His voice lowered as he looked down.“But then I had this thought, you know?Maybe people would look at Nick as a potential suspect because he’d just fought with the old guy.He had a motive, right?But, of course, that didn’t happen.Nobody questioned it.Nobody even considered Nick because Nick was untouchable.”He smirked bitterly and met my gaze.“Of course, Nick wasn’t so untouchable once he met me.”
I stared at Vance.Yep.This guy was unhinged—at least when it came to Nick.
Justin stepped forward, handcuffs in hand.“I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to take you down to the station.Accident or not, you did nothing to help Peanut.So you’re going to be charged with two deaths.”
I watched as Justin led him out of the pub.The table of actors slowly began to clap.Even Dave and Brandy joined in.
“That was amazing,” Gemma said.“Just like theater.”
Maybe all these actors were a little nuts.
I guess we all were.
SEVENTEEN
I refilledOliver and Brandy’s glasses with more wine, then topped off my own, and settled into my lawn chair.This had become our summer ritual—sitting together on evenings when we could all sneak away, watching Jack as he nibbled on grass and dandelions.He currently munched away just a few feet from us, occasionally lifting his head to chew, jaw shifting from side to side, ears twitching in the warm evening breeze.
“This is nice,” I said, letting my head drop back against the chair.
Brandy swirled her glass thoughtfully.“Can you believe all that madness happened in just a couple of days?”
Oliver let out a low whistle.“Serious craziness for sure.”
We exchanged incredulous smiles.Our past weekend had been a doozy, even for us.
“Have you heard anything from Cameron?”Brandy asked, leaning forward slightly.
I shook my head, then took a sip of wine.“No.I’m sure he’s pretty busy.And I’ve been tied up finishing my unplanned visit with my parents.”After all the madness, my parents had decamped to Bar Harbor for the day and were staying there in a hotel tonight.I was taking them to the airport tomorrow.
“I heard from Cameron,” Oliver said.“Would you believe the inn is booked for the rest of the summer and through September?So it looks like I still have a job.”
“That’s a good thing, right?”
“It is.Apparently a double homicide doesn’t put a damper on tourism.”Oliver lifted his glass.
“I’m still surprised you haven’t heard more from Cameron,” Brandy said.“I mean you solved a murder.That merits a call in my book even if it’s only been a day.”
Of course, Brandy would crumple like a tissue if she didn’t hear from her boyfriend for an entire day plus but I’d never been like that.I was actually enjoying the opportunity to collect my thoughts.
I hesitated, not sure I wanted to say what was on my mind.But then the words tumbled out, as if they couldn’t stay bottled up any longer.“I’m actually thinking of ending things with Cameron.It’s not anything dramatic.I just feel like we’re not right for each other.”I glanced between the two of them.“You know what I mean?”
Oliver let out a dry laugh.“Hello?I literally just had a breakup for that exact same reason.Of course, I understand.”
“I understand too,” Brandy said, though her expression seemed less certain.“But I’m just so thankful that Justin and I have such an amazing connect?—”
Oliver and I cut her off with a shared burst of laughter.
Brandy looked between us, confused.“What?What did I say?”
Her bewildered expression only made us laugh harder.After a moment, though, her indignant look melted into a reluctant smile, and then a laugh of her own.
“Okay, okay,” she said, raising her hands in surrender.“IknowI’m obnoxious when it comes to being in love, but I just can’t help myself.”
We both sobered, just slightly.
“Your romance is a good thing,” I said.“The way you feel is great.I guess maybe I want a little more of that.”
“Just a little more,” Oliver added with a smirk, “but definitelynotBrandy-level.”He shot a playful look her way, pointing a finger for emphasis.
