Page 25 of Covert Chaos

What was in that box? I had never noticed it before.

"You need help with that?" I walked over and held up a hand while King Tut hopped up on the stove and began to clean his paws.

"Um, I'm all set. Thanks." She grabbed the box and climbed down, keeping it tucked against her hip. "I'm heading out now. I'll see you tomorrow."

Well at least she wasn't trying to murder me. I loved being right about things like that. I watched her head toward the door that led back into the front part of the cafe, and I noticed the sheen of sweat on her forehead.

It wasn’t that hot.

Nerves? Stress? "I'll walk you to the boat. I've had some issues with security lately. I would hate for you to run into someone." I pushed open the swinging door and followed her into the front of the store.

Emmeline stopped immediately. "I'm all set. You don’t need to walk me."

"It's my marina. It's my legal duty to make sure you’re safe. I don't mind. Especially since there have been mostly assassins hunting me, which means they're exceptionally good at killing."

She stared at me. "Assassins."

"Yep, but they’re from my old life, so they're getting less common. I'm sure we’re fine. But if there's one out there, it's my moral duty to not let them accidentally kill you." I nodded toward the door. "Lead the way."

"Um, really. I'm all set." Her gaze flicked behind me, and suddenly the hairs on the back of my neck prickled.

Someone was behind me.

My cat?

Or a person?

I tightened my grip on my hairdryer. Emmeline was definitely sweating now. She was nervous, and sociopathic serial killers didn't seem like the type to have nervous sweats. "What's going on, Em?"

"Nothing. Just?—"

"What’s in the box?"

She moved it to the side. "Nothing."

I sat down on a nearby table, trying to appear friendly and unconcerned. "Ems. I know you like Hattie. You're a good person. Whatever it is you’re involved with isn't your fault. I can help you get it untangled."

"I'm not tangled up in anything?—"

"Did you know Beckwith and Charles were both murdered tonight at the Ugly Man?"

Her eyes widened. "What? No."

Holy crap. She was lying. She knew they were dead! Alarm shot through me, and I leapt to my feet just as Emmeline's gaze went behind me again. Her eyes widened as she stared over my left shoulder, and then back at me.

She wastellingme there was something behind me. On purpose.

My heart started racing, but I didn't turn around. I tightened my grip on my hairdryer and swung it to get some momentum. "Who killed them, Emmeline? I know it wasn't you."

"It wasn't," she whispered, her gaze flicking behind me again with more urgency.

Dear heavens. What was behind me? It was then that I noticed Beau was on the ground behind the stove, not moving.

Holy crap.Beau.

Panic gripped me, but I fought to stay calm. I looked at the window of Hattie's store, trying to use it as a mirror to see who was behind me.

Alarm shot through me.

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