but I don’t think they set it up.”

  “I agree with Ivy,” Jack said. “Neither one of them is smart enough to do this.”

  “I agree with Ivy, too,” Jordan added. “She’s beautiful and smart.”

  “You’re starting to bug me,” Jack warned. “She’s with me.”

  “Oh, calm yourself.” Jordan offered up a dismissive wave. “You’re easy to get going, but that’s a distraction we don’t need. I’m honestly interested in finding out who killed Éclair ... if only because I’m a total busybody.”

  “He is,” Blaine agreed. “I want to help for the same reasons.”

  “I don’t suppose either of you fellas know who is primed to slip in and take Éclair’s spot, do you?” Brian asked.

  They shook their heads.

  “No,” Jordan answered after a beat. “I suggested Ivy do it. She would definitely shake up the show and make it interesting to watch. She declined.”

  “Ivy?” Jack’s mouth dropped open. “She’s engaged.”

  “I told them that.” Ivy patted his arm and snickered. “Calm down. Do you really think I would be interested in that?”

  “No.”

  “That’s why she would be the perfect solution,” Blaine said. “You have no idea what’s about to come. These women are going to get vicious because there’s only one spot and all of them want it.”

  “Including, perhaps, a killer,” Brian mused.

  “That is the rub,” Blaine agreed.

  Six

  Jack and Brian spent almost two hours interviewing the contestants, which wasn’t exactly a winning proposition. None of them knew Éclair — other than Waltrip, who met her a time or two in passing — and none of them were watching her around the time she disappeared.

  “You must have seen her,” Jack pressed Kip Kensington, the sole heir to a local oil fortune. “She was one of the only females present,” Brian added. “She had to be the center of attention.”

  “You would think,” Kensington agreed. “The thing is ... I wasn’t really here for her. I mean, I planned on going all out for our date and everything, but she wasn’t exactly a prize. The prize was being on television. I mean ... these dating shows never work out for the couple at the end.”

  “Yeah, I’m hearing that a lot.” Brian straightened as he flipped his attention to his partner. “I have no idea what to do here. This entire thing is messed up.”

  “What was your first clue?” Jack asked dryly, his gaze flitting over to where Ivy was hanging around with Jordan and Blaine.

  “Oh, knock that off,” Brian admonished, shaking his head. “She’s not doing anything and if they’re doing something, it’s only because they know it irritates you.”

  “I didn’t say anything.”

  “You don’t have to. It’s obvious you’re getting worked up. The one guy, the one to her left, he’s gay. I don’t know if you’ve picked that up, but he’s been spending all his time looking at you and not her.”

  “Who? Blaine?” Kip had obviously been listening because he shifted so he could stare at the group in question. “He’s definitely gay. He and Jordan have been friends for years ... although not like naked friends or anything.”

  “Thank you for that tip,” Jack deadpanned. “I don’t understand. If he’s gay, why would he want to be part of a straight dating show?”

  The look Kip shot Jack was withering. “I already told you. No one was here for Éclair. Everyone is here for the exposure. The right exposure can make or break a career.”

  “Yeah, but this is Michigan,” Brian argued. “What kind of career are you going to have in Michigan?”

  “Some say Michigan is the new California.”

  “No one with a brain.”

  “I ... think I shall go over there.” Kip seemed anxious to get away from Brian and Jack. “If you need me, I’ll be around until they announce what they’re doing with the show.”

  “We figured as much,” Jack said. “Have fun doing ... whatever it is you enjoy doing.”

  Kip flashed a thumbs-up. “Thanks.”

  Brian waited until he was gone to express his opinion. “This case bites.”

  Amused despite himself, Jack arched an eyebrow. “Tell me how you really feel.”

  “I feel that this case bites. I mean ... look at these people. They’re all vapid and worried about image. Not one of them paid attention to our victim. I mean ... not one of them cared.”

  “Someone cared,” Jack countered, rolling his neck as he spared another glance for Ivy. She was laughing at something Blaine said. “She seems to have bonded with them, huh?”

  Brian followed his gaze. “If you start going crazy, I swear, I’m going to lock you in the closet at work and not let you out until the day of the wedding. I mean it.”

  “I wasn’t trying to be a pain,” Jack said hurriedly. “I just ... she’s relaxed around them. She’s having a good time.”

  “I think ‘good time’ is subjective. She’s making the best out of a bad situation. I also think they’re feeding her information. She seems to be as big a hit with them as they are with her.”

  “Yeah.” Jack dragged a hand through his dark hair. “It’s almost time for lunch. Maybe we should make another round, ensure we’ve talked to everyone we can, and then get some lunch.”

  “That sounds like a plan to me. Who do you want to start with?”

  “Waltrip,” Jack answered without hesitation. “There’s something about his story that doesn’t jibe.”

  “I’m right there with you. He’s either the dumbest man in the world or hiding something. I can’t decide which.”

  “Let’s find out.”

  “HEY.”

  Ivy glanced up at a familiar voice and smiled as her brother Max joined the small group at the picnic table.

  “Hey.” She couldn’t tamp down her confusion. “What are you doing here? Jack didn’t call you to pick me up, did he?”

