I took a sip of my coffee. “We also know you both lied when you said you never received a valentine in the mail. Sasha just gave us hers. And Hunter, we found yours in your nightstand.”
Hunter scowled and slammed down his to-go cup. “You went through my stuff?”
“Your house is a crime scene,” Zane said. “So yes, we did.”
“Who sent them to you?” I asked.
Hunter and Sasha looked at each other. Something passed between them, but neither spoke right away.
“We don’t know,” Hunter finally said.
I crossed my arms and leaned back in my seat. “Really? Maybe Eliza Nordic?”
Sasha’s eyes went wide. “Why do you say that?”
I decided to play a hunch and see where it landed. I was fishing, but they didn’t need to know that. “That’s who Rayna and Reed thought sent them.”
“Reed got one too?” Sasha asked.
“You know what else makes me curious?” I said, not answering her question. “Why did you five get them? What secret are you keeping?”
Hunter and Sasha sat back from the table and refused to answer.
“I don’t think Eliza sent them,” I said. “You know what I think? I think someone in your friendly circle suspected you two were having an affair, and so they sent the valentines to see who would break first. Which one of you would admit to it.”
Zane nodded. “Could be Mari sent them out herself, just to see who would talk.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Hunter sputtered.
I sat up and leaned over the table. “And then do you know what I think happened? I think you two panicked and decided to kill Mari. You met up under the guise of a business meeting yesterday, but really it was a tryst to remind yourselves why you were doing this. Sasha leaves your office first, goes to see Mari. Since there wasn’t a break in, Mari obviously knew her killer. Sasha goes inside, and then what, Sasha?” I studied the fairy over the lip of my coffee. “Did you bring one of your twines from your store, strangle Mari, and then Hunter comes home and pretends to find her, but not before you both make sure you’ve left no evidence behind?”
“That’s ridiculous!” they shouted simultaneously.
“Really?” I said. “Because it makes perfect sense to me. I think you two killed Mari to keep your affair secret and to start a life together.”
Hunter slammed his hand down on the table. “That’snotwhat happened!”
Sasha put her hand on Hunter’s arm. “They’re just trying to get you worked up, Hunter. They have no proof of any of this.”
“Daddy?” Jayla called out, setting her book down. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine, honey,” Hunter called back. “Go back to your book.”
Zane’s cell phone pinged, and he pulled it out. “That’s Doc Treestone. Autopsy is done, and Barbie is ready with the forensics.”
I stood and gave them my most sympathetic smile. “You two had your chance to come clean. Anything we come across now—”
“Fine,” Hunter said. “We’ll tell you about the valentines.”
“No!” Sasha hissed. “Shut up, Hunter!”
I sat back down and stared at Hunter, not wanting to give him a chance to back down. “Tell us. What was the big secret the valentine cards were hinting at?”
Hunter ran his hands through his perfect hair and sighed. “Fifteen years ago, we played a prank on someone that went horribly wrong.”
“What kind of prank?” I asked.
“It was our senior year,” Hunter said, “and there were these two girls who weresomean. I’m talking mean to everyone. They thought themselves better than the rest of us. They were always laughing at us and stuff.”
