Page 3 of Fish and Chip: Nine Lives One Murder
Fish narrows her eyes at Chip.Let me guess. You snore, don’t groom, and have abandonment issues.
Chip scoffs.Bold talk for a feline named after seafood.
Fish chitters what sounds like a laugh.Better than being named after a baked good. I bet she named you after a chocolate chip cookie because you can’t stop eating them. Or maybe it’s because you have the same shape as a cookie?
I gasp at the slight, but secretly I want to chortle away. Fish does have a point.
Bizzy squints my way once again. “They seem to be sizing each other up,” she points out with a curious tilt of her head, her gaze shifting between the cats and me.
“Like furry little boxers before a match,” I agree, noticing how intently Bizzy was watching the interaction.
“We have a dog, too.” Bizzy perks back to life. “Sherlock Bones—that’s his name—is spending the day with Jasper at the precinct,” Bizzy continues, still studying my face. Jasper would be her husband who works at the Seaview Sheriff’s Department in the homicide division. And seeing that Bizzy here has a bad habit of tripping over dead bodies, I’d say their union is a match made at the coroner’s office. “Sherlock is working a case with Jasper.”
“The dog is working a case?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Don’t let his lack of opposable thumbs fool you,” Georgie says with a straight face. “He’s made detective twice as fast as most ofthe department.”
Fish wriggles in Bizzy’s arms, clearly wanting to get a closer look at my sweet Chippy.Let me down. I need to inspect the ginger menace.
Chip scoffs at the insult.Stay where you are, tuxedo cat. My patience for new acquaintances is as limited as my hooman’s good judgment.
Hey? I resemble that remark.
“Well, let’s get you settled in your room,” Ree says, retrieving a key from behind the counter. “You really will love the view of the cove.”
“And don’t forget to fill the mini freezer with ice cream and cheap wine,” Georgie adds helpfully. “The essentials of modern breakup recovery.”
“I’m thinking of this less as a breakup and more as a phoenix situation,” I say, shifting Chip’s weight. “Rising from the ashes of my marriage and all that.”
“Phoenixes are overrated.” Georgie waves a hand dismissively. “Too flashy. Be a sea turtle instead—tough shell, lives forever, and only comes ashore when absolutely necessary.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Sea turtle it is.”
“How are the girls taking it?” Ree asks as she hands me the key. “McKenna and Riley must be upset.”
The mention of my daughters sends a fresh pang through my chest. “Let’s just say they’re processing things. I broke the news this morning. I hadn’t planned on it, but they were sending me a text storm about sorority gossip, and since we were spilling the tea I let them know I was packing my bags and why.” They took it pretty badly, but I leave that part out. “They’re in college now, so being at Brambleberry Bay U helps—they’ve got classes and friends to distract them. Riley’s angrier than McKenna. She’s always been a daddy’s girl. But this time they’ve joined forces against him. And for reasons unknown, they’re not so thrilled with me either right now.”
“They’ll come around,” Georgie assures me with unexpectedgentleness. “Sometimes it takes seeing your parent stand up for themselves to realize what strength really looks like.”
We head toward the grand staircase, and Bizzy falls into step beside me, still carrying Fish, who continues her silent judgment of Chip.
I bet he sheds everywhere,she mewls.And snores. He has the look of a snorer. And heaven knows we’d better lock up the tuna.
Chip grunts, clearly affronted.I do not snore. I breathe dramatically. And the tuna is mine either way.
I swallow a laugh, but not quickly enough because Bizzy gives me a quizzical look.
“What’s so funny?” she asks.
“Nothing,” I say quickly. “Just marveling at my life’s dramatic pivot from suburban housewife to homeless woman with a judgmental cat. It’s like a country song, but with better accommodations.”
There’s no way I’m going to tell her that I can read the minds of these sweet fur babies. Although if I’m smart, I’d not only tell Bizzy, but I’d telleveryoneand start charging for readings, too. Lord knows I’ll need a job sooner or later, and being the starring act in a circus freak show somehow feels like my destiny.
Bizzy narrows her eyes, studying me intently. Then she leans in close, her voice dropping to a whisper.
“All right, Josie. It’s time to come clean. I know exactly what’s going on here.”
CHAPTER 2