  “Why would Jack call me?” Max shook his head. “I came because I heard what happened on the radio. I wanted to check for myself, especially since your name was mentioned in the broadcast.”

  Ivy’s heart sank. “It was? What did they say?”

  “Don’t get worked up. The bulletin just said you were with the group of volunteers who found Éclair Sheridan’s body. I didn’t even know who she was until I looked her up on the internet.”

  “Yeah, well ... I don’t want to speak ill of the dead, especially when this particular person was subjected to a brutal death. I’m going to take the high road.”

  “Oh, you’re trying to grow,” Max teased, poking her side. “Tell me how that goes for you.” He turned his attention to Blaine and Jordan. “And who are you guys?”

  “I’m Blaine Crawford.” The eager man immediately stuck his hand out for Max to shake.

  “Max Morgan.” More confused than worried, Max slid his eyes to Ivy. “Is there something you want to tell me? You haven’t traded Jack in for a younger model, have you?”

  “Ha, ha.” Ivy rolled her eyes. She was used to her brother’s sense of humor, although she didn’t always find she laughed at the same things. “Jack is over there.” She pointed to where he stood questioning an animated Waltrip.

  “He doesn’t look like he’s having a good time,” Max mused. “Who is he talking to?”

  “Mil
es Waltrip.”

  “Ah, the Ferrari dude. Yeah. I saw him on television. He’s in all those commercials with his sister and I swear they look as if they want to do it.”

  Ivy made a horrified face. “Why did you have to put that thought in my head?”

  “I don’t know. It popped into mine so ... . What can I say?” Max smiled at her, secretly relieved that she appeared to be okay. He’d been worried over recent weeks, especially since Ivy ran into an old — and dead — witch in the woods surrounding her cottage. He thought his sister had reached the limits of her magic, a word he wasn’t comfortable using, until a ghostly vision led her to answers on a previous missing person’s case. He was still coming to grips with that and wasn’t sure he was ready for Ivy to dive headfirst into another investigation so soon after the last. “You know I like to make you suffer.”

  “You are a good brother when it comes to that,” Ivy agreed, grabbing the notepad and bringing it forward. “You’re familiar with the hotel. Do you know where the cameras are located? Jack and Brian are going to interview Maureen, but she has an appointment this morning and won’t be there until this afternoon.”

  “I’m not sure where the cameras are,” Max admitted, confused at Ivy’s conversational shift. “Why is that important?”

  Ivy explained what happened, hitting the high points but leaving out the gruesome details. When she was finished, Max sensed she was being purposely coy about the state in which Éclair’s body was discovered. He was almost positive she had something to do with the discovery — and that she was hiding pertinent details — but he knew better than to press her in front of witnesses.

  “I don’t exactly spend a lot of time at the hotel,” Max pointed out. “I have a house.”

  “Yeah, but you used to,” Ivy argued. “Five years ago you went through that period where you decided to only hit on tourists so you wouldn’t be forced to spend more than a few days with a date and you were caught there a few times.”

  “Don’t say ‘caught’ like that. Caught makes it sound as if I was doing something wrong. Anything I did there was between two consenting adults.”

  “And I don’t dispute that. The fact remains, though, that we’re trying to figure out if the hotel had cameras or not.”

  Max heaved out a sigh. His sister was dogged when she wanted something and she had no intention of easing her questioning until he answered. “When I was spending time there, only the front door was monitored. That’s why I sweet-talked one of the maids into giving me a key to the back door so I could come and go without anyone being the wiser.”

  Ivy wrinkled her nose as Jordan and Blaine snickered. “You’re gross.”

  “I’m an undercover lover,” Max corrected. “Besides, that was a year ago. You can’t hold something against me that I did when I was in my early twenties. How would you like it if I held stuff you did when you were twenty-one against you?”

  Ivy didn’t back down. “I never got in trouble when I was twenty-one. Back then, I was just getting started on my nursery. Dad and I were spending our weekends together coming up with a business plan.”

  Max rolled his eyes. “You always were a goody-goody. I hated that about you. Thankfully Jack has come around and lightened you up.”

  “He doesn’t seem the lightening-up type to me,” Jordan argued. “In fact, he seems like the opposite of fun.”

  “You’re just saying that because he keeps giving you the evil eye,” Blaine challenged. “If you’d stop hitting on his woman, he’d be friendlier. Look how he’s warmed to me.”

  Confused, Max glanced between the two men. “I think I’m missing something.”

  “You’re missing a lot, but I’m going to let these guys catch you up.” Ivy gathered the notebook. “I’m heading over to see Jack and talk him into lunch. I want to get caught up on the case.”

  “I’m assuming you don’t want us to go with you,” Jordan teased. “Is that because Jack feels threatened by me?”

  “It’s because I want answers and Jack is never going to give them in front of you,” Ivy countered. “You can stick with Max. He’s a fountain of gossip and he’ll be able to fill you in on any Shadow Lake tales you really want to know.”

  “Does Shadow Lake actually have interesting tales?” Jordan was dubious.

