“Don’t rush me. I might have the glimmer of an idea.”
“Fair enough. Before we head back to take care of our own business, what’s the game plan?” Harper returned the broomstick to the cupboard.
I recapitulated. “Tackle Skye about her lies.”
Ange lifted her hand. “I’ll do that, and you do your human lie detector thing while I make her open up like a clam that’s breathing on the beach.”
We all grinned at that picture. “Check out the motel connection,” I continued.
“I told you, we’ll take care of that,” Harper said.
“Which leaves me with another visit to see Trey Stone. Candice says the police in Cannon Hill had a search warrant for her room. I’d liketo know what they were searching for, and with any luck he can help me there.”
We agreed to regroup after lunch. That gave me a chance to take care of my own duties for once and visit the detective.
I only wished we had other suspects than Candice and Skye. I didn’t want to see the henna artist guilty, but she’d lied to our faces. She wouldn’t get away with it again.
Chapter 21
With the library in apple pie order, I left Cosmo to take a restorative nap and set out to have a chat with the detective. I caught him on his lunch break which he spent with his girlfriend, my pal and lawyer, Louisa.
They were at theAxes & Grinds, an axe-throwing venue with a flourishing café. I knew, because I’d seen them enter, hand in hand.
When I arrived, all the axes were safely locked away in their cupboards, and the scent of fresh coffee and sweet mead competed with the smell of the meatball subs that Trey Stone and Louisa unwrapped at the bar.
The detective greeted me with a wary look, while Louisa motioned me to sit next to her. “Thanks,” I said.
Niels, one of the two owners, gave me a blinding smile. “Hello, stranger. It’s been a while. What can I get you?”
“A latte to go, please.”
To Louisa and Trey, I said, “I won’t disturb you long.”
“Nonsense,” Louisa said, but it didn’t take witchcraft to see that they’d planned to be private; fair enough in a relatively new relationship.
“I only have a question or two for Trey.”
Niels brought my coffee.
I let it sit to cool off for a minute or two.
Trey grimaced. “Fire away.”
Louisa covered her ears. “Pretend I’m not here.”
“It’s fine, I trust your discretion,” I said.
She lowered her hands. “Good.”
“I’ve been talking to the person in Cannon Hill. The young woman.” Odds were, Louisa knew exactly who I was talking about, but this way, I didn’t out Candice explicitly. The fewer people were aware of Candice’s problem, and my connection to her, the better.
“Right.” Trey bit into his sub and chewed slowly.
“She had her room searched.”
“It happens.”
“Absolutely. What I’m wondering is, why? And also, did the police find what they were after?”
