A Wedding Tail

by Casey Griffin

  She slapped a smile on her face, hoping that she was a good enough actress to pull one over on a cop and a veteran detective. She slowed down when she passed the Mercedes and huffed a little like she’d just run all the way there.

  Bob was holding Freddy’s leash. “Lose something?” he asked, without even a hint that anything was amiss. Like he wasn’t just talking about her incarceration with the officer.

  Well, two could play that game. “Yeah, thanks. I don’t know where his energy comes from.” Now that she was at the top of the driveway, Zoe could just see flashes of movement outside the distant gates. Zoe nodded. “What’s going on out there?”

  “Just some party crashers,” the officer told her. “Someone called to complain that they’re getting a bit riled up, so we came to check it out.”

  So that was the story they were going with. Zoe’s eyes automatically flicked to Bob. His face remained pleasant, like they were all just having a casual conversation.

  Zoe laughed. “Holly’s got the city as amped up about the wedding as she is.”

  “Don’t worry,” the officer said. “We’ll be sticking around to keep an eye on things.”

  I’m sure you will, thought Zoe. “Great. Thank you. Well, everyone’s here that’s supposed to be here.”

  “No one will be getting in those gates on our watch.”

  Or out, she thought. But that was okay with her. This day was about Piper and Aiden. She planned to do what she needed to do to finish it off. Then she’d go quietly.

  “I’m sorry you have to waste staff watching our party,” she said.

  He shrugged. “We do this kind of thing at public events all the time.”

  She pulled a face. “I just wish it were a little less public.” Taking Freddy’s leash from Bob, she began to back away toward the house. “Well, thank you. I’d better get back. Lots to do.”

  She left the two men behind, who most likely began talking about her the moment she was out of earshot—hopefully not about what a terrible actress she was.

  But Zoe knew how to act cool—she’d had years of practice under her fanny pack. She was confident she’d pulled it off.

  She sashayed back to the wedding party like the only things on her mind were centerpieces and photo ops. And right about now, that’s all she could worry about, because despite socialite wannabes banging on the front gates, someone wanting to blow her to bits, and cops poised to arrest her for God knows what, she was still the best damned wedding planner in San Francisco. And she had a wedding to oversee.

  32

  Hear of Marriage and You’ll Dream of a Funeral

  “At last my love has come along.

  My lonely days are over and life is like a song.”

  Levi belted out the most rock and roll version of “At Last” that Zoe had ever heard. But it was strangely catchy and had her glad that she’d opted for the extra-large dance floor because it seemed as though everyone was on it. Even Marilyn and Bob were shaking their tail feathers. Reluctant Redemption seemed to know all the crowd pleasers.

  Piper danced her way over in Aiden’s arms. “Aren’t they great?” she half-yelled over the music. “I’m so glad we hired them.”

  Addison spun by with Felix. “I bet Zoe is too!” She grinned devilishly at Zoe as she carried on by.

  Zoe ignored the comment, but had to bite back a smile. She wandered over to the snack table where she was keeping her purse and bridal utility bag hidden. For the hundredth time that night, she pulled out her tablet and scrolled through the recent notifications.

  There hadn’t been much from Holly since she’d leaked the news about the new venue. The only other comment was posted when the band began to play and she critiqued the newly married couple’s first dance. Obviously she was part of the crowd outside the front gates, but other than that, things had been quiet—which Zoe took as a bad sign. What was Holly Hart up to?

  Holly would probably stay all night, if need be, lurking outside the property, waiting for guests to leave so she could accost them with questions. Zoe wondered if the cops would have arrested her by then. Would they arrest her in front of everyone? She preferred to hand herself over quietly and save the newlyweds any embarrassment.

  She was staring across the property at the driveway, half expecting them to come for her any second when she heard a shout or a cry. Or maybe a whoop of excitement for the band. But it sounded like it came from around the side of the house.

  She peered into the darkness outside the circle of light created by all the lanterns and string lights. It could have been one of the guests. Perhaps a dog got out of the enclosure or off a leash. Zoe knew it wasn’t hers because he was at her heels enjoying the tunes.

