working the case or not? I don’t want to waste time trying to get something out of you if it’s pointless. I have better things to do and much to your dismay, there are easier ways to get information if I wanted it.”
“Don’t pretend that all this doesn’t interest you.”
“Of course it interests me. A dead man rode through the park and lost his head right in front of me. Movies aren’t that engrossing, and they’re fiction. People in Sinful who died ten years ago want to know what happened. You’re not breaking new ground here.”
He sighed. “You’re right. I don’t suppose there’s a single person in town who isn’t looking for the inside scoop or making their own predictions.”
“Maybe not Nora. Depending on what she’s smoked.”
He gave me a pained expression and I couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit sorry for him. It sucked when you were told you weren’t allowed to do your job. I didn’t like it either, but I also didn’t let it stop me. Since Carter was official, he didn’t have that luxury.
“Look, I’m sorry you got kicked off the investigation,” I said. “But if this detective is smart, then she’ll ask you to help. It’s a small town and you know all the players. She could spend weeks drumming up background that you have at your fingertips.”
He sighed. “And that’s pretty much what she said when we talked. She got the rundown on the major players before she headed out to interview them herself and said she’d check with me tomorrow to update me on anything I needed to know.”
“It could be worse. Do you want some dinner to go with your dessert? I still have tons of the food you brought over.”
“I thought you’d never ask. I don’t suppose I could borrow your shower too, and then maybe crash here after.”
“What about Tiny?”
“He’s staying with my mom until the festival is over. My hours are too odd.”
“Works for me.”
And then I said a quick prayer that there was no pink glitter in my shower.
I was in the middle of a very odd dream where I was playing the lead role in a play about a crime-solving librarian when a beeping noise jolted me awake. I bolted up—almost levitating out of bed—landed feet planted on the ground, pistol in hand, and spun around, ready to fire. Carter looked at me and smiled, holding up his cell phone. Merlin, who’d played this game more than once, glared at me and set off down the hall.
“No matter how many times I see it,” he said, “it never ceases to impress me.”
“You wouldn’t be so impressed if I actually fired.”
“Why do you think I haven’t gotten out of bed yet? At least the shot would go over me.”
“So you think,” I said. “Well, are you going to answer that? It’s 2:00 a.m. Nothing good happens in this town at 2:00 a.m.”
He frowned and answered. His expression shifted to worried as he listened.
“Are the paramedics on the way?” he asked. “Good. I’ll be there in five minutes. Tell her to sit tight and don’t touch anything.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Is someone hurt?”
“Someone broke into Tiffany’s house and cracked her over the head.”
Chapter Eighteen
“What?!” I yelled, still trying to process what he’d said. “Do you need me to come with you?”
I had no idea what I could do as I wasn’t a medical professional or a cop and not friends with Tiffany, but this was Sinful and it was my town too now, and that was the sort of thing you offered when there was a crisis.
“No,” he said as he pulled on his clothes. “I’ve got to secure the scene and get a statement, and I suppose I have to call Detective Casey and fill her in as soon as possible.”
“You think this is related to Gil’s death?”
He shrugged. “No idea, but I don’t like the timing, and anything that might be related is something she needs to know about.”
“Okay. Let me know if there’s anything I can do. Or Ida Belle’s ladies. If Tiffany needs someone to sit with her or go to the hospital or whatever.”
I followed him downstairs and let him out.
“Remember to reset the alarm,” he said as he hurried for his truck.
I frowned as he drove away, then ducked back inside and set the alarm. Something was up. Figuring I would catch hell if I didn’t inform all interested parties right away, I sent a quick text to Ida Belle and Gertie.