“See you next week,” Seton says to Lee as they finish closing down the helicopter.
“Or sooner,” he says, adding, “Cheers, mate,” to me.
He has to be six five, all muscle, with that sexy Australian accent. Seton doesn’t even pretend not to watch as he makes his way toward his car.
“What’s up with the two of you?” I ask.
“He’s new to the area and doesn’t know anyone. I told him to come to the Landing some night and I’d introduce him around.”
That’s not what that seemed like to me. “He’s really good-looking,” I say.
“Believe me, he’s well aware. And he’s old enough to be my father ... or my much older brother. I’ll pass, thank you.”
“The two of you could get matching tattoos—”
“Cut it out,” Seton says. “Those Certificates of Apology only last so long. Besides, I hear you spent yesterday with a certain TV star. Are you two a thing again?”
“We never were a thing,” I say as we move toward our cars.
“Probably for the best,” Seton says. “Gilcrest isobsessedwith her. He calls her his second chance, but he’s convinced Freya’s about to hightail it back to New York and is in Panicsville.” She tosses her bag into her cruiser. “Watch yourself, Charlie. Freya can be intoxicating. Don’t get a broken heart on top of what else is going on.”
I let the advice settle in, knowing that it comes from a place of kindness. “You’re a good pilot,” I say. “Let’s get drinks tonight ... or dinner.”
Seton opens the driver’s-side door on her cruiser. “Are you asking me on a date?”
“Should I be?”
“Not till you figure out what’s going on with Freya.”
“Freya and I are friends, nothing more,” I say. “You might mention that to Gilcrest next time you see him.”
Seton sweeps hair out of my eyes, letting her hand linger on my cheek. “I told you already, I don’t want to make a mistake.”
I press my hand over hers and inch closer. “How about a friendly drink, then?”
“I’ll have to take a rain check, unless you want to get together later.”
“Are you meeting Lee?”
Seton steps away from me, her hand dropping to her side, relegating us right back to the friend zone. “I’m not dating Lee! Stop being weird. I’m on duty till ten o’clock. If you’re at the Landing when I get there, we can have a drink. Otherwise, you’re on your own.”
She slides into the driver’s seat and starts the car. I lean on the open window. “The night before the fire, Jane called your mom—”
“I know,” Seton says, cutting me off. “I know everything about the case, except what Gilcrest doesn’t tell me, which I hope isn’t very much. You, on the other hand, don’t need to know anything. In fact, the less you know, the better. It’ll keep you out of Gilcrest’s line of fire.”
“Did you get that pint glass tested for DNA?”
“I told you I would. I should have results in a few days.”
“Would you tell me if someone reported seeing my father?” I ask.
Seton closes her eyes. “Probably not,” she says. “If I help you think through why your mother called mine, will you leave the rest of the investigation alone?”
“Maybe,” I say.
“That’s the best I can hope for,” Seton says. “Occam’s razor: Start with the simplest explanation possible, not a crazy one, and go from there. In this case, the simplest explanation is Jane called my mom about catering, because the Landing caters most events on the lake, and that’s what most people call my mom about. Also, Jane’s hired my mom to cater events before, even if they don’t like each other. It helps being the only game in town.”
“Why would my mother want to meet at Burkehaven? Wouldn’t she place the order over the phone?”
