7. Hattie

Iturn to see Peyton stomping her way over, but my attention is quickly waylaid from my irate boss as the tall blond man next to her steals my focus.

"Oh my word," I say as I step in their direction. "Duke Kaplan?" I give a few good blinks. It's still pretty dim in this direction despite the floodlights the sheriff's department is shining at the scene.

"Who's Duke Kaplan?" Killion asks, appearing next to me just as Peyton and Duke Kaplan, of all people, crop up in front of us.

"Hattie Ho-Ho-Ho Holiday?" The blond man laughs. "Is that you?"

"More like Ho-Ho-Ho Homicide," Peyton quips as she cranes her neck past me. And darn it all to heck if she didn't kill another one.

"I'll have you both know I had nothing to do with this." I hitch my thumb at the travesty taking place.

Peyton inches back and it's then I realize that I just responded to her thoughts, dark as they were—and they usually are.

I guess I really am slipping.

"Hattie Holiday, you blue-eyed cutie, come here," Duke says, pulling me into a hearty embrace before spinning me like a top.

Did he just call her a blue-eyed cutie?Peyton scoffs internally at the two of us as I come in for a landing.

Killion lifts a brow at the man as well, and his own thoughts run wild. Did he just call her a blue-eyed cutie? And was that ho-ho-ho comment an insult? I'd like to punch him and ask questions later. It's that kind of night.

"Killion"—I say, hopping close to him and pressing a hand to his chest lest he start in on a punching spree—"I'd love for you to meet my old friend, Duke Kaplan. Actually, his name is Horace Kaplan, but Horace is so fussy he decided to shorten it."

"Shortened it to Duke?" Killion flatlines as he takes a moment to glare at the man. "Makes perfect sense."

"Duke, this is my boyfriend, Killion—Detective Killion Maddox," I say, patting Killion on the chest once again as if trying to keep him from pouncing.

It's been that kind of night indeed.

"Boyfriend, huh?" Duke laughs, showing off two rows of perfect pearly whites.

Duke is perfect in the traditional sense—tall, muscular in a sinew way from all that bike riding he does, or at least used to do, and that wavy blond hair used to drive the girls mad—me included—and mad would be the operative word on how things ended between us. Actually, he dumped me, and that made me really, really mad.

"I guess we have something in common." He chuckles at Killion. "Hattie and I used to be hot and heavy way back when. We dated for a couple of years."

Both Killion's and Peyton's mouths fall open.

"A couple of years?" Peyton grunts. If I knew I was getting Hattie's sloppy seconds, I would've run in the other direction. Her eyes give him the once-over after the saucy thought. On second thought, Hattie who?

"Hot and heavy?" Killion growls at him.

He's not even trying to hide his thoughts.

"We ended a long time ago," I say, pulling Killion toward me. "Duke, what are you doing here?" I snip without meaning to.

"Peyton invited me." He offers her a half-smile that looks more like a frown. "What are you doing here?" He nods my way as if his suspicions were aroused.

"I work here," I say quickly. "Peyton is my boss. In fact, my parents and my siblings are members here now."

"That's great." He slaps his belly as he says it. "Hattie has the best family." He nods at Killion. "I'm not sure what I miss more, Hattie or all the free lobster I gobbled down while we were going out." He breaks out in a laugh and the rest of us hardly crack a smile at that one, especially me.

"Wait a minute." Killion squeezes his eyes shut a moment. "Did you say your name was Horace Kaplan?"

"Yes, but please call me Duke." He quickly refutes the use of his formal moniker. I've never held that against him, all things considered.

"You're the new coroner down in Eagle?" Killion looks highly displeased by this development.

"That's right." Duke nods hard. "Wait a minute, you're the homicide detective I'm meeting up with in the morning?"

"That would be me." Killion is back to growling.

"Well, hot dog. Looks like we've got a head start on the game." Duke turns my way. "I'm taking over for Miles. He got married and took off for Alaska. He said to say hello." He turns to Killion. "Hattie dated him, too. She really got around."

"I did not get around," I practically gag on the words as they race to get out of my mouth. "And for the record, Miles Jeffries and I never officially dated. We just thought about dating."

Killion grunts, "I see."

"And I see a big mess," Peyton snips. "That woman lying over there was an esteemed member of this club, Hattie. And now look what you've done." She groans as she takes in the blossoming crowd. "I'd better run damage control." She turns back my way and wags a finger in my face. "Don't you dare kill another member or I might be moved to have you kicked out of the club in a way that will make you wish you were dead."

I choke in her wake. "I think she just threatened me."

"I think she feels threatened," Duke says before shifting his attention to Killion.

"Don't look at me. I don't feel threatened." Should I feel threatened? Killion glances my way and does a double take when he spots those emeralds glittering on my ears. At least now we know who the mystery man is that's sending gifts to Hattie, he thinks to himself. On second thought, I am feeling a little threatened. Maybe I should be the one issuing the threats.

"Let's get a move on, Detective," Duke says as he nods toward the body. "Looks like we've got a job to do." He takes a step forward, then pauses. "Hey, Hattie? Why don't you swing by the morgue in the morning, too? I wouldn't mind catching up. Ten o'clock. I'll have this guy bring donuts." He points to Killion with his elbow and winks my way.

Killion looks fit to kill as they duck underneath the caution tape in tandem.

He may not be thrilled with the invite, but I've yet to say no to donuts or a visit to the morgue.

A cool breeze picks up and I hold myself as I inspect the scene. On the other side of the caution tape, I see Nora holding herself and glaring at the poor woman lying face down in the water.

Just past Nora, I spot that dentist Neelie was hitting on, only this time there's a redhead holding onto his arm and it looks as if they're comforting one another. And that woman isn't Neelie.

"Goodnight, Hattie," a soft female voice says and I turn to see Missy Livingston walking by with a wave. "I'll be by tomorrow to start my classes. We'll be seeing a lot of one another these next few weeks."

"I look forward to it," I say, albeit somberly.

She glances past me at poor Jane floating there helpless.

Sleep tight, my friend, she muses to herself. It's all over now. It's all over. Her lips curl at the tips as she walks back into the crowd.

She disappears and a chill runs through me.

What's all over? And why did Missy Livingston have a smile on her face as the thought crossed her mind?

I have a feeling Jane Jordan's death was no accident.

And I have a feeling my party trick is about to come in handy as I do my best to track down the killer.