Miranda returns to her shop while Aranya and I cross the street to get to Marcall’s, and we’re caught off guard when we see Neil there talking to Damien. Damien is listening intently and taking notes. Somehow I forgot he wanted him to cater their wedding reception. Turns out Neil is exactly the person I needed to see, anyway.
“Hey guys!” I greet them.
“Hey boss, learn anything new at the costume shop?” Damien asks. “What are you going to tell Drew when he finds out you went there after he told you not to?”
I give him a look that says, not now as I lean my head toward Neil. I know that Shauna and I both got those threatening notes, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to just talk openly about this until we know for sure. Threat or no threat, I still say Shauna had a reason to kill Morley. Even Shauna admits that!
“Hi Neil, good to see you again! I suppose you’re making plans for the reception?”
“Yeah, thanks for giving Damien my message. We’re really looking forward to this!”
“When is the big day?” Aranya asks.
“Oh, we already got married!”
“You did? Didn’t you just get engaged?” I ask. These two move quickly.
“Technically, yes, but we’ve known for a long time that we would get married. We just weren’t able to do it before now. So we decided it would be easiest just to do it at the courthouse with a couple of friends. This way we can spend whatever we want on the reception and the honeymoon.”
“Hey, do you know if Detective Bailey has looked at the security camera footage from the travel agency yet?” I ask. Might as well. He’s right here after all. I’m afraid if I ask Drew, he’ll just tell me to keep out of it. I need to know which left hander delivered those notes.
Neil shakes his head. “Sadly, the file was corrupted and he said he couldn’t get anything from it. Really makes me mad, you know? And scared. I told Shauna she should just close the travel agency for now, until this whole thing blows over. I’m trying to convince her we should just take the honeymoon right away, but I can’t seem to coax her away from work.”
“Where are you going on your honeymoon? Your bride works in a travel agency; I bet you’re going somewhere exotic.”
He laughs. “Actually, we’re going to Key West. My cousin owns a yacht that we’re chartering. We’ll visit the islands, go scuba diving, all that good stuff, you know.”
“Well, at least it will be warmer there than it is here, right?”
“Exactly.”
Aranya and I head into the kitchen and leave Damien to finish his discussion with Neil. I want to ask Drew if he told Shauna that she needed to stay in town until they wrap up the investigation. Maybe he did, but she doesn’t want Neil to know she’s a suspect and that’s why she’s postponing the honeymoon.
I may get lectured for even asking, but at least this time I’m not doing anything I’m not supposed to. I’m just here in my cafe, minding my own business. Neil came to see Damien after all, not me.
Me: Hey honey, did the CPPD order Shauna not to leave town until the investigation was complete?
Drew: Are you interviewing her again?
Me: Nope! I’m just here at Marcall’s minding my own business and I just wondered.
Drew: Yes, ALL suspects have been asked to stay in town until further notice. See, I told you we’re taking this seriously.
So that could explain why Shauna doesn’t want to go anywhere, despite the threatening letter she received.
My text notification dings again, and I assume it’s Drew telling me to behave.
Hi Charlotte, it’s Cody! The gift you ordered is ready!
All right! When we were at the pop-up sale, the other day, I spotted a custom pocket knife at Cody’s Chromeworks that I wanted to get for Drew, but obviously I couldn’t do that with him standing right there. So I called later and ordered it.
“I need to run a quick errand,” I tell Aranya.
I walk into the dining area, but Neil is already gone.
“Everything set for their reception?” I ask Damien.
“I think so,” he shrugs. “Now they just need to pick a date and find a place to hold it.”
“That’s so cool that they want you to cater it for them!”
“Yeah, it will be nice to have some extra money with a kid on the way you know,” he laughs.
“That’s right, just wait until she wants a car.”
“Why must you do that?” he scolds. “I’m anxious enough over this and you go and remind me she’ll be driving some day.”
“Don’t forget dating.” I can’t help it. He’s just too easy. When he tries to throw his pen at me I use magic to send it flying in another direction and laugh. “I’m off to pick up a present; I’ll be right back.”
“Are you really going out to pick up a present or are you sneaking off to interview another suspect?” he asks.
I hold up my hands. “If you must know, I ordered a customized knife from Cody for Drew for Christmas.”
“Oh, how cool!” Damien says. “Tell my cousin I said hello!”
“I will,” I tell him on my way out the door. I don’t know why he and Drew are always convinced I’m up to something. I rarely am. Only when it’s important. Okay, only on days that end in y.