Page 150 of Murder on Charity Lane

“For life extension.” He continued to read. “Ocean thinks that’s why the killer cut his throat. To shed his blood. She thinks his ‘vampire blood business’ hurt someone, that’s why they murdered him. Revenge.”

Lily-Ann finally focused on him. “Hamilton mentioned that earlier. They’re wrong. I’m almost certain I know who killed them.”

“Them? Both of them?”

“Yes, both of them.”

“Are you going to tell me?”

She frowned. “I’m not completely certain.”

“Was it one person?”

“There are two killers,” she said. “I think.”

“Two killers and two bodies.”

“No,” she said. “Two killers and three bodies, at the very least.”

Anthony cracked his knuckles as he considered. Three bodies? Who else was dead? Nobody. Except maybe CJ, given that note. And she was the only suspect who made sense. She’d inherited over a hundred grand. Nobody else seemed to care about that, but plenty of people would kill for a couple hundred. Plus, she’d disappeared without saying goodbye to Mrs. B. So maybe she’d killed herself out of guilt. That would’ve been easier to believe if she weren’t clearly still carrying a torch for Ocean.

He grabbed two beers from the fridge, poured one into a glass with a wedge of lime, and returned to the living room. When he set Lil’s beer on the coaster, she looked at the glass for a few seconds, then her expression changed, blossoming into something softer.

“What?” he said.

“You didn’t forget my lime.”

“’Course not.”

She said, “I think I’m falling in love with you.”

“It’s about time. I’ve loved you for months.”

She nodded briskly, then turned away to hide the flush of pleasure on her cheeks, which made him love her even more. “Good!” she said. “Good. So, uh, where were we?”

“You think you know who killed them, but you’re not sure.”

“Right. Yes.”

“What do you need to be certain?”

“Evidence.”

“Where can we find it?”

She sipped her beer. “Do you know how to pick a lock?”

“No.”

“I thought criminals learned that in prison.”

“No.”

“Pity,” she said.

Anthony finished his beer and brought the empty to the kitchen. Lily-Ann wasn’t fond of his cooking, but she liked how he prepped. She’d assigned him to start the Mexican slaw, which she said paired well with the lamb, so he started slicing the cabbage thin, with a couple onions and carrots waiting their turn. He’d never eaten so many vegetables in his life.

Lily-Ann slipped behind him, putting one hand on his waist. “I’ll make a few more phone calls.”