Chapter 14

Fourteen

E mmeline was standing on a stool, her hands buried in a box above the stove.

I was shocked. I had thought it was Rachel for sure.

"Whoa," I said, jumping back as if I was startled, which I honestly was. "I thought Hattie left a light on! I didn't expect to see anyone here!"

She stared at me, and I could see her quickly assessing.

"Did you accept Hattie's offer to come work here already?" I grabbed a water from the counter and popped it open. "I think that's a good call. Who needs to work for men, right? You getting a jump on tomorrow? Saturdays are crazy busy here. The whole world loves Hattie's food."

Emmeline nodded slowly. "Yes, I quit my job. Hattie said I could start in the morning."

I raised my bottle in a toast. "Awesome. You can't go wrong with Hattie, right?"

"Right." Emmeline was still on the stool, her hands still in the box.

What was in that box? I had never noticed it before.

"You need help with that?" I walked over and held up a hand while King Tut hopped up on the stove and began to clean his paws.

"Um, I'm all set. Thanks." She grabbed the box and climbed down, keeping it tucked against her hip. "I'm heading out now. I'll see you tomorrow."

Well at least she wasn't trying to murder me. I loved being right about things like that. I watched her head toward the door that led back into the front part of the cafe, and I noticed the sheen of sweat on her forehead.

It wasn't that hot.

Nerves? Stress? "I'll walk you to the boat. I've had some issues with security lately. I would hate for you to run into someone." I pushed open the swinging door and followed her into the front of the store.

Emmeline stopped immediately. "I'm all set. You don't need to walk me."

"It's my marina. It's my legal duty to make sure you're safe. I don't mind. Especially since there have been mostly assassins hunting me, which means they're exceptionally good at killing."

She stared at me. "Assassins."

"Yep, but they're from my old life, so they're getting less common. I'm sure we're fine. But if there's one out there, it's my moral duty to not let them accidentally kill you." I nodded toward the door. "Lead the way."

"Um, really. I'm all set." Her gaze flicked behind me, and suddenly the hairs on the back of my neck prickled.

Someone was behind me.

My cat?

Or a person?

I tightened my grip on my hairdryer. Emmeline was definitely sweating now. She was nervous, and sociopathic serial killers didn't seem like the type to have nervous sweats. "What's going on, Em?"

"Nothing. Just?—"

"What's in the box?"

She moved it to the side. "Nothing."

I sat down on a nearby table, trying to appear friendly and unconcerned. "Ems. I know you like Hattie. You're a good person. Whatever it is you're involved with isn't your fault. I can help you get it untangled."

"I'm not tangled up in anything?—"

"Did you know Beckwith and Charles were both murdered tonight at the Ugly Man?"

Her eyes widened. "What? No."

Holy crap. She was lying. She knew they were dead! Alarm shot through me, and I leapt to my feet just as Emmeline's gaze went behind me again. Her eyes widened as she stared over my left shoulder, and then back at me.

She was telling me there was something behind me. On purpose.

My heart started racing, but I didn't turn around. I tightened my grip on my hairdryer and swung it to get some momentum. "Who killed them, Emmeline? I know it wasn't you."

"It wasn't," she whispered, her gaze flicking behind me again with more urgency.

Dear heavens. What was behind me? It was then that I noticed Beau was on the ground behind the stove, not moving.

Holy crap. Beau.

Panic gripped me, but I fought to stay calm. I looked at the window of Hattie's store, trying to use it as a mirror to see who was behind me.

Alarm shot through me.

It was Bert. Freaking huge, scary mountain man.

My hairdryer wouldn't make a dent in him.

How was he there? We'd seen only Emmeline in the boat, and I hadn't seen any additional truck or boat outside when we'd arrived.

My brain started working at top speed, trying to build the connections. He knew Rachel, right? Was he involved in the business, too? He was big enough to kill Charles and Beckwith and drag them around. He'd been happy to shut down the cops.

Where was Rachel?

I looked at Emmeline's face again. She was still sweating, and she looked like she was going to pass out. Her hands were shaking, and her lips were almost gray. She was terrified.

What could make her look so scared? Simply being caught by me?

I wasn't that scary.

Especially because she would know I couldn't stop her if she had Bert with her.

Was Bert the enemy? Was he forcing her do it?

I hated bullies with every fiber of my soul. Hated. Hated. Hated.

I didn't know who Bert was or what his agenda was, but anyone who terrified women was on my bad list.

Bert was still standing behind me, not making a move. He probably didn't want to kill me if he didn't have to, just like I'd expected. But he was ready to do what he had to do.

How did I make this end well?

He was right behind me. If I went for the hairdryer, I didn't think I could hit him before he'd have time to react. I didn't have the space to swing. I did, however, have time for a low blow, right? Maybe.

I took a shaky breath, trying to stay calm. "It's no problem, Emmeline. I'll walk you to the boat. Let's go."

I took a step forward toward her, and I saw Bert move.