Page 2 of Her Lips Are Sealed

TWO

Detective Morgan Brookes knocked on the rectory door, two lattes in a cup holder in one hand, fist poised ready to knock again when the door opened.

Theo grinned at her. ‘Well, if it isn’t the Morgan Brookes. To what do I owe this honour?’

‘It’s been too long, hasn’t it? I was in the neighbourhood and thought I’d come say hi.’

‘Did Declan put you up to this? I hope he hasn’t been making you feel bad. I know how busy you’ve been.’

She shook her head. ‘No, he did not. I’ve missed you and Declan a lot this past couple of months and thought I’d come see how you were doing.’

She followed him inside to the kitchen that smelled of freshly baked bread and groaned. ‘That smells divine, I love home-made bread.’

‘Me too, although I’m not sure it loves me. I have a fresh loaf you can take home with you.’ He patted his stomach and laughed. Then began to wrap a small, wonky loaf of crusty white bread in some greaseproof paper. He handed it to her and she inhaled deeply.

‘Thank you,’ she replied. ‘If you happen to see Ben, don’t mention this because I think I’m going to eat it all myself,’ she said as an afterthought.

Theo laughed. ‘Well, you can afford to do that. Your secret is safe with me. So, what’s been going on in your world, Morgan? I don’t read the paper anymore, not after my incident, and I only go on the church Facebook group to post activities and events. And I do not under any circumstances read the comments.’ He smiled. ‘My fragile ego just can’t cope with that level of hostility about an autumn fair.’

Morgan snorted with laughter. ‘The women’s circle is still at it then?’

Theo nodded. ‘Unfortunately, the comments can sometimes be unhinged and then they turn up for the meetings and carry on as if they never insulted half of the congregation. It’s quite something.’

Morgan grinned at him. ‘Has Declan not filled you in at all on my awful life and all the stuff that’s been happening?’

He shook his head. ‘Not unless he needs to talk a case through. He is totally babysitting me and I kind of like it. I was never cut out for the stuff that the pair of you deal with, and it’s beyond me how you do it.’

Morgan put the cups down on the table and the loaf then wrapped her arms around Theo’s waist. ‘Not many people are and my overactive imagination helps a lot, but it’s hard to switch it off at times and I struggle to believe how innately cruel and evil some people can be towards others.’

He hugged her back, rocking her from side to side, and she didn’t want to tear away from him. Theo was her safe space, away from work, and now that they had got over her trying to blame a couple of murders on him, they were the best of friends. She paused. She definitely had an overactive imagination because she’d tried to blame Scotty for a couple of murders too. Not being able to trust anyone – she guessed it was normal in her job and given her background.

When they broke apart at the same time, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. ‘I have missed you, Morgan. Please don’t leave it so long next time.’

‘I promise I won’t.’

He pointed to one of the chairs. ‘So, tell me, what’s going on with you and Ben? Is everything good between you both? Declan is furious that he never proposed to you in New York.’

‘Hahaha, he’s so funny, but I am okay with that and yes we’re good, never been better. Besides we’re going to Salem in a couple of weeks and if he doesn’t propose to me outside of The Witch House or The House of the Seven Gables then I may have to take matters into my own hands. I keep looking at black wedding dresses and I’m in love; I have this whole Pinterest board full of them. I can see an intimate, dramatic Gothic wedding on my horizon.’

‘But you’ll let me marry the pair of you?’

She felt bad. He looked so hopeful, but how could she tell him she didn’t want to get married in his church after Des’s body had been found inside of it and Theo had almost died on the front steps?

‘Of course, unless we end up getting married abroad.’ Getting married in Salem would be her idea of heaven, and she’d even been looking into venues just in case. She’d never mentioned any of this to Ben though. It was her little side quest and, to be honest, it was helping her to switch off spending hours online looking for the perfect dress and setting.

‘Maybe you and Declan will get married before we do.’ She winked at him and he laughed.

‘I wouldn’t hold your breath.’

Morgan’s phone began to vibrate in her pocket, and she knew before she even looked at it that it was work. She had taken the afternoon off, taken some time back from the thousands of hours owing to her for all the murder cases she had worked tirelessly to solve the past couple of years. She looked at Theo and rolled her eyes.

‘I’m so sorry, Theo, I have to take this.’

He nodded, picked up his latte and began to sip it.

‘Ben.’

‘Morgan, are you busy?’