Page 18 of The Anniversary Party

CHAPTER9

Sasha and Leo left Hank and Bodhi in charge of breaking into John and Hatty’s office to search for some means of communication with the outside world. Naya, Maisy, and Chris—under Daniel’s watchful eye—were in charge of keeping Stoddard’s guests relatively relaxed and as happy as could reasonably be expected in the library.

Aroostine and Carl tagged along with Sasha and Leo to scout for a good spot to conduct interviews. They settled on the breakfast nook off the large commercial kitchen. The cozy space tucked behind a butler’s pantry was painted in a buttery yellow with bright blue accents. Sasha imagined the Carlisles ate their meals in this smaller, more homey room rather than the large formal dining room across from the library. When the sky outside wasn’t dark gray and heavy with snow, sunshine probably streamed through the big windows, making it even brighter and more cheerful.

“I think people will be comfortable here. As comfortable as they’re going to be, at least,” Leo declared.

Sasha nodded her agreement and turned to Aroostine and Carl. “Will you bring Annette down?”

“Sure thing,” Carl answered.

“After that, maybe Carl and I should go back to the other house and do a sweep for weapons,” Aroostine suggested.

Sasha glanced outside and frowned. “The weather looks awful.”

“It is awful. And it’s only going to get worse,” Aroostine told her before turning to Leo. “You and Bodhi didn’t search the bedrooms, right?”

“No. Not with all the guests still there.” He rubbed a hand over the five o’clock shadow that had appeared on his chin. “I don’t like the idea of the two of you roaming around in this storm. Especially not in the dark and not with a killer on the loose, but it needs to be done.”

“I don’t think anybody’s wild about the idea,” Carl said. “But we’ll stick together and be back in a flash.”

That was Carl. Always ready to help. Low-key and steadfast, he was the yin to Naya’s fiery, intense yang.

“Stay frosty,” Leo told him.

“Will do,” he responded.

“We’ll be fine,” Aroostine assured them before the pair left the room.

Sasha watched them go with a tightness in her chest. After a moment, she shook out her hands and rolled her neck in small circles, first one way and then the other.

“Is this your detective warmup?” Leo asked.

She smiled despite herself. “Something like that.”

It would have been more efficient for them to split up to do the interviews. But she felt justified in insisting they conduct them together. After all, thiswastheir anniversary weekend. If they couldn’t spend it laughing with their friends, eating and drinking, and making love, at least they could spend it together.

Leo seemed to know what she was thinking because he pressed a kiss onto her neck and murmured, “I love you.”

She snuggled into his side and reveled in his warm, solid presence while they awaited their first interviewee. They’d agreed to start with Annette because she seemed the least likely to have killed her brother. Although, Sasha mused, if she had bashed his brains in, it had been a stroke of brilliance to draw attention to ‘finding’ his body loudly and with great fanfare to explain away the blood on her dress. Brilliant and ice cold. But it seemed unlikely she’d have been able to feign fainting. Unless she was a trained actress, Sasha supposed.

Aroostine and Carl returned with Annette tucked protectively between them.

“Thanks,” Sasha said.

“How’s everything in the room?” Leo asked.

“They’ve actually left the library,” Carl began.

Leo’s mouth tightened into a frown.

“It’s okay,” Aroostine reassured him. “There's a grand piano in the parlor. Chris is playing for them. Daniel’s stationed at the door, Naya’s maintaining order, and Maisy’s making the rounds playing hostess. They’ve got it under control.”

Carl gave Aroostine a hearty slap on the back. “Ready to go take a nice bracing walk?”

She groaned softly as they headed out.

Annette sank into the cushioned banquette seat across from Sasha and Leo and mustered up a tired, unconvincing smile.

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