“Yeah, real lucky,” Grace said clearing her throat. She didn’t want to tell the girl that she and Kyle had strung the safety net between the scaffolding. If she did, she might have to explain that it was originally meant as a safety net for her or her husband.
Kyle leaned forward. “We put it there because we thought one of you might try bumping the other off.”
Grace gave him a look while Courtney laughed. “You thought I was going to kill Tucker?”
“Kyle thought he was going to kill you,” Grace said quickly.
“Why?”
Tucker and Courtney listened in rapt fascination as Grace explained their thought process.
Courtney shook her head. “I’m the one who took out the life insurance policy on myself and made him a beneficiary. I never even told him about it. Not that he needs the money,” she said beaming at her husband. “We got good news today. His agent called. They’re publishing his book. He’s going to be famous.”
“And the only reason Courtney picked up the lovelock at the gift shop,” Tucker said coming to her defense, “was because it was part of the excursion package Lou created for us. She didn’t pay for it. It was there waiting for her.”
“I thought Daddy had bought it for us,” Courtney said. “I spoke to him today and he apologized for the way he had been acting. News about the murders hit the papers back home and he’s been going crazy with worry. He wants us back home. When I told him about Tucker’s publishing deal, he actually seemed impressed.”
“They gave me a three book deal,” Tucker said. “It’s not much—I’m too much of an unknown—but someday…”
As Grace and Kyle offered their congratulations, Courtney said, “As soon as we get home I’m going to look into financial aid and change my major. I can’t wait to get started.”
Tucker whispered something in Courtney’s ear causing her to turn to him with a giggle. Within a few seconds, they were snuggling with one another and whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ear.
Grace turned to Kyle. “I think they have the right idea,” she said leaning on his arm. She glanced over to her right as someone jostled her arm off the armrest.
Meredith Mallory reached for her seatbelt. “I don’t know why I bother buckling up. Like this thin piece of nylon could really save anyone if this thing goes down. If they were really serious about it, they could at least provide shoulder straps.” She glanced across the aisle at Tucker and Courtney and wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Get a room.”
Kyle plucked the novel out of Grace’s lap and began reading.
“Hello, Meredith,” Grace said. “Made it out of the brig I see.”
“They had to release me. I was innocent. I plan on suing for false imprisonment as soon as we land.”
“Merry!” a man called out from the front of the plane. “Merry!”
Meredith groaned as Lucas Kirby hurried down the aisle. He stopped at their aisle, quickly crawling over Tucker and Courtney and taking the empty seat by the window. He stared over their heads at the object of his affection. “Merry! I’ve been waiting all week for you to come back.”
“No kidding,” she said turning away from him. Her eyes suddenly narrowed as she stared past Grace towards the window. “Is that window cracked?”
Kyle snapped the window screen shut cutting off Meredith’s view and earning himself an angry glare in return.
Scowling, Meredith reached into the oversized bag on her lap. In a few seconds, she had earbuds in her ears, a neck roll around her neck and a book in her lap.
“Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry!”
Meredith pulled out her earbuds and glared at Lucas. “What?” she growled.
“I don’t suppose you brought earplugs,” Kyle whispered to Grace as Meredith’s ex-boyfriend begged her to return to him.
“Sorry, no earplugs.” Grace laid her head on his shoulder. “Just think of the bright side.”
“What bright side?” Kyle asked wearily.
She rubbed her hand over his bicep. “We’ll be home, safe and sound in just seven hours. What could possibly happen in seven hours?”
A slow grin crossed his face as he stared down at her. “With us, anything.”
GRACE AND KYLE WILL RETURN SOON!
Also by Elisabeth Crabtree
The Grace Holliday Cozy Mystery Series
Deadly Magic
Deadly Reunion
Death Takes a Holiday
Murder Games
Cupid’s Deadly Aim
The Gift that Keeps on Killing
The Body in Davy Jones’ Locker
The Hatter’s Cove Gazette Mystery Series
The St. Valentine’s Day Cookie Massacre
Revenge of the Pieman
The Mad Hatter’s Haunted Castle
Two Dead Love Birds
Bad Kitty
The Pink Flamingo Hotel Mystery Series
Death by Pink Flamingo
The Body in Davy Jones' Locker Page 24
