“Tell me what you can about Brittany ‘Petal’ Blake,” Detective Bernard said.
“I know next to nothing about the real person,” I replied. “I can only tell you about the facets she showed me in the brief time I was around her.”
When Gabe came upstairs after the detectives and coroner arrived, he had instructed me only to answer what I knew. He told me embellishing could hinder the investigation. I believe he compared it to adding fancy fruit and crap to a perfectly good cocktail. What the fuck did a garnish have to do with a murder investigation? Anyway, I nodded and paid attention because this was his area of expertise. It wasn’t like he came into the salon and told me how to color someone’s hair. Gabe said I could share impressions with the detectives because those can be very helpful, but I needed to make it clear they were my thoughts and not facts.
“Fair enough,” Detective Holden said. “Tell me about your interactions with the deceased.”
I had no idea if they’d already interviewed Gabe, and I knew it didn’t matter if they had. I needed to repeat every single thing I remembered. I bet they didn’t expect me to divulge as much as I did. The style of her gown or the way she styled her hair probably weren’t relevant to the murder investigation, but I told them anyway. Their eyes widened when I got to the part where I discovered the two couples were either swingers or were two halves of a bigger whole. Both detectives refrained from commenting about anything salacious and just maintained professional demeanors as they walked me through my interactions with the deceased and everyone else staying at the inn. Detective Holden seemed happy to allow Detective Bernard to take all the notes while he kept his hawk-like eyes trained on me. I didn’t squirm or wiggle beneath his intense gaze because I had nothing to hide.
“What was said in the group before Gabe went downstairs to investigate?” Detective Bernard asked. I figured he was asking everyone to see if any of us picked up on anything unusual.
“George joked about his wife yelling because the bar was closed or something silly, but it wasn’t that kind of scream. We all seemed to realize who else was missing at the same time.” I shivered as I recalled the tormented, heart-breaking sounds Georgia made when she found Brittany’s body.
“William ‘Henry’ Blake went to your room with you instead of returning to his room?” Detective Bernard asked.
“Yes,” I said, nodding. “He was extremely distraught and wanted to follow Gabe downstairs. I promised Gabe I would stay with Henry to try and keep him calm and out of the way. I didn’t get the impression George would be very helpful.”
“Did anyone else leave an impression on you?” Detective Holden asked. “Any comments or reactions that seemed out of place.”
“No villainous laughs,” I told them. “Everyone genuinely seemed shell-shocked.”
“Except for Dylan Howard, who you know as George,” Detective Bernard said, looking at his notes. “Would you say he seemed more annoyed about having his sleep interrupted than concerned about why his wife was screaming?”
“It was the impression he gave me,” I replied honestly.
Detective Holden’s eyebrows lowered slightly like he was working out a problem, but his expression quickly returned to a neutral mask. “What did William Blake, or Henry, say once he was inside your suite?”
“Mostly it was incoherent mumbling as he rocked back and forth on the sofa beside me. He’d covered his face with his hands and alternated saying ‘she’s okay; she’s fine’ and ‘this can’t be happening’ until Geneva came upstairs to tell us Brittany had died.”
Detective Bernard sat up straighter in his chair. “Geneva Louderback only said Brittany had died? She didn’t say she was killed?”
“That’s right. She didn’t tell us Brittany was killed, and she didn’t say where her body was found. She only said that Brittany had died and Gabe needed us to stay inside while we waited for law enforcement to arrive.”
“William Blake stayed with you this entire time, Mr. Roman-Wyatt,” Detective Holden asked.
“When he first heard the news, he leaped to his feet and bolted from the room. Geneva followed after him. I could hear him shouting, and Gabe trying to calm him down. It sounded like they got into a scuffle—”
“A fight?” Detective Bernard asked to clarify.
“No, not a fist fight or anything. It sounded like Gabe was blocking him from going inside the room. We were too far away to hear the exact words spoken, but I got the impression Gabe was trying to protect him and the scene. He wouldn’t want William to see Brittany in that condition. I think Gabe subdued him so he couldn’t enter the library. It wasn’t long before Geneva brought him back upstairs to me.”
“Did William say anything?”
“No. He just curled into the corner of the couch and sobbed. He was truly inconsolable.”
“Have you ever been inside the library at Tarlington House?” Detective Holden asked me.
“No, sir.” I told him about the rooms I had visited inside the inn and the locations on the property even though it probably wasn’t relevant. Of course, I left off the sex part when I mentioned watching the sunrise from the lighthouse. It wasn’t relevant. “We’d been told a library was located on the first floor and where we could find it, but I’d brought my own books to read.”
“What about your husband? Are you aware of him visiting the library?” Detective Bernard asked.
“I am not, but we were apart for several hours yesterday while I helped prepare the special dinner. Gabe didn’t mention entering the library to me. In fact, he wouldn’t even tell me where the body was found, so this is the first I heard about it.”
“So, we won’t find your fingerprints in the library or any personal property belonging to you?” Detective Holden asked as a follow-up.
“No, sirs.”