  “You would be surprised.”

  WALTRIP WAS ON HIS FIFTH ROUND of denials when Ivy crashed the interrogation party.

  “I don’t know what you want me to say to you.” His tone was brittle as he glared at Jack. “I didn’t see her behind the dumpster. I didn’t think to look back there, if you must know the truth. I’m not familiar with the streets.”

  Jack pressed the tip of his tongue to the back of his teeth, annoyed. “Yes, well ... I don’t consider Shadow Lake ‘the streets.’” He used the appropriate air quotes. “However, you were looking at the side of the dumpster. That’s why we’re suspicious.”

  “I wasn’t looking at the side of it. I was simply ... perusing the area.”

  Jack’s eyes flashed with an emotion Brian recognized well and he decided to cut off his partner before things got out of control.

  “Thank you so much for answering our questions, Mr. Waltrip,” he said hurriedly. “You can rejoin your friends. We might need to talk to you later, but you’re done for now.”

  “Thank the maker,” Waltrip muttered, immediately turning on his heel and stalking away.

  “Why did you do that?” Jack complained, his temper coming out to play. “No, seriously. I had more questions to ask.”

  “He did it because you were about to blow your top,” Ivy volunteered, earning a reprimanding look for her efforts. “Don’t even.” She wagged a finger. “I agree with him. If you push that guy too far, he’s going to lawyer up — and with really expensive attorneys — and once that happens, you’re going to lose access to him.”

  “Well, thank you so much for your opinion, honey,” he drawled, his anger ebbing when she pinned him with a look. “Come here.” He pulled her forward for a hug, held tight for a full twenty seconds, and then released her. “I see you decided to take a break from your new boyfriends.”

  “Oh, please. You’re not jealous.” Ivy rolled her eyes. “They’re perfectly harmless ... and they have really interesting gossip. Something tells me you’re going to be happy I made friends with them before this is all said and done.”

  “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

  “I guess,” Ivy agreed. “It’s lunchtime. I thought I would buy you guys a meal in exchange for you catching me up on what’s going on. I’m out of the loop.”

  Jack slung an arm around her shoulders and pressed a kiss to her temple. “I think that can be arranged.”

  “I agree,” Brian said. “Although ... not if you guys are going to be mushy. I don’t think I can take the mush.”

  “Suck it up,” Jack ordered. “I need my Ivy fix after spending hours with the self-obsessed centers of the universe.” He gestured toward the other dating show participants. “Seriously, I’m not sure any of them have souls.”

  “Well, I’m starting to think they were raised in a different world from us. They were privileged, no doubt, but I think we have it better.”

  Jack’s smile was indulgent. “I know I have it better.”

  “Ugh.” Brian scuffed his shoe against the pavement. “Gag me.”

  “Let’s get lunch,” Ivy said. “I want you to tell me what you have and then I’ll share what I’ve managed to uncover, although it isn't much.”

  “That sounds like a plan,” Jack said.

  IT ONLY TOOK TWENTY minutes for the threesome to exchange information. They finished just in time for their food to be delivered.

  “So, that’s it?” Ivy couldn’t help being disappointed. “I thought the medical examiner would be able to tell us more.”

  “We were hopeful, too, but he needs time to put things together,” Brian said. “It’s a complicated procedure, especially since it looks like she was
alive in that alley for some time before she passed away.”

  Ivy felt sick to her stomach as she pushed lettuce around on her plate. “I don’t like thinking about that.”

  “Me either,” Jack agreed, rubbing his hand over her leg under the table. “We can’t go back in time and stop that from happening, though. All we can do is find out who did this and go from there.”

  “Okay, where do you suggest we start doing that?”

  “We?” Jack’s eyebrows hopped. “I thought you were going back to work.”

  “Oh, well ... I thought I might help you.” Ivy averted her gaze. “I mean, we make a good team and all.”

  “We make a great team,” Jack conceded without hesitation. “That doesn’t mean you can go with us to talk to Éclair’s family. We have to give notice.”

  “Oh.” The sick sensation was back in Ivy’s stomach. “Where do they live?”

  “Charlevoix,” Brian replied. “They live in one of those huge mega-mansions. The father is on his fifth wife or something. I’m not a hundred percent sure where Éclair’s mother is because her father was listed as her ‘in case of emergency’ contact. We’ll have to start with him.”

  “And you can’t come with us for that,” Jack added. “It wouldn’t be professional.”

  “Definitely not,” Ivy agreed. “I don’t expect you to take me. I thought maybe you were going to do something else, toss Éclair’s room or something. I can find something to do to entertain myself. Heck, maybe I’ll stumble across an avenue of investigation you guys haven’t thought about. That would be helpful, huh?”

  “Why can’t you go to work?” Jack whined. “I thought that’s where you were going earlier.”

  “It was and then I got distracted.”

  He stared at her for a long beat. Then he remembered the question he wanted to ask her earlier but couldn’t because they had an audience. “Did you see Éclair’s ghost in the alley? Is that what led you to that spot?”

  Brian pretended he wasn’t listening, instead finding something fascinating to stare at on the wall.