  As Zoe went to investigate, someone grabbed her hand and tugged her back. She half spun until she landed in Levi’s arms.

  “Hey, rock star.” She smiled. “Intermission already?”

  “No. But the band was playing our song, so I thought I’d come steal a dance.” He gave her a wink. The string lights nearby sparkled in his eyes, and she got lost for a moment.

  “We have a song?” she asked. “And what song is that?”

  He hooked Freddy’s leash on one of the many dog-minding posts she’d pounded into the ground around the dance floor and swept her away. “Any song that will get you into my arms.”

  And being in his arms felt so right.

  She laid her head on his shoulder to soak it all in, him, them, that moment. The band was playing an instrumental version of “We Are the Champions” by Queen as Levi took her for a twirl on the dance floor. He spun her and when she came to a stop, she was facing the house.

  Her half-lidded gaze landed on the bar. Something caught her eye. A flash of platinum blonde hair, almost white beneath the twinkling string lights strung from tree to tree.

  Levi led her around to the other side of the dance floor and the person was lost from sight. Zoe craned her head this way and that to see past the other dancers. When a couple moved, she caught sight of the woman again.

  She gave Zoe a cheeky smile and raised her martini glass, like a greeting to Zoe, or maybe a big old “screw you!”

  Holly Hart.

  “Is everything okay?” Levi asked, as she stopped dancing.

  “Holly’s here,” she said, not taking her eyes off the reporter.

  She was dressed head to toe in black, as though this was a funeral, not a wedding. Maybe that was for the best, since there was about to be a funeral. Hers.

  “I’m going to kill her.”

  “I see the claws are coming out.” He shrugged his shoulders and she realized her nails were digging into them.

  “Oh, sorry.” She sighed. “I need to go deal with this.”

  “Shall I call for backup?”

  “Yeah. Maybe go get Bob. There’s about to be a murder.”

  Zoe maneuvered her way across the dance floor, all smiles at the surrounding guests until she reached the bar. Holly waited patiently for her, not even bothering to look guilty or like she didn’t belong there. Instead, she sipped her drink and waved to her good friend Zoe.

  The moment she was in reach, Zoe gripped her arm, ready to drag her to the front gates herself. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “Why, I’m enjoying the festivities.” She brushed her hand away. “This is quite something. I have to admit, I had my doubts after what happened to the first venue. But you really managed to pull it off.” She gave her a sly wink and lowered her voice to a whisper. “That’s why you’re my favorite.”

  “Bite me.”

  Holly clicked her tongue. “Is that any way to treat a guest?”

  “You’re not a guest,” she spat. “How did you get in here?”

  “Oh, it’s a big property.” She waved the details aside. “You didn’t think a couple of police officers and some incompetent security guards were going to stop the likes of Holly Hart, did you? I always get my story.”

  Zoe plucked a leaf out of her blonde hair.
“Yeah, I’m sure you get around.”

  Grass swished behind Zoe and she turned to find Levi and Bob marching over. Even in dress clothes, Bob could look official. It was in his rigid stance, his hard expression. He carried authority even when he didn’t have his gun.

  “What’s going on?” he asked. “Everything all right, here?’

  “Miss Hart here seems to have lost her way,” Zoe told him.

  Bob turned to her. “Will you come with me? Or would you prefer I get one of the officers outside to escort you out in cuffs?”

  “Oooh, handcuffs.” She bit her lip. “Sounds kinky. A couple of them were pretty cute. I’ll take that option.” She giggled. “I like it rough.”

  “Now don’t make a scene,” Bob said like he was chastising a little girl.

  “Who’s making a scene?” She pouted. “You ain’t seen nothing yet. Just call your boys and then we’ll see what happens,” she said, the threat as clear as Swarovski crystal.

  Zoe took a step forward, glaring down at the reporter. “I will take you down myself, so help me God.”

  Holly raised her chin. “Let’s go, stretch.”

