Page 17 of A Whisker in the Night

She nods. “I’m telling you the woman is off her rocker.”No more than my mother seems to be these days,she muses that last bit to herself.

Before I can process that particular thought, a commotion erupts from the direction of the chocolate factory.

The crowd parts like the Red Sea, only to reveal two familiar figures—one of which is wearing a pastel kaftan. Both are bent over the conveyor belt, shoveling chocolates into their mouths as if they’re training for the chocolate gobbling finals.

“Oh no,” I groan as I quickly recognize the pair.

“Oh nois right.” Hammie Mae sighs. “I’d better handle this before someone calls the health department. Last week someone tried to swim in the chocolate fountain. Let’s hope we don’t have a repeat.”

Knowing Georgie, we will. It seems to be a theme with her.

She hands me the cats and hurries off with Sherlock right by her side.

I think that’s where they keep the bacon,he barks as he heads toward the chocolate-covered calamity.

And that leaves me to quickly gather armfuls of adorable Easter baby clothes—two of everything, because Emmie would never forgive me if I left her out of this cuteness overload.

I also stock up on enough chocolate to satisfy both my baby’s cravings and mine—and probably put us on some sort of chocolate watch list at Dr. Applewhite’s office.

Not long after I ante up at the register, I watch as Mom and Georgie are being chased around that crime scene as vats of liquid chocolate splash all over the walls and windows of that delicious yet somewhat disastrous factory in the back.

Hammie Mae howls and screams along with the rest of the crowd here in the barn as all out chaos breaks out.

I can’t help but think that while Hammie Mae had plenty to say about her father’s relationship with Verity, I still need to hear Verity’s side of the story. That and return her sweet cat.

One way or another, I have a feeling I’m getting closer to solving this case.

The baby kicks in agreement with my detective work. That or they’re staging a protest until I unwrap one of the chocolate gold foil bunnies I just invested in.

These days, it’s getting harder to tell the difference.

But I’d like to think it’s both.

Georgie and my mother run this way, covered in brown goo from head to toe. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they’d gone mudding.

“Let’s go, Preggo,” Georgie shouts as she links arms with me. “It’s time to make the great chocolate escape!” She turns back to look at my mother who seems to be lagging. “We’re going to get away with it, Red!”

We make our way out of the barn and into my car, with all of our furry friends included.

Georgie and my mother might be getting away with something, but there’s a killer out there who won’t be getting away with anything—especially not murder.

I’ll see to it myself.

Chapter 10

The evening air is sweet with honeysuckle as Jasper and I make our way down the winding path to Emmie and Leo’s cottage.

The grounds here at the inn are peppered with individual cottages available for rent or lease. And it was these exact adorable tiny dwellings that first caught my attention when it came to this place as far back as when I was a child. So when I was in college and heard they were hiring at the front desk, I jumped at the chance. I was quickly moved up to manager, and when the owner passed away a few years back, I was stunned to find out he left the entire sprawling estate to me.

It’s safe to say, I’ve been in love with the grounds here for as long as I can remember, and now I more or less have this coastal gem running through my veins.

The inn is part of me just as much as Jasper, this baby, Fish, and Sherlock are, too. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

We come upon Leo and Emmie’s cottage and it looks like something straight out of a fairy tale, with pastel twinkle lights strung along the porch rails and plastic Easter eggs hanging from the flowering dogwood in their front yard.

Someone (definitely Emmie) has arranged a family of topiary bunnies near their front steps, complete with tiny Easter bonnets. It’s so stinking cute I stop and take about a dozen pictures of it before we head up.

“Remind me again why we’re doing this?” Jasper asks as our furry entourage—Fish, Sherlock, and our temporary ward Jellybean—trots ahead of us.

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