Cat Scratch Cleaver
ladies.” I try not to sound too chipper as I step into their midst. Faith has sweat beading down the sides of her face. She’s wearing a denim shirt with the sleeves rolled up and jeans. Kiki looks cooler by contrast in a pale blue shift dress, a pair of sandals, and her curly hair up in a ponytail.I lean in. “I’m sorry, but were you just talking about a wedding? I’m afraid I’ve got my radar up for anything to do with holy matrimony these days. I’m getting married in just a couple months.”
Fish ducks under the table. Good segue, Bizzy. She mewls. Who knew your upcoming wedding would come in handy like this? You’re always thinking.
Sherlock sniffs and grunts her way. Jasper’s always thinking, too. If it weren’t for him, there wouldn’t be a wedding.
Fish hisses at him. You mean if it weren’t for Bizzy saying yes, there wouldn’t be a wedding.
Faith coos my way. “Congratulations. That’s so great. Actually”—she takes a moment to grimace at Kiki—“the wedding reception we were talking about wasn’t all that great. We were just talking about that infamous reception that was held right here at the inn all those years ago.”
My heart thumps hard as I scan my memory for any hint of an infamous wedding reception.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Kiki shudders. “It’s probably rude of us to even bring it up.” She makes wild eyes at Faith. “Bizzy just said she’s getting married soon.”
“No, please.” I put on a pleasant smile, but all I really want to do is shake the dreaded wedding info right out of them. “If it happened here, then I probably already know about it, I’ve just forgotten.” Not on your life would I forget, but I won’t add that.
Faith nods. “About six years ago, there was a bridesmaid who drowned. She had a little too much to drink and they found her body on the shoreline near the rocks the next day.” She shrugs. “Anyway, Heather was a bridesmaid in that same wedding. She had just mentioned it to me a few days ago. I thought it was weird, you know? Her friend died here a little over a half decade ago and so did she.” Faith leans in, her eyes frozen and wide-set. “In just about the same exact spot.”
“Oh, wow.” It feels as if the breath just got knocked out of me. “Actually, I’ve only worked at the inn for the last four years, but I’ve lived in Cider Cove all my life. I think I do remember the story of the girl they found along the shore. You’re right. I remember reading she had been drinking and they think she passed out and fell into the water. It was tragic.” And not once had I ever linked that death directly to the inn. I simply knew it happened in Cider Cove. From my understanding, she was pinned against the rocks on the right end of the beach, very close indeed to where Jasper and I found Heather.
Kiki shakes her head. “It’s just a weird coincidence, that’s all.”
“It is a coincidence,” I say. “Faith, you said they were both in the same wedding? Heather and that poor girl were probably friends.”
She shrugs. “In the least they knew each other. It was on Heather’s mind, for sure. I bet that’s why she went out to the cove at night.”
Kiki nods. “Usually she spends her breaks with Bates.” She rolls her eyes. “They were a very new thing. Inseparable as of late.” She taps her finger to her chin. “Hey? I bet Bates was with her. Well, obviously not when the killer found her.”
Faith sucks in a quick breath. “You don’t really think Bates had anything to do with this, do you?”
Kiki takes in a quick breath herself. “You know they were getting hot and heavy fast. And Heather always had to have her way.”
Faith shakes her head. “Bates always has to have his way. He’s just as big a diva as she was. It’s no wonder they bickered. If they weren’t canoodling, they were having a power struggle over something menial.”
I give a quick glance around for the handsome leading man that has inspired more than a few female fans to stalk the shoot.
Faith waves me off. “Don’t worry, Bizzy. He’s not around to hear any of this. Believe me, he hardly shows when he’s needed on set.”
“Is he staying in one of the trailers here?” I try to act nonchalantly as I ask.
Kiki scratches her cheek. “No, he’s local, too. He’s in Seaview, I think. Or was it Rose Glen?”
“Rose Glen,” Faith affirms. “Sandalwood Heights. Real ritzy area. But he spends most of his time on the beach there. Runs with his dogs each morning. Does the extreme Frisbee thing in the afternoon.”
Kiki leans in. “I hear he’s a real thrill-seeker. An adrenaline junkie of sorts. Heather mentioned he was trying to get her to do all kinds of things she wasn’t comfortable with, like skydiving, mountain climbing, and helicopter skiing.”
“Pfft.” Faith averts her eyes at the thought. “Heather hated anything to do with the great outdoors. Their relationship was doomed from the beginning.”
Kiki ticks her head to the side as if agreeing. “And he has a nasty temper. Heather didn’t like to be told what to do or yelled at because she wasn’t doing it.”
“That’s strange,” I say. “He looks so calm. I guess you can’t really go by what you see.”
Kiki gives a tiny smile my way. “Exactly that.”
“Yes,” Faith agrees, albeit much quieter. And there are things I’m very glad that people don’t know about me. “Excuse me.” She stalks off with a somber expression, and I’m far too curious about that last thought she just had.
I’m about to say something to Kiki, but note Camila intercepting Faith and having a quick word with her. Faith glances back our way before continuing their conversation.
Great. She’s about to give Camila the leg up she neither deserves