A Dreadful Meow-ment (MEOW FOR MURDER Book 2)

a tube lying about ten feet from the body.”
She makes a face at the crowd past my shoulder. “Judging by the kind of event it is, I’m guessing there’s enough lipstick in this room to open up a beauty shop. Anyone could have dropped it.”
“Fair enough,” I say. “Just letting you know what I saw.”
She sighs my way and pauses a moment to glance down at the stain on my dress.
“I’ll keep it in mind.” She takes off, and I turn to find Shep, but he’s out of sight. Instead, I see Oliver, the silver-haired construction worker, talking to James and it looks as if it’s getting a little heated. Oliver glances back at the dark void of that desolate hallway before storming out of the room.
That’s funny. He looked angry far more than he did grievous. But then, I guess people grieve in different ways.
James starts to head toward the hall and Kadie intercepts him.
Tears stream down her cheeks and she says something to him before he gives her a quick embrace.
He takes off, and before I can turn to look for my missing faux fiancé, Lloyd steps up and offers Kadie an embrace as well. He lands a kiss to her temple as they part ways and he quickly wipes the tears from her eyes. Something about the gesture warms my heart. How I miss those small nuances, someone to hold, someone to wipe the tears from my eyes. Not that my ex ever did any of those things, but they innately seem like relationship goals to strive for.
Lloyd heads into the thicket of deputies and I watch as he steps over to where James and Shep are having a discussion. He lands an arm over each of their shoulders as they whisper amongst themselves.
This isn’t the class reunion they wanted. It’s definitely not what Craig Walker wanted.
I glance back at Kadie in time to see Hilary holding onto her, and the two of them seem to be engaged in a lively conversation.
Huh.
Kadie says something in an aggressive manner as she tries to free herself from Hilary’s hold, but Shep’s psycho ex is proving to be a bear trap for the poor girl.
And just like that, they come together in a hard embrace, weeping over one another’s shoulders.
Now those are true friends.
A swell of emotion stirs in me, and suddenly I’m missing the connections I had in my other life—my brother, my sister, my mother, and my sweet, albeit dead, Nana Rose, which sounds silly, but her memory is heavier back home where at least I could still pet her belongings once in a while. Heck, I even miss my father, despite the fact I should be used to missing him by now, seeing that he’s been locked up for the better half of the last decade.
The ballroom feels as if it’s beginning to sway beneath my feet and I gasp. I give a quick glance around at the bodies mingling as the busy chatter fills my head, the intermittent bouts of laughter, and my entire body seizes as a warm rush pulses through me. In my mind’s eye, a vision begins to form.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” a female voice calls out. I can make out the back of her head, dark hair, graying at the roots, and standing in front of her I see Oliver Kincaid, with his shock of gray hair.
“How about we both keep our mouths shut? I’m not in the mood to go down for this.” He looks to his left and his affect brightens on a dime. “Well, look who’s here.”
The room blinks back to life as Shep materializes before me.
“Bowie?” He gives my hand a gentle rattle, and I glance down, shocked to see him holding it. “Bowie, I think we’d better get you out of here.”
“Yes,” I pant over at him as the room roars back to life around me. I take a deep breath, glancing back toward that infamous hall and catch a glimpse of both James and Lloyd looking this way. They give a slight nod before stepping back into the darkness. “Let’s get out of here.”
Shep escorts us through the door and out into the warm spring air. We arrive at his truck in no time and he pauses before unlocking the door. Shep takes a moment to penetrate me with his eyes.
Without hesitating he pulls me in and wraps me in a warm embrace, and I reciprocate with a touch more vigor and enthusiasm. My chest bucks with emotion as I struggle to keep it together. But I memorize the way the stars hang like jewels against a navy velvet night and the way the three-quarter moon slices through the sky like a sharpened sickle. But mostly, I take the time to memorize the way Shep’s spiced cologne mingles with the warmth of his skin and the way his rock-hard body feels strong and safe pressed against mine.
His heart ricochets over my chest for a generous spate of time before he pulls back and opens the door for me.
We don’t say anything all the way back to Starry Falls.

Chapter 4
Mortimer Manor is in top form today, less than twenty-four hours after Shep and I stumbled upon his old friend’s body.
The cats are out in force with King, the Bengal, leading the charge as they take over the steps, the porch, the foyer, the interior, and yes, the entry to the café as well. For the most part, they don’t venture into the café itself. It’s almost as if they have an understanding that people aren’t looking to get a hairball as a bonus with their meals.
It’s almost noon, and I’ve just arrived. Since I knew I was going to be out late last night with Shep at his high school reunion, I asked Thea, one of the waitresses, if she’d open up shop for me. Of course, I thought last night might take a turn in a much spicier direction