The hour grew late, and couples began to pair off, looking for spare staterooms below deck.
I kicked the stragglers off the boat and told them they didn't have to go home, but they couldn't stay here.
Tiffany said to me, "It's been entertaining, deputy. I appreciate your hospitality. Would you mind walking me to my car?”
"Not at all," I said. "Are you okay to drive?"
"On second thought, I should probably call for a rideshare. I've had a few glasses of wine. Maybe a few too many.”
"A wise choice.”
"Or I could always stay here until I sober up, if you don't mind.” She tried to play it off as innocent, and it was almost convincing.Almost. Her sultry gaze seemed like an invitation.
"I don't think that would be such a good idea, given the current situation," I said.
"Oh, I didn’t mean to suggest anything.”
"Of course not.”
Tiffany called for a rideshare, and I escorted her to the parking lot and waited until her driver arrived.
The paparazzi still loitered around, and they didn't waste any time snapping photos and taking videos.
"Now that you’ve been cleared of any wrongdoing, what will you do?”
"Do you think it's appropriate to attend a party so soon after your husband's demise?”
"Have you already started dating?"
Tiffany ignored them, said goodbye, and hopped into the silver sedan. She rode off into the night.
The paparazzi followed me back to theAvventura.
"Are you romantically involved with Tiffany Madison?"
"No."
"Do you think it's appropriate for county deputies to fraternize with former persons of interest?"
"The Coconut County Sheriff's Department remains committed to solving Coach Madison's murder.”
"Is Tiffany Madison still considered a suspect?”
"Not at this time," I said before crossing the passerelle to the aft deck.
I stepped into the salon, petted Buddy, then climbed up to my stateroom and got ready for bed. Buddy and Fluffy decided to follow. The aloof white cat seemed to be craving affection. WhenI got into bed, she crawled up beside me, purring and flapping her tail as I crashed out. Buddy curled up at the foot of the bed.
One big happy family.
My phone buzzed in the morning with a call from Sheriff Daniels. He was not happy. "Wild, what the hell is going on?”
23
"Well, I was sleeping if you want to know the truth," I said to the sheriff.
His gruff voice crackled through the speaker in my phone. "Tiffany Madison better not be lying next to you.”
"Nope. I don't see her." Daniels had clearly seen the paparazzi photos and read the gossip blogs. Somebody must have pointed it out to him.
