I smiled. “Thanks, David. We appreciate it.”
He waved us off. “Really? Then come back when you’re buying something.”
“Is it me, or is it hot in here?” I asked.
The bartender grinned. “I keep it extra warm. Makes the patrons thirsty and they order more.”
Outside, the cold air was a bit of a relief from the heat inside the bar. We got into the Aston, and I waited until Zane pulled out onto the street before speaking.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” I confessed. “The blood is throwing me. I mean, we’re thinking on the day of the murder, Rayna left Bottoms Up and then confronted Mari at her houseafterfour o’clock. That’s in keeping with the time of death. But why wouldshe have blood on her blouse beforehand? And whose blood is it?”
Zane chuckled. “Looks like we’ll go see Rayna next. Get that question out of the way.”
Halter Marina Supply & Tackle wasn’t nearly as busy as it had been early in the morning. Herman, the selkie shifter who had been behind the cash register, was sweeping the floors when Zane and I entered. He looked up and frowned.
“We’re about to close,” he said, leaning on the broom. “Almost four o’clock.”
“We just need to see Rayna,” Zane said.
Herman glanced up at the office behind the counter. “She’s in there. I better go let her know you’re here. She don’t like it none when she has surprise visitors.”
We followed behind him and waited while he spoke into the phone on the counter next to the cash register. He set it down and nodded. “You can go on in. I probably won’t see you when you get out, so have a good night.”
Zane clasped the elderly man on the shoulder. “You too, Herman. Give my best to Griselda.”
Herman smiled, his worn eyes lighting up. “I’ll do that, Zane.”
I walked up the three stairs and opened the door. Rayna was behind her desk when I walked in, glasses on, papers spread out in front of her.
“I’ve got a business conference call at four-thirty,” she said without looking up. “So you’ve only got a few minutes.”
“We’ll be quick.” I strode over to her desk, Zane on my heels. “We wanted to ask you about the blouse you were wearing yesterday when you went into Bottoms Up. The one with blood on it.”
She looked up then and took off her glasses. “What about it?”
“How did you get blood on your blouse?” Zane asked.
Rayna snorted. “I work at a marina, surrounded by smelly fish all day. There’s blood all over the place. I probably brushed up against something. I don’t know.”
“You told the bartender it was ketchup,” I said.
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Because I didn’t want to announce to the world that I’d gotten fish blood and guts on me. Okay? When I noticed it, I did a quick spell to remove it. I thought I’d gotten it all, but obviously that nosy vampire said otherwise.”
“Where’s the blouse now?” I asked.
“I threw it in the fireplace when I got home. It was ruined.”
“You burned it?” I mused. “Why not just throw it away?”
“Because I like burning things.”
Of that, I had no doubt. “We have—”
The ringing of her cell phone cut me off. She glanced down and groaned. “I need to get this. If I don’t, he’ll just keep calling.”
I caught a glimpse of the screen before she answered it and saw the name “Hunter.”
“Hello?” She paused. “Are you serious? A memorial? Why?” She sighed. “Fine. What time?” Rayna glanced at Zane and me, then turned her back to us, facing the window and the expansive ocean. “Yes. I’ll be there. Seven p.m., Bottoms Up.” A short huff. “I’m not staying long, Hunter. I have a life.”She disconnected and turned back around. “Are we finished?”
