“How long have you known her name was Brownie?” I fumed.
Artie shrugged. “I don’t know. When you’re dead, it’s hard to keep track of little things like that.”
I was inches away from exploding. I inhaled a deep, calming breath, counted to ten and said, “Well, I just think it’s funny since you can’t remember other little things like how you died and who killed you. But you know the Hudsons had a niece named Brownie. How’s that?”
Artie stirred his grits. “I think she must’ve mentioned it.”
Pepper leaned over to Roan. “Is it just me or is it the strangest thing watching Blissful talk to a wall?”
Roan scrubbed a hand down his face. “Oh, it’s not just you. It’s strange, all right.”
I shot Roan a withering look. I think he shrank three inches. I shot from my chair. “Brownie Jarvis is one of the current owners of the home. She’s also the Hudsons’ granddaughter.”
“What time is it?” Pepper said.
Axel flicked his wrist to see his watch. “It’s a little after eight.” He eyed me. “Do you know where they are?”
“They might’ve returned to the house by now. The police were combing through the place, I’m guessing looking for more bodies.”
Roan grabbed his coat. “Are they done?”
“I don’t know.” He held my jacket for me, and I slipped into it. “But I say we find out.”
We reachedthe house a short time later. Axel followed us in his old Land Rover. When Roan shot out of his garage in his G-Wagon, I thought Axel would drool on his shoes. The look of absolute appreciation glazed over his face.
I wanted to pat his back and tell him I completely understood. Roan and I were old SUV soul mates.
We reached the house and discovered that Kency Blount and her men were still there. In fact, the team swarmed the front yard.
I spotted Kency on the front porch talking to an officer. “Park the car. Something’s going on.”
“Looks like they’re having a party. I’m hurt we weren’t invited.” Roan steered us onto a strip of asphalt in front of the home.
We didn’t wait for Axel. “This doesn’t look good,” Roan murmured.
“I know.” I wove myself closer to him, hoping that somehow he would protect me from whatever bad thing Kency would say.
“Blissful.” Kency didn’t bother keeping the sneer from her face. “Whatever could bring you here tonight?”
“I thought maybe y’all would be gone.” A police officer whizzed out the front door and nearly knocked into me. I lurched forward to stay out of the line of fire.
Kency rocked back on her heels. “You thought wrong.”
I peered into the front door. A tarp lay over a long mass. “Is that a body? Did you find another one?”
Kency sucked her teeth. “What’s it to you?”
“Is it Artie?”
Her eyes bulged. “Listen, I don’t know who your sources are—”
“With all due respect you know I don’t have sources. I’m clairvoyant. You know that.” I stepped forward. “Was it Artie?”
Kency tossed a long tendril of hair over her shoulder. “Keep it quiet, but yes, it was Artie.” She hitched a brow. “We found a wallet on him. Name was Artie Smith.”
Kency whirled to walk away.
Oh no, the sheriff wasn’t getting off that easily. I stepped around her, blocking Kency’s path.