“We’ve heard about the deceased getting into an argument and a fight with a Miss Beatrice Danner. I believe you would know her as Bonnie,” Bernard said.
“I was engaged in a different conversation when the altercation broke out, but Henry and I rushed to break them up when they were rolling around on the floor. I mean, William and I.” The fake names turned out to be a huge annoyance, and I imagined the detectives were having a blast keeping it all straight.
“It is your belief the women were fighting over William Blake?”
“It’s the impression I got from talking to Gabe after we were sent to our rooms without dinner,” I told Detective Bernard, earning a chuckle.
The interview wound down after that because I didn’t have much else to share with them. Gabe and I had embarked on a sexfest mission and had only planned to surface for the murder mystery. We had ourselves a murder mystery all right. I was left alone again in the small, windowless room to wait until it was time to go to the hotel. I was hungry, exhausted, and missed my husband like crazy. I folded my arms on the table and rested my head against my forearms. There was no way in hell I’d be able to sleep under the circumstances, but it felt good just to close my eyes and rest. I looked up when the door opened a few minutes later, expecting to see one or both detectives returning to ask more questions.
“Hey, Sunshine,” Gabe said softly, looking as exhausted as I felt. He placed a sack of food and a drink carrier with two large cups on the table. “I thought you might be hungry.”
I rose to my feet and walked into his open arms. “I’m so happy to see you. Are you okay?” I didn’t think it was possible ever to get used to seeing dead bodies, especially victims of a violent crime. I didn’t know how Brittany died, but it was obvious it wasn’t from natural causes.
“I’ll be better once we’re cleared to leave.” Gabe released me and pulled out a chair at the table. “In the meantime, we might as well have a bite to eat.”
I don’t know who was responsible for the thick deli sandwiches, chips, and drinks, but I was grateful. “How long do you think it will be before they transport us to the hotel?”
“I have no idea since I’m not
in the loop.”
“You’re not getting treated like a suspect, are you? You’re a police captain for fuck’s sake. I thought you boys in blue stuck together.”
“I’m getting treated with the respect they’d show every officer while they work through an investigation, but no, I don’t feel like they suspect me of foul play. The fact that I’m sitting in here with you right now is evidence of their respect. None of the other couples are eating lunch together.”
“Yeah, because they’re all suspicious as fuck, Gabe. Neither of us had reason to want Brittany dead.”
“I’m hoping we can leave tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” I asked. “They’ll keep us at the station all night? I thought they were bussing us over to the hotel.”
“They can keep us here as long as the law allows, but I think they’re planning on transporting us to the hotel fairly soon.”
“Then what did you mean about leaving tomorrow?”
“I meant that I’m getting our rental van from the inn and driving us home as soon as they give me the okay.”
“You’re leaving an active investigation?”
“It’s not my investigation, Sunshine. I’m not the police captain in this scenario; I’m your husband. I need to get you away from danger and home to our children where you’ll be safe,” Gabe said, pinning me with an intense look that said it wasn’t something he was willing to debate either. “Holden and Bernard have this under control. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division will send them help if they need it. There’s no reason for me to stay.”
“You don’t care about what happens?” I asked appalled. “Gabe, we dined and had conversations with her. How can you not care?”
Gabe calmly set his sandwich down on the wrapper and wiped his mouth. “Of course I care someone drove a fucking butcher knife into the body of a twenty-eight-year-old woman, Josh. I am appalled her life could be snuffed out so quickly and coldly. I’m more terrified you and I might’ve sat across from the sick fuck who killed her. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to protect the crime scene downstairs when all I wanted to do was be with you? Have you any idea the scenarios that flitted through my mind? Yes, I am a police captain sworn to uphold the law, but I also took an oath to love, cherish, and protect you too. I’ve done my part to uphold the law, and now, I want to take my husband home.”
It was really hard to argue with his logic when he looked at me with so much love and conviction even though I wanted to give it my best shot. “Fine,” I replied. “We’ll leave as soon as we get the green light.”
“We’re driving straight home. I’m only stopping for gas, and we can use those opportunities to stretch. All food items will be purchased through a drive-thru or at the gas station.”
“What about Bonita?” I asked. “She’s hoping we’ll stop by on our way back through Tennessee.”
“Josh, I have no idea when they’ll let us go home, and I’m sure Bonita wouldn’t appreciate us showing up at her doorstep at some random hour in the middle of the night. I will call and explain to her as best I can. I mean it, Josh. We’re going straight home with no detours.”
“I will agree to your terms under one condition.”
“Let’s hear it?”
“You are never ever going to plan another vacation trip.”
Gabe smiled at me for the first time since all hell broke loose. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
“I DON’T THINK I’VE ever been so excited to lie down in bedbug-infested sheets in all my life,” Josh said with disdain, scanning the hotel room the sheriff’s department procured for us after they wrapped up the interviews. “You’d think your police captain status would’ve garnered better accommodations.” He dropped his bag on the ground and flopped onto the bed which was a testimony to just how tired he was after staying at the station until nearly 5 p.m.
