Page 86 of Honey Drop Dead

“Claxton. The membership would be in either Osgood Claxton or Mignon Merriweather’s name.”

“Let me check the directory,” Bud said. Paper rattled as pages in a book were turned. “Yeah, we got an Osgood Claxton. Pier one, slip number seventeen.”

“Do you know what kind of boat?”

“Um... yup. A Sea Ray.”

“Thank you. Oh, do you by any chance know what shape it’s in? Like, if it’s been in an accident or anything?”

“Sorry, no.”

On the way out into the tea room, Theodosia looked in the mirror, said “Eek!” and smoothed her hair.

In between a pot of rooibos and a pot of black jasmine, Theodosia pulled Drayton aside and said, “Claxton owned a boat.”

Drayton peered at her. “A boat?”

“You know, vroom vroom, putt putt?”

“Oh! You mean Mignon could have been driving that boat last night?” He let the full impact of the news settle in, then said, “Goodness.”

“Not so good. Because if it really was Mignon, then she tried to kill us, too.”

“You make a good point,” Drayton said. “Are you going to tell Riley about this?”

“I’m not sure. He’s probably looked into it already.”

“He seemed awfully upset when he dropped by earlier.”

“That’s because he hadn’t had his morning dose of caffeine or sugar yet.”

“You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”

“Usually.” Theodosia smiled. Then her expression turned serious. “But not for whoever’s been running around Charleston killing people.”

***

“Got to show you something,” Haley said.

Theodosia looked up from her desk, where she was busy paying bills. Tea vendors, food suppliers, Dominion Energy, everyone wanted money. “What’s that, Haley?”

Haley handed her a small three-by-eight-inch card. “I printed out menus. You know, for our Honeybee Tea 2.0 today.”

Theodosia grinned as she scanned the tiny menu. “These are adorable, Haley.” Haley had printed out her luncheon menu on cream-colored cardstock, rubbed the edges of the cards with gold paint, then punched holes at the top and affixed pieces of gold gossamer ribbon. “All this work for a simple luncheon.”

Haley flipped back her blonde hair in a move that was pure theatrics and said, “Not so simple. Have you read my offerings?”

“Sorry, Haley, let me take a look.”

Theodosia read the card.

“This is wonderful. Honeybee scones, honey chicken, mixed fruit salad with honey dressing, and, for dessert, ricotta cookies and honey brownies. Our guests are going to adore this.”

Haley plucked the card out of Theodosia’s hand. “They already are. In fact, the tea shop’s half full and it’s only eleven thirty.”

“It’s that late? Then I’d better finish up my paperwork posthaste.”

But Theodosia continued working on invoices, writing checks, and telling herself, “Just one more,” and then, “Gotta do one more,” until Drayton suddenly loomed in the doorway.

---