Lock, Stock, and Feral

pile of frosting.
“Cozy mysteries are my favorite,” she whispers it as if it were a secret. “And I didn’t invite Patterson that night. Technically, he invited himself. You see, years ago when we were still legally bound, he needed to come up with another way to make money since hoops were out, and as fate would have it, his uncle had a small press he was looking to offload, so eventually Patterson took over. He changed the name and Higgins House was born. He only had a handful of clients. I’m not sure whatever became of it because we split ways that summer. Anyway, fast-forward to about six months ago and he asked if I would feature one of his client’s books with the Grim Readers. I looked them over and they fit the mold, so I said yes.” She shrugs. “Sure, he wasn’t my favorite person, but we’ve been amicable over the years.”
“So you’ve featured a few books for him?”
“Three,” she says it with a note of anger. “He practically begged me, but I told him this would be the last this year. My book club members were starting to talk. They wanted to vote on the books we read, and instead I was shoving books down their throats. And to be honest, the books were so-so. I’d say this last one was the best, but even still I was putting my foot down.” She gives a sideways glance to a group of women laughing near the registers. “Besides, I wasn’t crazy about watching my ex get hit on by a bunch of women each time he showed up. It made me uncomfortable.” And how I hated that he loved the attention. I caught those glances he cast my way as if he wanted to make sure I was witness to the spectacle. And that cheesy redhead that was dripping all over him? Lady Has Been? It’s as if he especially wanted to showcase her level of ditziness to me.
Lady Has Been? I don’t doubt that she knows about Hadley’s regency porn.
“Some men really like the attention from a pretty girl,” I say. “I’m sorry things ended badly between the two of you.”
“I’m not. That man never had any faith in me. He actually had the nerve to suggest I’d go crawling back to him one day because I wouldn’t be able to make it in the world.” Her expression sours. “I’m the one that busted my tail putting him through school. Once he got out and started playing in the NBA, he was going to return the favor and I was going to head to the university, but well, things didn’t go that way for either of us.”
Fish mewls, She’s bitter, Bizzy. Maybe she offed the man because she’s not satisfied in the direction her life took?
I graze my teeth over my lip. “So where did life take you?” I know for a fact she works at the farm, but is that where she wanted to be?
“Abner Farms”—she sets down the books in her arms and quickly manufactures a business card for me without so much as spilling her smoothie—“I bought a couple acres out in Bramble Point with my girlfriends and we grow an entire variety of organic mushrooms. Reishi, corydceps, turkey tail, chaga, shiitake, lion’s mane, white button, oyster, cremini, portobello, enoki, black trumpet, and chanterelle just to name a few. I’ve been addicted to fungi since I was a kid, so my move to produce them was no surprise to those who knew me. We sell local, so feel free to pass the word on to the chef at the inn. I’d be glad to offer up a tour of the grounds to you anytime you’d like.”
“Sounds interesting. I just might take you up on that,” I say as I slip the card into my purse. “And it sounds as if you’re passionate about your work. There’s nothing more empowering than that. I guess you proved Patterson wrong.”
“You bet I did. Right up until I asked him for a small loan.” She frowns at the thought. “I even told him I’d pay him double if he’d give it to me quickly, but he said no. Said he didn’t have it himself—which I didn’t believe for a minute. You don’t roll around in a fancy SUV like he did and live in a house overlooking the water without having some spare change. And well, I guess the bottom line was he didn’t want to spare it in my direction. As he saw it, I’m the one who left him all those years ago. He would have been perfectly happy cheating on me all the while.” A dry laugh pumps through her.
He wouldn’t loan her money? Fish growls up at me. Is that a motive? I suppose one could fit in there somewhere.
Devan clucks her tongue as she gives Fish a quick scratch. “Such a cute cat. I saw your little orange tabby there that night, too, and she about melted my heart. I had one just like her when I was a kid. Best cat ever. I keep saying we need one or twelve at the farm to keep the critters away.”
Fish mewls, Quick, give her Clyde. I’m sure she’ll fall in love with the next oaf she sees.
I swallow down a laugh. “Hey?” I look back up at Devan. “Are you thinking about rescheduling the book club? You could meet up at the inn again if you like.”
She winces. “That’s very nice of you, but considering how our last meeting ended, I think the venue would overshadow the event. But we’re meeting up at the Cider Cove Public Library next Friday night. You’re welcome to join us, and please extend the invite to your guests as well. In fact”—she plucks a paperback from her pile and shows me the cover—“this is our next selection. The Killer Barked Twice. It’s another cozy, but the Grim Readers can’t get enough of them. And the club got to