Lock, Stock, and Feral

to securing a cache of bacon for himself. He can’t help it. Salted meat is his kryptonite.
I’m about to comment on his portly state when Devan Abner, the woman putting on tonight’s book club meeting, heads my way.
“Bizzy!” she trills my name with a gleam in her bright amber eyes. Devan is tall, blonde, plain but friendly features, dressed conservatively with corduroys and a floral blouse buttoned to her neck. She had stopped by the inn a couple times to discuss tonight’s gathering of her book club—and to request the wine and cheese. She offered to cover all costs, so I didn’t say no. And she agreed to have Jordy supervise the liquor, which made me feel better about the whole thing.
“Everything is going so great.” She gives Fish a quick pat on the forehead. “I’m so glad you suggested opening it up to the community. Who knows? The Grim Readers might just score a few more members yet.”
“The book was adorable,” I tell her. “I have no doubt people will be happy to join.”
Her attention is momentarily diverted to that swarm of women all clamoring to speak to the handsome man in the suit.
And there he is. She snarls his way. He thinks he’s got it all together. Life is just so great for him, isn’t it? He wouldn’t be anywhere if it weren’t for me. And tonight, I’ll make sure he never forgets it.
“Devan?” I lean her way. “Who is that man in the suit that these women can’t seem to get enough of? It’s almost as if a star were in our midst the way they’re going at it.”
She snorts out a laugh. “That’s Patterson Higgins.”
“Patterson Higgins? That’s quite a name.”
“Well, some say he’s quite a guy.” Any trace of a smile falls from her face, her eyes still very much pinned on his. I’m guessing she’s not one of the people who thinks that way. “We’ll start in a few minutes.”
She takes off toward the refreshment table, and I watch as she makes a beeline for the wine. I’m sensing a theme tonight.
Fish mewls, Oh, she’s got the hots for him, too, Bizzy. I could see it in her eyes.
“I bet you’re right.”
Speaking of eyes, that man in the suit looks my way again, and if I’m not mistaken, it looks as if he’s edging his way in this direction.
Murder is afoot, a somewhat androgynous voice erupts from the crowd, and it’s muted enough for me to tell it was a passing thought by someone in the crowd, and now I’m left to wonder if they’re right. Unless a person is standing in front of me, it can get tricky to delineate if it came from a man or a woman.
Murder is afoot?
My internal radar goes off.
I can’t help it. After finding so many bodies in such a small spate of time, an actual murder seems rather plausible—almost inevitable at this point. But then again, tonight’s book club selection revolves around a murder, so I’m sure it was nothing more than someone reflecting on the book at hand. Or at least, that’s what I’m hoping.
“Bizzy!” a female voice shrills from behind and I turn to find my sister, Macy Baker, older by one year, feistier by a millennium. Her short blonde hair curves around her jawline and her bright blue eyes are wide with terror. “Take it”—she thrusts something orange and furry my way and a few seconds tick by before it registers she’s just handed me a small orange tabby with eyes the color of an unblemished afternoon sky. “You know I can’t stand pets unless they belong to someone else.”
Fish brays out a laugh as she taps her paw over the tiny kitten’s head. It’s true. Macy is hardly a people person, let alone a pet person. But don’t worry. Bizzy more than makes up for it.
The kitten mewls and shakes but doesn’t say a word in response.
I don’t say a word either because my sister isn’t in the know when it comes to my supernatural quirk. Only a small handful of people know I have the ability to pry into their gray matter, and I plan on keeping the exclusive club, exclusive.
The handsome man in the suit pops up next to us and Macy’s mouth falls open because, let’s be honest, he’s that much more handsome up close.
“What a cute little kitten,” he says as he gives a quick scratch between the tiny thing’s ears. “I was just coming over to say hi to this one.” He sheds an affable smile in Fish’s direction.
Macy gags on a laugh. “How about that?” She bats her lashes at him as she scoops the orange tabby right back out of my hand. “No one is a bigger fan of cats than I am,” she says, threading her arm through his and leading him off to the slaughter. Not only is she a brazen liar when the occasion calls for it, but she has an insatiable appetite when it comes to handsome men.
The warm scent of an all too familiar spiced cologne engulfs me from behind just before a set of strong arms wraps themselves around my body.
“Rumor has it a gorgeous innkeeper loves to duck out of these kinds of events to head up a fun club of her own.”
A dark gurgle of a laugh strums through me as I spin in my handsome husband’s arms. Jasper and I met over a year ago while he was working on a case concerning that first body I stumbled upon. He’s the lead homicide detective down in Seaview County, and he’s been my lead man ever since the day we met.
“The rumors are true,” I say, looking up into his lightning gray eyes. Jasper is handsome to a fault. Dark hair, dark smattering of stubble on his cheeks, and a dangerous smile that’s known to crest on his lips make me swoon anew each time I see him. “But the club is strictly for two. Play your cards