Page 25 of A Whisker in the Night

I cast Jasper the side-eye. Unless, of course, they choose to do it over and over again no matter how many times being told not to. Then it’s murder by way of insanity on the part of the killer.

Verity’s thoughts begin to come in fast and furious as they cartwheel in my direction.Keep them happy… Keep them distracted… Matilda is obviously behind this whole thing…Why did Hamish have to get a cat, anyway?

“Join you?” She takes a breath and her smile falters. “You bet. But only if you don’t mind talking about my poor husband.”

Jasper nods her way. “We don’t mind at all.”

I nod her way as well. “Not one bit.”

Chapter 15

Itake another sip of my sparkling cider, watching Verity like a hawk in her snow-white designer blazer and her matching snow-white dazzling smile. But it’s the fact her fingers keep fiddling with that rose pendant on her necklace that has my attention. I have a feeling if nerves were an Olympic sport, she’d be on the podium clutching a bouquet right about now.

“Verity”—Emmie leans toward the pretty blonde while I nibble on the complimentary seafood tower before us—“that foundation you’re using makes your skin absolutely glow. I must know what it is.”

My mouth rounds out. Is Emmie serious? The only thing Verity’s skin glows like is a pumpkin.

Emmie wrinkles her nose my way.Don’t look at me that way. I’m trying to get a conversation going. You know, ease her into the bit about the dead husband.

Oh. I give a hardly noticeable nod. Emmie is right, we should probably turn up the heat slowly. After all, Verity is Hamish’s widow. Although you wouldn’t know it by that flash of lightning smile and the fact she’s dressed more like a bride than your traditional widow.

Not that I’m judging her. In fact, I learned long ago not to judge people over their wardrobes or their thoughts. After all, they don’t realize anyone is listening in and what flits through a person’s mind is sacred as far as privacy goes. Unless, of course, there’s a mind reader around to listen in.

“What foundation?” Verity laughs openly at Emmie’s seemingly silly little question. “Oh hon, I don’t wear beauty products. I was born gorgeous.” She belts out an egregiously loud laugh and I can’t help but give a nervous laugh right along with her.

She’s confident,Fish muses.I’ll give her that.

That she is.Jellybean laughs herself.But she’s not telling the truth. Verity has an entire beauty store sitting on her bathroom counter and she spends at least an hour slathering it all over her face. Hamish used to say she was putting her mask on.

Sherlock gives a light growl at the thought of it.She’s not telling the truth!

Hmm. I wonder what else she’s willing to lie about.

“I’m just teasing.” Verity gives Emmie’s arm a quick tap. “All of my cosmetics are shipped straight from France, organic, fairtrade produced without harming the environment, of course, and custom made for my skin’s exact shade. I’ll give you one of their business cards before you leave if you’re interested.”Unfortunately, she’ll have to trade that baby in her belly for it. The stuff costs more than gold per ounce. And I would much rather have my cosmetics than a baby.

I shake my head at Emmie as if to saydon’t bother with the business card. I’d much rather she keep that baby in her belly.

“So Verity”—Jasper starts politely—“Hamish sounds like he was quite a man. It must have been a lot to juggle the farm and this place.”

Verity’s smile tightens as if someone just adjusted the dimmer switch on her face.

“Oh, absolutely.” She clears her throat. “Hamish was—passionate. He lived and breathed that farm.”And he let it take over everything,she thinks that last part to herself.Even me.

“The farm is gorgeous,” I say, leaning her way, giving her what I hope looks like an expression that saystell me all about your husbandand not so muchtell me all of your deep, dark secrets. But the latter is at peak curiosity in me at the moment. “That must’ve been tough for him. Balancing the farm with everything else. And for you, too.”

“You’d be surprised how much energy Hamish and I had for the things we were passionate about.” She lifts her chin.We were especially passionate about each other,she muses to herself.At least in those early days while we were still fun and flirty right under that witch’s nose.

I cringe at the thought she just let fly. I know for a fact she and Hamish were having an affair. Everyone knows that for a fact.

“Wait a minute…” Emmie shakes her head at the woman. “I thought I heard Hamish’s ex-wife got the farm in the divorce?”

“Not true,” Verity says and the words come out quick and sharp like only the truth can. “But that’s the lie Matilda and his daughter, Hammie Mae, like to propagate.” She openly rolls her eyes. “I mean, maybe they’vemistakenlytold people that about the farm, but the truth is that Hamish is still—wasstill battling it out over the property.” She gives a heavy sigh.I meant what I said the first time. They’re both a couple of liars.

“Sorry.” Emmie winces. “I guess Hammie Mae didn’t mention that.”

“No, she wouldn’t.” Verity casts a steely look toward the water. “And I suppose neither she nor her mother wouldmention the fact the judge ruled that in the meantime Matilda give Hamish a monthly alimony allowance of sixteen thousand dollars.”

The three of us take in a sharp breath at the steep number.

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