“Yup. Give me a sec.” Sheets rustle in the background, bare feet pad against a hardwood floor, and fingers clack on a keyboard. “Ready. What’s up?”
“Brittany Babcock.”
The young agent lets out a litany of curses, then sighs. “What has the crazy bitch gone and done now?”
I download my evening from the moment she knocked on my door.
He types for a bit. “Well, part of her story rings true. The locals did find a dead body in the restroom at a bar north of the beach on US Rte. 1… Hold on… a place called the Tiki Beach Tavern.”
My heart races, and I shudder as if someone walked over my grave. “Fuck. That’s where Brittany and I went to meet Danbury. Does it say anything about the victim? The time of death?”
“Not yet.” The young Fed sighs. “Sorry.”
“Maybe Deputy Director Trescher can volunteer our services to help solve the murder.” Unlike my boss, Kaplan, I have an excellent relationship with his direct superior.
“Your funeral.” He knows our by-the-book supervisor would never agree to an unsanctioned operation, so I don’t bother explaining.
“Can’t be helped. Call Trever, Rhonda, and Ink and have them here by morning. Reserve a suite. Give them my credit card.” Outside the bedroom window, heat lightning flashes between the clouds while thunder rumbles.
“Consider it done. Anything else?” The eagerness in his voice makes me smile.
Like me, he lives for the hunt. “Ask Trev to do a deep dive on Britt. That’s it.”
“Copy that. See ya in the A.M.”
After calling in some favors, I walk into the living room where Gwen aims her phone at our visitor. “Was your roommate murdered?”
Brittany scowls. “I already told you, yes.”
My scientist holds up the green response, indicating the truth. “And are you the prime suspect?”
“Right now, I am.” This too, is not a lie.
“Why?”
“Because the woman was not only my roommate but my lesbian lover.”
Holy shit, I did not see this one coming on my honeymoon-murder-bingo card.
“Okee dokee, guess I’m going to bed.” Gwen glares at me and raises her brows as if to say, ‘This is your mess. Deal with it.’
Chapter 6
“For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.” ~ Rudyard Kipling
Gwen
After tossing and turning throughout the night, I get up around five and make coffee. Outside the beach house’s window, streetlights shine on wind-whipped firs. Wondering if we’re in for a storm, I grab my phone, open my weather app, and learn a tropical depression has stalled off the coast.
Awesome.
“Hey, babe.” Axel peeks over my shoulder.
Inhaling pine blended witha scent unique to him, I turn my head and devour him in a kiss. Gazes heated, our mouths part. Only then do I note the dark circles lining his eyes.
“You didn’t sleep?”
“A little, but not much. Sorry about last night, sweetie.” He sounds so contrite, I want to make it up to him in bed.
