"If it isn't Judge Cross."
Edward Bonegard got up from his chair and held out his hand to shake. Known as Boner, his English accent was strong, his grin always wide and genuine.
I didn't miss the way he put himself between me and his girlfriend, Harlow. Technically, she was the girlfriend of all four of them, including my sons. That made her a daughter-in-law of sorts.
"Forrest," Harlow greeted. Friendly enough, but visibly curious as to why I'd asked to meet them all here. She stood and offered Sable a smile. "Sable."
The redheaded chef owned this restaurant, Angel's Rest, but that wasn't why we were here.
I glanced behind me as Woody stalked into the restaurant. He dragged a chair out from under another table, letting the feet scrape, before he flopped down on it.
"What are we here for?" he asked.
I did the introductions.
"You know my friend, Leif Larsen." I nodded toward him. "This is Woody Taylor-Francis."
Harlow's eyebrows twitched, confirming what I already suspected.
"Related to Wolfgang Taylor-Francis?" she asked, glancing between me and Sable.
Harlow herself asked me to keep an eye on Sable. I'd long suspected she had a reason for doing that, beyond women looking after other women. That was admirable, but there was more to this.
"Shall we sit?"
I pulled over a chair for Sable, and one for myself, facing Harlow in particular.
"Is there a problem?" Cass asked, frowning as he pushed his hair off his forehead. He was always doing that, even after he had a haircut.
"No problem," I said easily. "I'm sure you all know Wolfgang Taylor-Francis was brutally murdered."
"Yes, such a shame," Harlow said sarcastically. "He was such a gem."
Woody glared at her.
I pointed a finger at him. "Don't even think it."
Woody frowned and shrugged. "Wasn't thinking anything."
I rolled my eyes. Of course he was. No one was fooled, particularly me.
"Sable told me the killers were a man and a woman," I continued.
"She says it wasn't her," Woody added, unconvinced he wasn't right all along.
I watched Harlow's reaction carefully. She didn't flinch. Didn't twitch an eyebrow.
"Isn't that interesting? Are you suggesting something, Judge Cross?" She smiled sweetly.
"As a matter of fact, I am," I said. "I have a feeling you know what type of person Wolfgang was."
"He was a fucking piece of shit," Boner said bluntly. "Archer, tell them." He elbowed Archer.
"He liked to hurt people," Archer said simply. "Not just Sable. Other people. Innocent people. People who couldn't defend themselves."
I slid my gaze to Woody.
He was now glaring at Archer. "Do you have proof?"