  “Zoe, just leave her be.”

  Zoe turned to the voice she recognized as Piper’s, but it couldn’t possibly be. She’d never stick up for Holly Hart. “What?”

  Piper stood in front of Holly, looking her up and down as though she were a wild animal not yet tamed. “She’ll do more damage to the evening if we kick her out.” With a sneer, she addressed Holly. “You can stay, on one condition. You hand over your phone until the night is over and delete any photos you’ve already taken.”

  “Deal.” Reaching into her clutch, she drew out her phone and handed it over to Zoe.

  “I don’t trust her,” Zoe said. “She probably has a hidden camera on her somewhere.” She eyed her skin-tight dress.

  “Who do you think I am? James Bond?” She threw Zoe a withering look. “But if you’re really that worried, I’m sure Aiden could always frisk me.” She bobbed her head around, searching the crowd for him. “Where are those handcuffs when you need them?”

  “Don’t make me regret this,” Piper warned her.

  Holly drew an imaginary halo above her head with a finger. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”

  “That doesn’t exactly ease my worries.”

  “Oh well, you can’t please everybody.” Holly downed her drink and popped the olive into her mouth. “Excuse me. I’m going to go mingle.” She threw her black paisley wrap over her shoulder and left.

  Zoe watched her walk away. “I don’t trust her,” she said again.

  “Neither do I,” Piper said. “I just figured it would be less hassle to leave her be.”

  “I’ll keep an eye on her.” Zoe made shooing motions with her hands. “Go dance with your husband before Holly tries to.”

  Piper smiled. “Thanks.”

  Levi wrapped an arm around Zoe. “I’d best get back on stage. Any requests?”

  “Britney Spears,” she joked.

  “Done.” He kissed her cheek before sprinting back on stage.

  Zoe glanced down at Holly’s phone in her hand. Holly was up to something. She handed it over too willingly. There was no way she wasn’t going to record every moment she could. Which could only mean she had another way of recording the event. And since Zoe had rarely ever seen the reporter without her cameraman to boss around, she had a hunch he was sneaking around there somewhere too.

  Holly was busy rubbing elbows with a few of Aiden’s guests. While she was distracted, Zoe headed for the thick tree line that encircled the property.

  From this distance, the music was a soft, steady beat in the background. After the dazzling lights around the house and dance floor, it was like she was walking into a black hole.

  Zoe resisted the urge to go back and grab her tablet to light her way. She couldn’t very well sneak up on Hey, You if he could see her coming a mile away. Then again, considering the Channel Five News team she was dealing with, he probably had night vision goggles to do his late-night snooping.

  She shivered, wishing she’d brought her wrap. Not wanting to take her leather heels into the forest, she began to skirt around the edges of the underbrush.

  The distant glow from the lights and paper lanterns caught on the leaves around her. She imagined they were eyes watching her, blinking when they rustled in the wind, winking at her. She certainly felt like she’d had eyes following her everywhere for the last few weeks.

  Her ears strained for any sounds in the woods, a cracking twig, the zoom of a lens. But all she could hear was the distant sounds of Britney Spears. She chuckled, but kept moving. She had a job to do.

  The breeze picked up again. The leafy bushes began scraping and hissing as they rustled all around her. When it died down, she heard the rhythmic swishing of grass behind her. She’d been so focused on the search before her, that she wasn’t watching her back.

  She spun around, squinting against the party’s lights, but she saw nothing. The swishing drew closer. She took a panicked step back. It was right in front of her and yet she still couldn’t see a damn thing.

  A scream crawled up her throat.

  Then it struck.

  It pawed at her shins and licked her exposed ankles, relentless in its attack. Zoe let her scream out in a quiet grunt.

  Freddy had somehow gotten free from the post she’d hooked him to, because his leash was still attached, dragging through the grass behind him.

  “Freddy,” she hissed. “Go back. Go.” She snapped her fingers and pointed, unsure if he could see her. But even if he could, she realized that he would have done the complete opposite of what she said, anyway. So, she pointed at her feet and said, “Okay, stay.”

