Page 65 of Transatlantic Terror Cruise

“Well, you know what they say.” Tinsley folds her arms. “You lose him how you got him.”

“Tinsley,” I hiss at the chestnut-haired menace. “She lost him todeath.”

“No, it’s okay.” Elvie lifts a hand. “She’s right. I had lost him to the affair long before he died. And that’s the real reason I was too stubborn to let him go with something simple like a divorce. I knew I’d hear that from people—especially his first wife.” She scans the crowd. “Although his first wife isn’t on this cruise.” Her eyes bounce from one passenger to the next. “But a killer is.” She nods at the two of us. “And it isn’t me. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a party to attend.”

She drifts toward the buffet and is accosted by a jovial crowd long before she ever picks up a plate.

“I believe Elvie,” I say mournfully. “Which means we’re still hunting a killer.”

“Maybe we’ve been bested,” Tinsley says as she looks out at the crowd. “Maybe they’re too clever for us.”

“Speak for yourself.”

Though in my experience, the most dangerous suspects are the ones who think they’re too clever to get caught.

The waitstaff refreshes the table laden with donuts and that sugar-glazed display manages to snag Tinsley’s attention.

“Well, I’m going to load up on carbs,” she says. “I suggest you do the same. I’m assuming an aerobic workout will be required of you as soon as you get back to your honeymoon suite.” She takes off before I can answer.

She’s not wrong.

“Ooh,” Sassy gives a ghostly moan of approval. “I’m with her. Why don’t we do a little carb-loading ourselves? You need to keep your energy up for your performance later tonight, and I’d like to tuck away a few crullers for the watch party.”

I’m about to tell her exactly what she can watch and where—and it has nothing to do with Ransom and me when a handsome devil with a thicket full of dark hair strides by.

The scene from the night of the murder comes back to me in one violent snatch, and suddenly I see Brad splayed on the floor again with that rhinestone brooch lying next to him.

A thought hits me like a freight train.

“Reed,” I say, breathless, as I jump in front of the man and grab ahold of his wrist as if he were about to fly away. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, anything.” He blinks back, looking caught off guard.

“Who was Brad’s mistress? You must have some idea.”

He ticks his head to the side. “I really wish I knew. And if I did, I wouldn’t hesitate to tell you. The only thing I do know is what Elvie and I found on his credit card receipts.”

“Oh, right,” I say. “She mentioned the hotels, the lingerie, and jewelry shops.”

“That’s how we caught him.” He shakes his head. “Sadly, he didn’t even shower Elvie with those things.”

“Brad Whipple was a mouse, not a man,” Sassy says with as much—well, for a lack of a better word—sass, as she can muster. “I’d hang him by his cookies if the jerk were still alive.”

Reed gives a robust laugh. “I’d do the same, Trixie.” He pauses to inspect me. “You know, you don’t realize it, but you just did an uncanny impersonation of a woman who I hold near and dear to my heart. I was going to make her mine for all of time, but unfortunately, she passed away not long ago.”

Sassy gasps and I quickly let go of his wrist before she says something like?—

“You’re the love of my life, Reed Williams,” she’s quick to profess.

Like that.

He closes his eyes as if he heard, despite the fact I’m no longer aiding in the supernatural effort.

“Well, thank you for telling me what you can about his mistress,” I say to the man. “I hope you have a great rest of the night.”

“You as well.” He takes a step away before backtracking. “Actually, there was one more odd detail. Brad wasn’t just showering his mistress with expensive gifts. He was gifting her an education. If you can believe it, he was paying for nursing school.” He shakes his head as he walks away.

“Nursing school?” Sassy looks stumped by the news, as do I. “Why does that sound familiar?”

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