Page 69 of Fish and Chip: Nine Lives One Murder
I lunge forward just as she tries to break through the cat barricade, tackling her with a move I haven’t attempted since high school field hockey. We tumble to the ground in an ungraceful heap, with Fish and Chip immediately pouncing to assist by sitting on Patty’s designer blazer. Or at least Fish does.
Heavy footfalls pound the cobblestones behind us, and a familiar voice rings out.
“FREEZE! Sheriff’s department!”
I look up to see Detective Drake sprinting toward us, badge in one hand, gun in the other. Right behind him is Jasper, Bizzy’s husband, equally armed and serious.
Talk about a hero entrance.
“She did it!” I call out, still sprawled half on top of the struggling mayoral candidate. “She confessed to killing Ned Hollister!”
Drake holsters his weapon and pulls a stunned Patty to her feet while Jasper snaps handcuffs around her wrists. The cats who have done their civic duty begin to disperse with the air of creatures who expect extra tuna for their trouble. And I’ll make sure they get it.
“I’ve got her,” Jasper says to Drake. “I’ll take her statement at the station.”
As he leads Patty away, Drake turns to me, his expression oscillating between impressed and exasperated. He pulls me to my feet but doesn’t let go of my hands.
He’s tall, dark, and brooding with icy blue eyes and a face that looks both angry and handsome. Have I mentioned he’s panting and can’t seem to take his eyes off of me?
“Are you okay?” he demands as his eyes scan me for injuries. “You could have been killed. You shouldn’t have confronted her. It wasn’t safe.”
“I couldn’t help it,” I start rambling as adrenaline makes my words tumble over each other. “I figured it out and she was right there and I just had to say something I?—”
His lips cut off my explanation, pressing against mine with an urgency that makes my knees weaken. For a moment, the bustling midway, the departing police cars, even the murder—all of it fades away. There’s just this kiss, unexpectedly perfect in its timing and terrible in its location.
Did you hear that? WE ARE KISSING!
Oh brother,Chip moans from somewhere near my feet.So it begins.
It could be worse,Fish counters.He could be the killer. Or a dog person.
When the kiss ends, I’m left breathless, sticky from popcorn, and wondering if crime solving might actually be my kink.
Because life after ditching my cheating ex?
Turns out, it’s murderously fun.
CHAPTER 27
“Fish! Chip! Where are the royal mascots? We need them on the float now!” A frantic parade coordinator with a clipboard and a headset waves wildly from Huckleberry Lane, his voice barely rising over the marching band currently doing its best to drown out every rational thought I’ve ever had.
I glance at Detective Drake, popcorn still clinging to my hair like a crime scene garnish. “Apparently, dodging death doesn’t get me a hall pass from parade duty.”
Drake shakes his head, but a reluctant smile tugs at his lips. “Go on. We’ll finish this conversation later.” He gives me a small pat toward the parade route, his hand lingering on my shoulder a moment longer than strictly necessary.
I scoop up Fish and Chip and bolt toward the clipboard-wielding man who is now vibrating like a soda can about to explode. The air smells like cinnamon, caramel apples, and a lawsuit waiting to happen, and that marching band is going full steam ahead as it does its best to take out every eardrum in Maine.
From apprehending criminals to riding a parade float,Fishmuses.Now that’s a startling career pivot.
At least no one is throwing popcorn at us on this float,Chip points out.Unless they have really bad aim or unresolved snack-related trauma. Also, have I told you that I can catch popcorn midair? I basically double as the cleanup committee.
I spot Ree and Georgie near the staging area and grab them both by the elbows. “All aboard the mascot express! We’re on parade duty!”
But I’ll admit, my mind is still somewhere back there where Dexter was kissing me senseless. If that’s how he ends all of his cases, I might need to drum up a few more bodies. A heck of a lot more bodies for that matter.
“But we just witnessed an arrest!” Ree protests, even as her feet start moving toward the float.
“That’s theme park life for you, baby,” I pant. “Solve murders, wave to children, smile like your career depends on it—because it does. It’s in the job description somewhere betweenmaintain safety standardsandtry not to die.”
