Page 11 of Honey Drop Dead

“Well?” Theodosia finally said.

Drayton glanced over at her. “If each day is a gift, can I please return yesterday?”

Theodosia managed a faint smile. “I agree. It was just plain awful.”

“I keep turning the whole mess over and over in my head—the beekeeper, the toxic smoke, the shooting...”

“And?”

“Words escape me.”

Theodosia gave a wry smile. “Just as Claxton’s killer escaped me.”

Drayton picked up a pink famille rose teapot, came around the counter, and stepped over to her table to pour a refill. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.” The serious look on his face seemed to complement his disposition.

Theodosia lifted a single eyebrow. “Yes?”

“Why on earth would you risk life and limb by trying to chase down a crazed killer?”

Theodosia fidgeted with her teacup for a few moments, then said, “You ask a good question. Maybe because I was furious beyond belief? And felt violated that someone crashed our lovely event, assaulted one of our guests, and caused so much misery?”

Drayton sighed. “I can’t fault you for being upset. But running after a stone-cold killer the way you did...”

“Please don’t tell Riley about that.”

“He doesn’t know?” Drayton was incredulous.

“Not yet, anyway. And I prefer to keep it that way, if you don’t mind.”

Drayton sat down across from her. “Okay. Mum’s the word. Just don’t do anything that foolhardy again. I almost went into cardiac arrest when I saw you running through that cloud of toxic smoke.”

“I tried not to inhale.”

Drayton shook his head. “Where have I heard that before?”

***

Tables were set, candles were lit, and Theodosia had just hung out her sign, a little painted, curlicued affair that said tea and light lunches, when the front door cracked open behind her.

“That was fast,” Theodosia murmured to herself. She didn’t think their first customer of the day would arrive quite so quickly. And on a Monday morning at that. Then she stopped, spun around, and did a double take as Riley stepped through the front door.

“Hey,” Riley said, a smile lighting his face.

“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon,” she said.

Some of Riley’s smile faltered. “Truth be known, I’m here to talk to Haley. If she’s around, that is.”

Theodosia felt a sudden flutter in her stomach. “Talk to Haley? Why? What for?”

“The thing is, some new information has come to light.”

“What do you mean? Explain, please.”

“It concerns yesterday. Haley has a boyfriend, yes?”

“Ben,” Theodosia said. Haley had been dating a guy, a young man, by the name of Ben Sweeney. He was a grad student, studying public administration at the College of Charleston.

“That’s the guy,” Riley said. “You know him?”

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