Page 37 of A Whisker in the Night

“Please tell me you didn’t,” Mom groans.

She, too, fell for something like that once, not that long ago.

“Of course not,” Georgie says with a grin. “I told him to contact Bizzy since she owns an inn. Much more room for money laundering.”

“So that’s why I got that email,” I muse.

“What about that yoga studio timeshare in Antarctica?” Mom suggests.

“Or the time you won the lottery ticket from that contest you never entered?” I add.

“Or the free cruise you won by being the millionth visitor to a website?” Jasper pinches the bridge of his nose.

Suffice it to say, Georgie has fallen victim to more than her fair share of internet scams. In fact, so much more that I’m starting to think they use her as training grounds for their nefarious troops.

“Those all sound wonderful,” Georgie brightens. “But no, nothing like that.”

Fish looks my way.Is anyone else surprised that she said wonderful instead of suspicious?

I shake my head at her. Georgie couldn’t surprise us if she tried.

Jasper rubs his temples as if a serious headache is en route. “Speaking of suspicious activities, how did things go at Westoff Farms?” He looks my way. “The video of the Great Side Dish Stampede is already trending on social media.”

My mouth falls open as he says it. “Wait, how did you know I was there?”

“You had your notifications on. And well, Georgie was live-streaming the entire thing on her Insta Pictures account.” He shrugs. “I follow her. And apparently, so do bees.”

“In my defense”—Georgie lifts a finger—“those bees were clearly working for my competition. Probably hired by that woman with the three-beeansalad. I thought she looked shifty.”

Jasper checks his watch. “Well, ladies. It looks as if I’m done for the day.” He quickly gathers his things. “How about we head back to the inn before Georgie discovers any more international investment opportunities.”

Or before Camila finds another excuse to bring Jasper gourmet coffee,Jellybean observes and I nod her way. That sweet cat is surprisingly intuitive.

We pass the front desk where Camila somehow makes scrolling the internet look seductive.

“Have a great evening,” Camila calls after us like a threat.And Bizzy? Maternity wear is so cute these days. You know what they say—women in your state are in need of it long after the baby is born.

“Very funny,” I say. “And I hear they’re hiring at the Celebration Grill. You know what they say—it’s best to leave before you’re fired.” I hook arms with my handsome hubby and Jasper lifts a brow my way.

Don’t worry,he muses internally while landing a kiss to my cheek.I have no doubt she warranted it.

The baby gives an emphatic kick of approval. Like mother, like child—we both know how to deliver a parting shot.

“Well”—Jasper says as we head to the parking lot—“between Georgie’s bee attack going viral and her bank account being cleaned out, I’d say this qualifies as a questionable Friday.”

“Oh, it’sGoodFriday,” I say, startled by the realization. “Although I guess it was a questionable Friday for Georgie. And if you think she has questions, just wait until you hear what Matilda had to say,” I tell him, kissing his lips before we split ways to get into our respective cars.

“Does dinner at the Country Cottage Café sound good?” he asks. “I’d like a meal with my full debriefing.”

“Dinner with you is always a good idea.”

We take off for Cider Cove, and all the way home the only thing I can think about is who killed Hamish Westoff right under my nose.

Okay, so I might be thinking about food, too.

But who can blame me? The Country Cottage Café has some of the best food around.

And I’m about to get me a heaping helping.

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