Deidre smoothed back her hair. “You’re going to need to dial it down a bit, Dolores. It’s five in the morning.”
“Oh, you.” Dolores tossed a hand toward Deidre. “Cheer up. The unexpected is often fun.”
Laurel shook her head. “No, it usually isn’t. However, in this instance, I think you’ll both enjoy the spa.”
Deidre reached for her carry-on bag. “I don’t know, Laurel. What about—”
“It’s all taken into account, Mom,” Laurel said. “Your employees can handle the shipments from the warehouse. We haven’t opened your shop yet, so there’s no reason for you not to enjoy yourself. You love this trip every year, and now it’s starting out with a spa weekend.”
Dolores clapped her hands together loudly. “A spa, a real fancy type of spa. You know movie stars go there, Deidre. We may see somebody famous.”
Deidre sighed. “We’re not going to see anybody famous.”
“You might,” Laurel countered. “I heard many actresses go to detox at this place. I think you’re going to love it.”
Deidre pulled her in for a hug. “All right, Laurel. I’ll leave town, but you be careful, okay? Promise me.”
“Of course I’ll be careful.”
They both stiffened as headlights showed down the driveway.
“Who would be here at this time of morning?” Dolores asked, turning and making all of her jewelry jangle.
Laurel narrowed her eyes at seeing Monty Buckley’s Fish and Wildlife truck. “Perhaps Monty is coming to say goodbye to you.”
“How thoughtful,” Dolores said. “He likes you, Deidre.”
Monty slowly exited his truck. “Huck told me where to find you, Laurel.”
“Is everything all right?” Laurel asked.
He shook his head. “Not really. There has been a new development in the case.” He looked at Deidre and then Dolores. “We can discuss it after these two get on their way.”
“Oh, no,” Deidre said.
“That’s okay, Mom.” Laurel gave her another hug and ushered her toward the town car. “You need to get to the airport to catch your flight. It’s quite a drive. I’ll miss you, but I love you, and I want you to have fun.”
Monty moved in and reached for Deidre’s hands. “Have a wonderful time, and when you return, I’ll be a hundred percent. We’ll party like the kids do.”
Deidre smiled at him. “Take care of my girl, Monty.”
“You know I will,” Monty said cheerfully.
Laurel barely kept from rolling her eyes but safely deposited her mother and Dolores in the vehicle. Then she watched as it slowly drove away. “What development in the case?”
Monty’s shoulders hunched. “We have another body.”
Laurel ran back toward the house. “I need a heavier jacket and my weapon. Tell me what happened.”
Monty hustled after her. “We received a distress call from a personal locator beacon about an hour ago.”
She barreled inside. “Please tell me it wasn’t out at Witch Creek.”
“It was out at Witch Creek.” He coughed.
“Damn it.” She kicked off her slippers and yanked on her heavier boots and a thick parka before fetching her weapon and a travel mug containing warm tea. “Would you like me to brew you a coffee?”
“No, I’ve got one,” Monty said.