“My police captain status earned us a ‘free to go home’ card, snark ass,” I informed him. He jerked to a sitting position and looked at me with accusing eyes. He looked as if not telling him we didn’t have to stay at the hotel was a bigger betrayal than not telling him about Henry’s flirting and note passing. “I’m too fucking tired to make the drive tonight.”
Josh flopped back down dramatically. “Not that we have transportation beyond the sheriff’s van. I doubt their generosity extends to letting us borrow it.”
“Holden and Bernard are retrieving the minivan keys from the valet cabinet and bringing it to us. They should be here soon. Rumor has it Holden will also bring us some of his wife’s home cooking. We’ll be set for the night and can head home in the morning.”
“Having second thoughts about leaving?” Josh asked.
I was horribly conflicted about choosing the right thing to do. Walking away from a homicide investigation was against my nature, but it wasn’t my investigation. Holden and Bernard were excellent detectives, and they’d leave no stone unturned. I was confident they’d catch the killer. Josh’s safety had to come first. I thought about putting him on a plane and sending him home without me, but it didn’t feel right either. Holden and Bernard said they’d stay in touch and keep me in the loop, so it would have to be enough.
“No,” I replied.
“You’re so bad at lying,” Josh said. “You want to solve this case as badly as I do.”
“Of course I want the case to get solved, but I don’t have to be the one who does it. I’m not the control freak in this relationship.” I sat on the twin bed across from his.
Josh snorted. “You’re Captain Control Freak.”
“I’m about to be Captain Cranky Pants if I don’t get some food and a decent night’s sleep.”
“I think I could even skip the food in favor of sleeping.”
I glanced up from reading the latest text from Adrian and saw he was on the verge of falling asleep. I knew I’d be right behind him if I lay down, and I wanted the minivan keys in my hand before that happened. I stayed in the upright position and bantered back and forth with Adrian. He was shocked and sorry to hear about the young lady who was killed at the inn, but it didn’t stop him from cracking jokes.
Hey, maybe Lyric can hook you up with your own television show! Vacation Disasters!
I was thinking Deadliest Vacations. The viewers will expect to see me swimming with sharks, but instead, I’ll be staying in remote inns with swingers, liars, and killers.
Good one, Gabe. You let me know if there’s anything you need at all. I know you want to solve the crime so bad it hurts, but get the hell out of there and let Holden and Bernard do their jobs.
We’ll be home sometime tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted.
You better, partner.
A knock vibrated the hotel door, rousing Josh from his dozed state. “Who’s here?” He hadn’t been asleep long, but he looked like he was really out of it.
“I’m sure it’s only Bernard and Holden.” I checked the peephole, and Bernard stood on the other side doing a cute finger wave until Holden shoved him out of the way to hold up the bag of food he carried. The door was so damn flimsy I could smell the fried chicken through it.
“That’ll be twenty-three fifty,” Holden said after I opened the door.
“Plus a five-dollar delivery fee,” Bernard added.
“Come on in, guys,” I said.
“It smells damn good,” Josh said.
“She put in some paper plates and plastic utensils too,” Holden told us.
Bernard jingled the keys to the minivan then dropped them in my hand. “Bet you’re glad to have those back.”
“Your room was searched thoroughly. Deputies Davidson and Lewis repacked all the personal belongings they found in there, and your luggage is in the van. You’ll need to make arrangements with Geneva Louderback to get any personal items left somewhere else in the inn after we’ve cleared it as a crime scene.”
“Like my book,” Josh said grumpily.
“My wife also sent you a little surprise, Josh,” Holden said. He p
ulled out a paperback copy of What Alice Forgot. “I told her how upset you were that your copy had gone missing, and she wanted you to have it for the long drive home.”
Josh smirked in my direction. “I think it was most likely misplaced, but I am so grateful for her thoughtfulness.” He’d searched our room high and low looking for the book before we left. I’d told him I put it back where I found it. He wanted to believe me, but it was pretty hard to do when it looked like the book walked off someplace.
“She said it was a great book. It made her think.”
“Oh, me too. Please thank your wife for me.”
“I will.”
“Gabe, do you mind stepping out here for a few minutes? There’s something I want to discuss with you before you head back.”
“Sure.” I looked over at Josh. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll keep myself busy with the book while you guys talk shop.” Like hell he would. He’d have his ear pressed to the door.
I stepped out onto the concrete walkway in front of the two-story, U-shaped building where all the rooms overlooked the parking lot in the middle of the U. Our room was on the second floor in the center of the hotel. I felt profound relief when I looked over the sketchy-looking metal railing around the perimeter of the second floor and saw our shiny minivan in the parking lot. I only needed five solid hours of sleep then I’d be good to drive home. I’d have Josh read the book out loud to entertain me.
“What’s on your mind, fellas?”
“Alice,” Holden said.
I raised a brow. “You want to hold a book club before we leave?”
“I think the missing book could be evidence.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You said you left the book on the end table next to the wingback chair, right?” Holden asked.
“I know I put it there.”
Ride or Dye (Curl Up and Dye Mysteries, #6) Page 15
