Page 40 of A Whisker in the Night

Jasper leans back. “Exactly what kinds of thoughts are you having?”

“I’ll clue you in later,” I say with a wink and we all share a dark laugh.

“As for the homicide—we need more evidence.” Jasper leans back and crosses his arms. “Something concrete.”

Jellybean lifts her tiny little head.What about the fact that Matilda was supposed to pay alimony to Hamish?

“I forgot about that,” I say as I quickly relay her thoughts to the non-mind readers among us.

“Now that’s another strong motive,” Jasper says.

Leo nods. “Two strikes against Matilda.”

“I don’t like the direction this is heading in,” I say with a sigh. “Matilda is such a great woman and she’s built back the farm after Hamish nearly destroyed it. I guess he and Verity weren’t the business dream team that they professed to be.”

Emmie nods. “That’s because they were too busy fooling around to tend to any actual business.”

“And that’s why I hate that all of the evidence is pointing to Matilda,” I say.

“I do, too,” Jasper says, giving my hand a squeeze. “I’ll do some more digging.”

“We’lldo some more digging,” I say, giving him a squeeze right back.

“Okay, but please try to relegate your investigative superpowers to a laptop,” he suggests. “The last thing I want is you and the baby in the line of danger. I’ll take it from there.”

“You bet,” I say.

Sherlock sniffs.Notice how she didn’t make any promises.

That’s because she knows she can’t keep them,Fish points out.

They’re both right.

I shoot a look to Leo that amounts to a threat if he says a single word, and he laughs and holds up his hands as if he were staying out of it.

Leo Granger is a very smart man. But then, I knew that when he married my bestie.

Gatsby stands abruptly from under the table, and every one of our dinners jumps in the air a good foot as if they suddenly animated to life.

Sherlock and Cinnamon bark. Fish and Jellybean scatter. And just before my burger is about to hit the ground, Sherlock opens his mouth and swallows what’s left of my dinner.

But it’s not the flying food that has my attention, it’s those bushy peonies that are flying through the air.

The flowers!

I gasp as I look over at Jasper.

“I know exactly how those scammers vacuumed out Georgie’s bank account.”

Chapter 26

The fireplace in our cottage crackles with what might be the season’s last hurrah. Spring nights in Maine are warming up, but tonight there’s just enough chill in the air to justify one more cozy evening by the fire. Not that I’m complaining. Between the dancing flames, the woodsy scent of smoke, and Jasper’s strong arms wrapped snugly around me, this might as well be heaven.

You hoomans and your obsession with fire,Fish meows from her perch on the mantel as her tail gives a lazy swish.I suppose it does make for a decent ambiance, but I much prefer the electric heater. Far less crackling and far more heat.

Agree. But it’s the perfect napping temperature,Jellybean adds, her voice already heavy with sleep as she gives a luxurious stretch.

Everything is the perfect napping temperature for you two,Sherlock chimes in from his oversized bed near the hearth.Though I wouldn’t mind some company on this prime real estate. Naps are best when you have someone to snuggle with.

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