Page 24 of A Whisker in the Night

“Yes, so am I.” Her smile doesn’t falter, but her thoughts scatter like startled pigeons. And then her expression breaks and suddenly she looks crestfallen. “The poor dear,” Verity says, giving Jellybean a quick nod. “I’ve been so lost in grief.” She pulls a monogrammed handkerchief from her pants pocket and dabs at nonexistent tears. “I thought that by throwing myself in my work it would get my mind off of things and lessen the sting, but nothing seems to help.” She offers a crumpled smile to Jellybean. “She was always Hamish’s shadow. That little ratchaser followed him everywhere.”He loved that cat more than anything. Maybe more than me.

My heart cinches because I certainly know how deeply the love for a pet can run. It sounds as if Hamish adored Jellybean, and rightly so.

“We’ve been taking good care of her,” I say just above a whisper. “She’s been a pleasure. And she gets along great with both my cat and my dog.” I give Sherlock Bones a pat on the head as I say it.

“Oh, that’s wonderful to hear!” Verity’s relief feels genuine. “Hey? Would you mind terribly keeping her a bit longer? She was really Hamish’s cat. I’m not much of a pet person, and with everything happening... and now with the move. I’m not leaving town, I’m just ditching my house. It’s far too big, and I don’t want to be rolling around in it all alone. Besides, there are too many memories there. You understand.”

“We certainly do,” I say. “And I don’t mind one bit.”

“Wonderful,” she beams, blinding us with those glittering white teeth before her expression grows sober once again. “Detective”—she turns to my handsome hubby—“have you found whoever did this to my poor husband?”

Jasper quickly shakes his head. “Not yet. But I have high hopes this will come to a quick conclusion.”

“I’m sure it will,” she says with a single nod.In fact, I know it will. It couldn’t be more obvious who did this, and I’m going to make sure he hears an earful of exactly who and why.

A breath hitches in my throat at the thought.

I cannot wait to hear all about it.

The baby kicks again, reminding me that no matter how this conversation goes, at least we’re guaranteed an excellent meal.

And maybe a killer on the side.

Chapter 14

Verity Westoff leads Emmie, Jasper, and me—and the furry among us by proxy—to a prime corner table on the patio, right here at the Celebration Café where the service kicks into overdrive.

A waitress materializes out of nowhere with heated hand towels scented with cucumber and mint—because clearly, we’re not in Cider Cove anymore. Another waitress follows with fresh flutes of sparkling cider and what looks like a five-star culinary cornucopia filled with edible flowers, tiny vegetables, and artfully arranged dipping sauces that I’m pretty sure cost more than my maternity jeans—and these jeans were not cheap.

“Our chef’s seasonal gift,” the server sings as if he were presenting us with the Crown Jewels. “And here are today’s menus.”

The leather-bound menu newly in my hands is a work of art with each dish described in flowing calligraphy so elegant it could make any wedding invitation green with envy.

The baby does an excited flip as I spot the Szechuan chicken lettuce wraps with pickled watermelon radish, crispy rice noodles, and house-made hoisin sauce. Oh yes, baby, we aredefinitely ordering that. I give my belly a pat as if to reassure them of the fact.

Fish sniffs from over my shoulder.Even the menu is trying too hard,she mewls from her perch on the seat next to me alongside Jellybean.

Sherlock gives a soft woof from down below.Get a load out of that seafood tower heading our way! I have a feeling this place isn’t trying too hard—they’ve got the food to back it up.

He’s not wrong.

A server quickly walks by with what can only be described as a masterpiece set on four tiers of silver. Butter-poached Maine lobster tails. Oysters nestled in seaweed like they’ve just been plucked from a mermaid’s dinner table. Massive king crab legs. Smoked salmon. And right in the center? A glass bowl of caviar, surrounded by tiny buckwheat blini that are almost too cute to eat.

Verity spots me drooling over it and snaps her fingers at the waiter, stopping him short and pointing at him hard to land the food on our table and he does just that.

Both Emmie and I gasp with delight.

“Compliments of the house,” Verity says with a smile so tight I half expect it to snap like an overworked rubber band. “You simply must try our signature tower. The smoked salmon is Hamish’s own recipe.”Was his recipe. Was.

We thank her profusely and soon we’re putting in our orders—the lettuce wraps for me, spring lamb for Emmie, and lobster thermidor for Jasper. And the longer Verity remains in our presence, the more her hand keeps drifting to the tiny rose pendant on her necklace as she zips it back and forth with a sizzle.

Interesting tic she’s got there,Fish mewls my way and I nod in agreement.

She only does that when she’s nervous,Jellybean points out.Like the night she and Hamish fought about the?—

“Well, I guess I’ll leave you to your meal.” Verity’s lips quiver as she says it.

“Please join us,” I’m quick to offer. And note to self: shake down Jellybean later to find out what Verity and Hamish argued about. Although they were married. They could have argued about leaving the toothpaste cap off, and that’s hardly grounds for murder.

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