“Did you speak to anyone after three?” I asked. “Maybe on the phone, or did anyone stop by?”
“No. I was by myself planning next month’s store layout until Hunter called me around six-thirty to tell me what had happened and that he was going to Supernatural Sport Resort with Jayla for a few days.”
“So you already knew about Mari?” Zane mused.
She took a sip of her apple martini. “Yes.”
I nodded. “And no one can corroborate you were here between three and five?”
“Look,” Sasha snapped, “I didn’t know I was going to need an alibi, okay. I simply came home and was here. I didn’t kill Mari.”
“Fair enough,” Zane said. “Do you know of anyone who might have wanted to hurt Mari?”
It took everything I had not to add “besides you”to the end of Zane’s question. But antagonizing Sasha wouldn’t get me any closer to the truth as to who killed Mari.
Sasha snorted. “No. I have no idea who would want to hurt Mari. Like I said, we weren’t that close anymore.”
“Her husband didn’t mention anyone to you?” I asked, giving in to my pettiness just a little.
Sasha glared at me. “No. We didn’t spend our time talking about Mari.”
Again, I had to bite back the retort dancing on my tongue.
“Thank you for your time, Sasha,” Zane said.
Zane and I stood, and Sasha did the same.
“One last question,” I said. “Mari and Hunter both received ominous valentines in the mail recently. Did you receive one?”
Sasha’s eyes widened just slightly before she shook her head emphatically. “No. I don’t think so.” She picked up her drink off the table. “I’ll see you out.”
Zane and I followed her to the front door, but we didn’t speak until we got into the Aston.
“She admitted to sleeping with Hunter,” I said. “But I think she was lying about the valentine. What do you think?”
“I think you might be right.” He pulled out of the driveway. “Ready to call it a night and have some dinner?”
I grinned over at him. “And dessert?”
Zane laughed. “And dessert.”
“I wonder if Nyxie liked her gift from Savage?” I mused as Zane pulled out of Sasha’s driveway.
Zane laughed. “I still can’t believe the cats are exchanging Valentine’s gifts.”
“Wait until you see yours,” I said, thinking of the rare book I’d wrapped after making the tuna cakes. “You’re gonna love it.”
11
“No Link today?” Rota mused as she sat down at Zane’s kitchen table the next morning.
I tossed my long braid over my shoulder and sat down across from her. “Nope. I think he’s still celebrating his first Valentine’s Day as a newly married pixie.”
“How did your lava cake turn out, Kara?” Alfred asked, setting down a bowl of oatmeal in front of Zane.
“Pretty good,” I said.
Zane winked at me. “Don’t be modest. It was excellent.” He smoothed down his midnight blue Armani jacket before taking a drink of his espresso. “Thank you, Alfred.” He picked up his spoon and smiled at me. “The cake was moist, and the chocolate was warm and rich.”
