Page 40 of Fish and Chip: Nine Lives One Murder
“So, what brought you to park management?” Dexter asks, hands casually tucked into his pockets, relaxing again. “Career change? Witness protection program? Lost a particularly high-stakes poker game?”
I sigh. “Life change. I caught my husband doing more than the downward dog with his yoga instructor. And not the yoga position, though that would have been more dignified for all involved.” I shake my head at the memory. “When I suggested he find alternate living arrangements, he informed me that as the primary breadwinner, the house was morehisthan mine. As if twenty-five years of marriage came with a receipt and return policy.”
“That’s rough,” Dexter says, his voice softening.
“Like sandpaper underwear,” I agree. “But the universe has a twisted sense of humor. Twenty-four hours after leaving my perfectly manicured suburban life, I’m managing a theme park where pirate wenches flash the audience and cotton candy machines have better flame-throwing capabilities than most military equipment.”
“And you’re finding dead bodies.”
“That, too. Not my favorite new hobby, though it ranks slightly above discovering my husband’s extracurricular activities.”
We pause at a bench near the MagicalMarvels Hollow entrance, its blue castle glowing with an eerie internal light as dusk settles around us. An elderly couple shuffles past, the man wearing aHuckleberry Hollow Wonderland 1973t-shirt that’s faded to the point where it looks like a watercolor painting.
“Do you have children?” Dexter asks, watching the couple with a distant expression.
“Two daughters at Brambleberry Bay University. McKenna and Riley. McKenna’s the diplomat; Riley’s the bulldozer. Together they form one functioning adult, approximately.”
His eyes widen. “Really? I have a son and daughter there. Emma’s a sophomore, and Jack’s a junior.”
“Get out!” My voice rises in genuine surprise. “My girls are both sophomores.” I laugh, shaking my head at the coincidence. “They’re actually a year apart, but McKenna applied alongside Riley, and the rest is double tuition history. My bank account still sends me hate mail.”
Dexter gives a mournful chuckle. “I feel your pain with the double tuition. I’ll never be so glad to attend graduation ceremonies—two of them. I’m considering taking out a second mortgage to afford the senior photo packages.”
“The things we do for our kids,” I agree. “Though I imagine police work pays better than theme park management. Unlessmultiple safety violationstranslates to executive bonus in some language I haven’t learned yet.”
“Depends on how many funhouse mirrors you sell on the black market.”
I belt out a laugh. “If you’re in the market, I know where you can get a Dutch doll with werewolf arms to go with them. Complete with questionable demonic possession at no extra charge. She comes with her own exorcist—that would be Shrieking Sally from the haunted house. She’s technically an animatronic, but I’m pretty sure she’s harboring at least three vengeful spirits.”
As the conversation flows, I find myself relaxing in hiscompany. There’s something comforting about Dexter’s presence—a steady, calming energy that makes the chaos of the past days feel manageable, like finding the eye of a hurricane and discovering it’s actually quite pleasant if you ignore the destruction swirling around you.
“So, are you married?” I ask, not sure why I went there. Okay, so we both know why I went there and now I’m holding my breath until I hear all about the Mrs.
“Divorced.”
I’ve never felt a bigger wave of relief. “I’m so sorry,” I say, but it sounds more likeI’m so glad!And let’s be honest, after the kind of week I’ve had, I may have said those words.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” I venture on, “why in the world would a woman let you go? I mean, aside from your obvious character flaws like following proper crime scene procedures and respecting the chain of evidence.”
The man looks like sin personified and he wields handcuffs, for Pete’s sake.
He tips his head as surprise flickers across his face before settling into resignation. “She said I was holding her back from achieving her dreams.”
“Which were?”
“Living the high life,” he explains, running a hand through his hair. “She yachts the Mediterranean in summer, and winter, spring, and fall she spends in Brambleberry Bay as a regular at the country club. Her new husband owns several luxury car dealerships here in the states, along with a few abroad.” His smile turns wry. “You might say my salary at the sheriff’s department put a damper on things. Apparently, yacht parties are significantly less impressive when you arrive in a ten-year-old sedan with police lights duct-taped to the roof.”
I huff indignantly. “Well, I could tell her a few things—starting with money can’t buy you love or keep your husband from sleeping with half the town.” The words tumbleout before I can stop them. “And believe me, I’d trade everything that man put me through for a decent man who loved and respected me, even if we lived in a cardboard box under the Pioneer Express. Preferably a cardboard box with indoor plumbing—I have some standards.”
Dexter nods, his dimples inverting as he gives one of those disappearing smiles again. I suddenly become hyperaware of my own cheeks, where matching dimples are likely making their appearance.
Great. We’re having a dimple-off in the middle of a theme park. Next, we’ll discover we both have the same blood type and favorite ice cream flavor, and the Hallmark Channel will start filming us without permission.
“Want to risk life and limb on a few rides?” I ask. “I haven’t triedallof them yet, even if I did come pretty darn close. You can consider it part of your civic duty—ensuring public safety through first-hand investigation.”
“Lead the way,” he agrees. “Though I am on duty, so if you’re planning to kill me via roller coaster, I should warn you it’s a felony.”
“Only if they catch me first,” I quip, then immediately regret it as his eyebrow rises. “That sounded less murdery in my head. I promise I’m not planning to add to any of your colleagues’ caseloads. Not deliberately, anyway. Besides, Bizzy would kill me, considering you work with her husband Jasper.”
