Lock, Stock, and Feral

of experience?” Macy muses, suddenly interested in broadening her geezer horizons as they walk off into the crowd—and I’m thankful for it, too. That’s one conversation I didn’t need to hear the conclusion to.
Georgie makes a play for Clyde, but the tiny tot uses my chest as a springboard and does an acrobatic leap through the air, cartwheeling twice before landing rather heroically onto Sherlock’s back as well, and the crowd around us breaks out into a spontaneous applause.
“Oh my word.” I cringe at the sight.
Clyde all but hugs Sherlock’s bottom with all four of her limbs while Fish spins around and swipes at the tiny tot with her tail.
You saved me, Clyde mewls as she gives Sherlock a quick lick.
More like he got in the way, Fish corrects. Come with me, we’ll head over to the cottage until this all blows over.
I’m not going anywhere without this big, strong, handsome hunk to protect me. The tiny kitten looks as if she’s digging her claws into Sherlock’s hind end.
Fish’s whiskers twitch as she looks around. What handsome hunk?
Sherlock barks and offers that perennial smile he’s known for as he looks my way. I think she’s talking about me, Fish. I’m the handsome hunk! He does an awkward sidestep to his left and accidentally steps on Patterson’s head. GAH! Dead guy! I stepped on the dead guy!
Sherlock’s body jerks and inadvertently launches both cats onto Patterson Higgins’ aforementioned dead body and causes the fur on them to rise to the ceiling. Both Fish and Clyde let out hair-raising yowls before bolting right out of the library, and I’m guessing right out of the inn altogether.
“Sherlock,” I whisper. “Please make sure Clyde doesn’t run away. I don’t want her out there all by herself.”
Fish most likely won’t care one way or another. She understands that cats can fend for themselves. And truth be told, I think her radar is up with that little orange kitten, seeing that Clyde is ready to pounce on her man.
Leo jogs over. “What’s with the flying cats?”
“Sorry. It was an odd sight, I know.” I crane my neck into the crowd until I come upon another odd sight. “What’s with the irate ex-girlfriend?” I ask, nodding over to where Jasper and Hadley look as if they’re having another heated conversation.
“Oh that.” He grimaces. “Why don’t you take care of the inn? I’ll escort Hadley out of here.”
“Are you hauling her down to the station?” The words come out with a touch too much glee. I can’t help it. I think every woman who makes a play for my man deserves to be behind bars. Not that she made a blatant play for him, but I’m getting bad vibes—and if I’ve grown to trust anything, it’s my vibes.
Leo chuckles. “I don’t think she’s making a play for him.”
I frown over at Leo. It’s easy for me to forget he can pry into my gray matter.
“I’m sending her home.” He nods back her way. “I need to free up Jasper so he can get to work.”
“Leo, you can’t send her home. She’s a suspect. And the prime suspect in my book. I heard her arguing with the victim. I don’t think she should be getting preferential treatment just because she’s the one that got away.”
“Whoa. You’re going dark.” A stunted laugh comes from him. “Emmie,” he calls out as he flags down his other half. “Why don’t you help Bizzy in getting some semblance of order around here?”
“Leo, you’re changing the subject.” My words come out curt. “I’m not letting you play into the fact she’s Jasper’s ex. I think someone should talk to her—obviously not Jasper. He’s far too close to the situation.”
Leo squelches a smile. “Look, we have no proof this was a homicide. The guy may have had a run-of-the-mill heart attack for all we know. Let’s everybody calm down.”
“I’m not calming down,” I say, taking a step in his direction. “And Jasper certainly doesn’t seem to be calming down either.” I glance his way just in time to see Jasper looking right at me, and if I’m not mistaken, he’s visibly upset.
Jasper turns back to the woman before him and says something to her before taking off for the cluster of sheriff’s deputies.
Hadley casts a glance my way. The hardness in her eyes assures me we won’t be friends anytime soon. She nods a moment as if agreeing with the fact before stalking over to the lanky man in the sweater.
“Him too,” I say to Leo. “I saw that man that Hadley is speaking with arguing with the deceased as well. They’re both suspects.”
“All right,” he says, nodding to Emmie. “Let’s get Bizzy out of here. I’m sure if this turns into a homicide investigation, you’ll be the first to know. You’re married to the lead homicide detective.” He pats me on the back. “Don’t worry about Hadley. She’s old news.” He takes off and I shake my head in his wake.
“Old news?” I shoot Emmie a look. “She’s brand new to me. And judging by Jasper’s reaction to the woman, they seem to have a bit of unfinished business.”
“Leo is right. She’s his past, you’re his future. You’re not an insecure person, Bizzy. You’re just tired, and this entire fiasco isn’t helping. In fact, what can I do to help?”
“Head to the front desk and see if they need anything. I’ll make sure things wrap up in here.”
Emmie makes a face. “I see what you’re doing. And because I’m loyal, I’ll do what you want, but if I were you, I’d steer clear of that Hadley person until you’ve had a chance to talk to Jasper about it.”
She takes off and I scan the room as bodies buzz back and forth. A majority of the crowd is huddled toward the back, and that’s exactly where I see Devan Abner talking to the most handsome man in the room, the one who just so happened to land me in a vat full of unexpected jealousy—my