Page 49 of A Little Bit Whiskey
“I’ll agree that Fred came in a little hot. But so did you,” Noir said.
“Only because I wanted to make sure your folks weren’t keeping anything from me because of Fred. I believe what your parents told me. I’m struggling to trust that Fred doesn’t already have one of them pegged as guilty, and that’s not like him and I want to know why.”
“There’s no way of shutting off that brain of yours, is there?”
“I wish there was.”
“Let’s head back to the cottage.” Noir kissed her temple. “What did Fred say to you on the way to my parents’?”
She scoffed. “He doesn’t believe now is a good time for me to be moving in with you. He wanted me to put the brakes on the relationship, just until the investigation was over.”
“While I don’t agree, my dad mentioned his own concern about that.”
“Why?”
Noir hit the light on his cell, illuminating a pathway through the darkness. “He doesn’t want any undue pressure on you. If you feel safe and secure here, then he wants you here. But if you feel conflicted staying on the property, or if you’re going to wander to the grave site constantly, then he thought maybe I should go back with you to your place for the time being. Or maybe Dax and Chablis’. They have a garage apartment.”
“So, he doesn’t think we should call it quits?”
“Neither does my mother,” Noir said. “But they understand the situation. It’s complicated. They don’t want to put you in a difficult position.”
“This sucks and taking time off works feels like I’m being sidelined. I can’t sit around and do nothing.”
“You’re not and I’m going to help you. Nebbiolo agreed to cut his honeymoon short. He’s coming back tomorrow.”
“That’s nice of him.”
Noir chuckled. “June’s got bad morning sickness, so it’s for the best anyway.”
Tamsyn paused ten paces from the cottage. “She’s pregnant?”
“Why do think they ran off and got married? I guess her parents aren’t as understanding about those kinds of things as my parents are.”
“We’re not living in the dark ages. People have kids all the time without being married. That’s ridiculous.” She marched toward the cottage, pausing at the front door. “Someone left a package.” She lifted a manila envelope. “For me.”
“That’s strange. I was only gone for a half hour.” He scanned the area. “There’s a fresh set of tire tracks. My dad’s at poker and my mom always waits up for him. I’ll call her and see if she saw the car that came down.”
“Aren’t you the little detective.” She waved her hand. “Let’s see what this is first.”
“You’re the boss.”
“Don’t you ever forget it.”
Noir helped her with her coat, hanging it up on the rack before shedding his own. He refreshed their cocoa and sat at the island, waiting patiently as she examined the envelope.
“It just has my name on it. Typed. Nothing to indicate where or who it came from.” Barely touching it, she lifted the metal prongs and dumped out the pages inside. “It’s copies of canceled checks. From your father to my mother.”
“That’s it?”
“No. There’s a sticky note that reads:hush money.”
“That’s bullshit. My dad gave your mom money. He’s never denied it.” Noir tapped his cell. His mom picked up on the second ring.
“Hello, son. What can I do for you this evening?”
“Did you see a car come down to the cottage in the last half hour or so?”
“I was soaking in the tub, so no. I’m sorry, I didn’t. Why, is something wrong?”
