Savage purred.“He may live another day.”
Sometimes it was all I could do not to react to Savage’s monologues. How Link managed to keep a straight face was beyond me.
“I just finished my brother’s boat,” Gadray said. “It’s taken a year, but it’s finally done. I’m going to take her out today for a sail.” He glanced back inside his massive wooden barn. “I had the rigging enchanted so when the wind blows, all the lines play piano notes. He’d have loved that.”
Morton Sandu had been a famous pianist in the supernatural world before he’d been murdered.
“Speaking of untimely deaths,” Gadray continued. “I was sorry to hear about the romance writer getting killed.”
“Did you know her?” I asked.
Gadray shook his head and took another sip of coffee. “Nope. But I sailed past her house almost daily. It’s a lovely home.”
“Really?” I mused. “Did you sail past it two days ago on the day she was murdered?”
He nodded. “I did.”
“Did you see anything out of the ordinary?” Zane asked.
“Out of the ordinary? I don’t think so. Just Reed’s boat.” He frowned. “He was probably the last person to see her alive.”
“Reed Masterson?” I asked. “Reed was at Mari’s house?”
“Yeah. He was idled near Mari and Hunter’s dock. I pulled up and asked if he was okay, and he said he picked up some line in the prop. Just need to trim it off. So I let him be.”
“And you’re sure it was two days ago?” I demanded. “The evening Mari was discovered murdered?”
“Yes. I thought maybe that’s why you guys were driving by here yesterday. To see if he may have seen something while he was at her house. I’m sure he told you he stopped by.” He shrugged and took another sip of coffee. “He’d do that periodically over the years. I met up with him once as he was pulling out of her dock, and he said they’ve been friends since high school.”
“Gadray,” Zane said. “We need to—”
“Hey, is that smoke?” Gadray asked, standing up and looking toward Reed’s place.
“It is!” I cried. “Zane, we’ll never make it in time if we drive.”
“Get out of the car,” Zane said.
Gadray stepped back as I swung the door open and hurried out, Savage still in my arms.
“Want me to fly on ahead?” Link asked.
“No.” Zane unfurled his wings in a quickwhoosh. “We go together.”
“Get in my pocket, Link,” I said. “You’ll stay warm that way.”
Link zipped over to my pocket and slid inside.
“Gadray,” Zane said, “I need to leave the Aston here.”
Gadray nodded, his eyes wide. “Of course. Should I call the fire department?”
“Yes.” Zane scooped me up, and Savage let out a small growl.
“This is so not how I wanted today to go, Valkyrie. You better not get me killed or burned.”
I didn’t say anything as Zane shot up into the air. I was too worried about what we’d find. I still wasn’t sure what was going on. And I hated that feeling…because it meant we didn’t know what we’d be walking into.
24