  Naturally, Freddy took off. Only, instead of returning to the party, he dove for the trees.

  “No. Freddy!” she yell-whispered. “Not that way!”

  Crap, she thought. So much for being inconspicuous. She was tempted to yell “Hey, You! Ready or not, here I come!”

  Zoe could hear Freddy rustling through the underbrush, crunching dead leaves, snorting and digging in the dirt as he sniffed around. There’s a mouse. I know there’s a mouse. It’s around here somewhere.

  Although, if there had been mice, he would have scared them all away with his stealthless attack.

  “Freddy come back here. There’s no mice in there. Come.” But Freddy was being Freddy and doing exactly what he wasn’t supposed to be doing.

  Sighing, Zoe hiked up her floor-length dress and went in after him. She swore she was putting obedience classes on her to-do list. Just as soon as she got out of jail.

  Zoe peered into the darkness, picking her way over hidden roots and fallen branches as she followed the sounds of excited prancing in the leaves. She doubted he’d found anything but a stick. The sounds grew louder just behind the next bush.

  “Freddy. Come here, boy. I’m making my voice sound really fun and lighthearted right now, but you’re actually in big trouble,” she sang.

  Crouching down, she began groping along the damp earth to grab his leash. But from her new point of view, a bright light caught her eye. A flashlight maybe, hidden beneath the bush. She’d likely discovered Holly’s path through the property.

  She held the branches aside and reached in, but it wasn’t a flashlight. It was a screen. As she explored, her hand landed on the object. It was heavy, whatever it was.

  She dragged it out to discover it was Hey, You’s camera. But there was no sign of the weasel himself.

  The camera was still in the midst of recording. She wasn’t sure what he’d hoped to capture all the way out there from the bushes. Squinting against the screen’s light, she found the stop button.

  She’d helped enough videographers film weddings over the years, due to poorly timed washroom breaks or illnesses, that she knew her way around professional equipment. Using the buttons, she managed to find the playback menu.

  A selection of past foot
age popped up on the screen. Footage that looked very familiar. Hell, it was practically her last three weeks all laid out in video clips. Out of curiosity, she checked some of the previous footage.

  She searched back to the expo, when Holly first began screwing with her life. Her fight with Chelsea popped up on the screen. She pressed play and watched as she threw the pink champagne cake in her rival’s face.

  Zoe cringed. Watching it from the outside looking in was even worse. That hadn’t exactly been her brightest moment, nor one she wanted to relive, so she moved onto the next clip.

  It was just more footage from the expo. Not exactly riveting stuff. Hey, You was scanning the underground parking lot, taking in a panorama of the parked cars. Then it zoomed in on a van. Her van.

  It was post break-in because she could see the tendrils of Piper’s shredded dress fluttering out the open back. But there were no people gathered around it. It was before the vandalism had even been discovered. Had it been Hey, You who first reported it?

  As she continued to watch, the van wiggled and rocked. Seconds later, a figure leapt out. But it was too dark, too far away to see who it was.

  Zoe flipped to the next video. Of course, it was her gaping at her destroyed van, at the dress, and Holly was pestering her with questions. She skipped that one.

  The next footage was something Zoe had watched on the news, along with the rest of the city. Holly Hart stood in front of the camera, checking her teeth in the lens’s reflection before introducing the night’s top story.

  “This is Holly Hart coming to you from North Beach, where the San Fran Slayer has taken his next victim.”

  But the mention of the serial killer made Zoe shiver with the creeps. Zoe scanned through the rest of the footage. It was practically a montage of her life, one epic disaster after another. And the news team had been there for everyone. Every single one.

  Her hair stood on end, and it felt like something was crawling up the back of her neck. She rubbed at it and spun around, her chest thumping.

  Suddenly on alert, she peered through the dark woods, straining to hear anything out of the ordinary. But the only sounds were Freddy’s grunting as he tried to drag his “mouse” out of the bush—which, knowing him, was likely a root.