Chapter 13

Thirteen

K eeping our distance, we followed the boat through the channel from Little Diamond Lake, and out onto Diamond Lake, which was where most of the water activity in Bass Derby was.

And I still couldn't figure out the missing pieces.

Hattie was using the binoculars. "Do you see where we are?"

Lucy nodded. "I was thinking the same thing."

"Where are we?" I still didn't know my way around the lake, especially at night.

"We're heading toward your marina."

My heart clenched. "My marina? No."

"She could be heading toward the town dock," Hattie said. "Or the Yacht Club."

"Or your café," Lucy said.

"Or my café," Hattie agreed. She paused. "She's slowing down. I think she's heading into shore at your place."

My home. My new life. Protectiveness surged through me. "Beau," I said quickly. "Pull in to the left of the marina. There's a trail through the woods there."

He hit the gas and did as I instructed. His boat was the fastest boat on the lake, and at full speed, we were at our destination within a minute. He ran the boat up onto the sandy shore, and I jumped out before he'd fully come to a stop. King Tut leapt and took off into the woods, which was fine, because they were my woods and we were home.

Hattie and Lucy hopped out after me, and I led the way through the woods, moving fast.

We didn't even wait for Beau, who was tying the boat up. What would she do to the marina? Burn it down? I didn't know, but panic was in my throat, clogging it up.

We reached the edge of the bushes by the parking lot, and I crouched down, scanning.

"There's a light on in the café," Hattie said. "That little wench is trying to steal my recipes!"

"We don't know which little wench it is," Lucy said. "Or if she's armed."

"I'm going in," Hattie said.

I caught her arm. "Give me a sec."

Beau ran up, panting. "What did I miss? Tell me now!"

I moved away, thinking, trying to put the pieces together. Emmeline? I hadn't felt a mean vibe from her. Nothing dangerous. I had nothing to go on as proof, but she felt like a woman who was trapped to me. Would that trap drive her to murder?

Maybe.

Rachel had been rude and unsupportive of woman power. But being mean and judgy didn't necessarily translate to murder.

"Mia's thinking," Hattie said. "Give her a sec."

"Whoever is in there, we need to get a confession," I said. "Or get her to try to kill us."

All three of them looked at me. "That second option doesn't feel great to me," Lucy said.

"I agree," Hattie said.

Beau grinned. "I love the second option. I just need to be in place so I can record it. I've never actually seen someone try to murder someone. It will be great research. I vote for that plan."

Hattie smacked Beau on the side of the head. "Don't vote for something that endangers Mia. We love her."

"She's like her cat. Impossible to kill. It'll be great." Beau pulled out his phone. "I'm going to go get into position. Don't get her to attack you until I'm ready." And then he darted out across the dark parking lot and into the front door of Hattie's café.

"Wow," Lucy said. "He's a little crazy."

"A lot crazy," Hattie said. "Freaking mystery writers. Weird as hell, they are."

Would he really sacrifice me for research? He might. But after I was dead, he would feel much worse about it than he would be expecting to.

"It makes sense that I'd be here. It's my marina," I said slowly, thinking. "I think I'll go into the café as friends, and try to get on her side. Hattie and Lucy, you guys wait outside in case I need help."

"I wish I had my guns," Lucy said. "I never bring my guns."

"Mia has a hairdryer in her apartment. And some lamps," Hattie said.

"Oh…right! Let's go get them!" Lucy and Hattie then took off across the parking lot, used a key I didn't know Hattie had, and let themselves into my store, which had stairs that led to my second-floor apartment.

"Well," I said aloud as King Tut wandered out of the woods and sat down in the middle of the parking lot, "I guess that leaves us."

He stared at me, his unblinking yellow eyes glowing in the light.

I stood up, shook out my shoulders, then strode across the parking lot. I started singing a Taylor Swift song just a little too loudly, trying to drown out how loud my heart was pounding.

Friends. I had to just make friends. I could do that. I knew how to win over anyone.

Even Rachel?

Maybe not Rachel. But getting her to attack me would be easy enough, right?

I jogged up the steps to the deck, then stopped in my store to grab a hairdryer from under the counter. Not that I'd ever been robbed, but I had been almost assassinated several times.

A hairdryer might not seem like it would be better than a gun, but it was my zone of genius, and I owned it. Plus, Lucy and Hattie would be covering me in a few minutes.

"Come in, kitty cat," I called out as I strode into the café and flicked on the lights. "Hattie must have left the lights on in the kitchen." I could hear someone moving in the kitchen, and I wrapped the cord of the hairdryer around my hand, swinging it back and forth to get a little momentum.

Was I really walking into the kitchen to confront a possible murderer?

Yes, yes, I was.

Why? Because the murderer had no reason to kill me, and most criminals didn't want any more trouble than they had to have. I knew that, and I was counting on it.

King Tut trotted in with me, as I walked through the restaurant area. Beau was hiding behind the antique oven that Hattie used to bake bread.

Would he decide to be a hero and save me if I got into trouble?

He would claim no.

I would bet yes.

Unless it endangered him, in which case, definitely a no.

That was fine.

I had this under control.

I ignored him as I pushed open the door to the kitchen and walked inside.