Chapter 27
As Sin walked into the kitchen, I held out the note Charlotte had given me.
It was now in a plastic baggie to keep it from getting any more fingerprints on it, although we already knew from New Orleans how tricky lifting fingerprints from paper could be.
I’d slipped the note in open so both sides could be read.
He frowned amusedly at the baggie. “What is that?”
“Another threat.” I went back to the cake I’d been eating for lunch.
All traces of amusement left his face. He took the bag, turning it over to read one side of the note, then the other. “Where did this come from?”
“Someone shoved it through the mail slot of LeRoy’s assistant’s house. Charlotte found it this morning, figured she’d better show it to me.”
“I’ve had enough of this.”
“Same here, but we were perfectly safe at the shop. Not even a hint of trouble.” Last bite of cake eaten, I put my fork in the dishwasher and the empty bakery box in the recycling.
“Except for a note threatening our son.”
I nodded. “But that arrived at Charlotte’s house, not the shop. Someone obviously knew I was going to be there.”
“You trust this Charlotte, or should we have Larsen go speak to her?”
“She’s been there for ages. I trust her. She was visibly upset by the whole thing. And it’s not like we told her or LeRoy to keep my visit a secret. Speaking of Larsen, how did it go at Delton’s?”
He sighed and took a seat at the counter.
“Nothing much in his office. It was as neat and organized as the archives. I found a note in his planner for the day before he was murdered. Just two initials. SV. I didn’t tell Larsen about them, but she took the planner, so I’m sure she’s seen them.
I also found the imprint of a phone number on his notepad.
Larsen tried it twice and got no answer either time. ”
“No voicemail?”
“She said no.” He looked bothered. “Elmira was crying. She told us we should talk to her son. I think she’s terrified he had something to do with it.”
“Well, he wasn’t shy about expressing his feelings yesterday when we were there.”
“No, he wasn’t.” Sin shoved a hand through his hair. “I feel for her. She was very upset today.”
I took the truffles I’d been saving for dessert, my Dr Pepper, and went to sit beside him. “I’m upset for her. I cannot imagine how I’d feel if anything happened to you. I’d be …” My throat clogged with emotion just thinking about it.
He put his arm around me and kissed the top of my head. “Nothing’s going to happen to me. How was the dress?”
I knew he was changing the subject to distract me. The sweetness of that made me smile. “It was amazing. LeRoy’s a genius. He really is.”
“It probably doesn’t hurt that you’re a very easy woman to dress. You’re beautiful, and you look great in everything.”
With my head still on his shoulder, I grinned. “You always know the right things to say.”
“I just stick with the truth. Never gets me in trouble.”
I straightened so I could look him in the eyes. “Sinclair Crowe, I swear you are the best husband I’ve ever had.”
He laughed. “I am very glad to hear that.” He leaned in and kissed me on the lips. “How’s our boy?”
“Full of milk and fast asleep.”
Sin’s eyes narrowed. “And the cats?”
“Full of treats and fast asleep.”
He grinned. “You want to crash on the couch and watch that new murder documentary?”
“I’d love to, but I can’t.” I shook my head sadly. “I’m about to go meet Flora Merriweather at her office.”
“You want me to go with you? We could get my parents to come over.”
“I want to go by myself this time. You’re a little intimidating to people.”
“Me?” He touched his chest as if offended. “Just because I can speak to the dead and have the power of the death touch?” He rolled his eyes dramatically. “I don’t know what’s so intimidating about that. People are so weird.”
I laughed at his silliness. “I love you so much.”
“Spider love Dadman, too.”
I glanced down at Spider, who’d just walked in. He was staring up at us with sleepy eyes. My laughter must have woken him. “So much for fast asleep,” I whispered to Sin. “Hi, baby. Is brother still sleeping?”
“Yes, Mama.” He stood up, did a big stretch, then put his front paws on the leg of the chair and leaned closer.
I had to get ready to go see Flora anyway, so I slid out of the chair and picked him up. I kissed his furry face. “I have to leave soon, but you can hang out with Dadman.”
“Why Mama leave?”
“I have to go talk to someone.”
“Spider could come.”
“I—” I wasn’t leaving the palace. And he was clearly missing all his usual attention. “Can you be a good boy?”
He slow-blinked me, really laying on the charm. “Spider is the best boy.”
I kissed his face again. He really was the cutest. “Yes, you are. Okay, you can come. You will have to be on a leash, though.”
“M’kay.” He started making biscuits on my shoulder.
Sin got up. “I’ll go check on JJ. How long do you think you’ll be?”
“I hope not long. Why? Do we have plans I forgot about?”
“I was thinking I’d make fettucine alfredo for dinner—”
“Could you make carbonara instead?” I slow-blinked Sin. It was worth a shot. “I would love some bacon.”
“I could still put bacon in the fettucine alfredo.”
“Hmm. With chicken? And peas?”
His eyes narrowed. “I mean, sure …”
“Okay, I’m in. But are you sure you’re up to cooking on crutches?”
“Well, as I was going to say, I’d planned on inviting my parents and aunt over so they could tell us all about the show they went to see. I’m sure they’d love that. And my mom will help me cook.”
“Sounds great. Let’s make sure we have something good for dessert.”
He looked over his shoulder at the counter where the remaining two bakery boxes sat. “I know you finished off one of those, but don’t tell me those are empty, too.”
“Okay, I won’t, but if you feel like tossing them into recycling for me, that would be great.
I have to go get ready.” I carried Spider into the bedroom with me to change into something more princessy than an old T-shirt and leggings.
I went with my black maternity tank dress, purple cardigan, and purple flats.
I accessorized with an appropriate number of diamonds as a subtle nod to my princess status. I fixed my lipstick, which was gone after eating all that cake. Thankfully, the rest of my makeup and my hair were fine, since I’d done them earlier for the fitting.
I carried Spider out to the kitchen and found his leash, which was in the junk drawer, and attached it to his collar.
I also grabbed the folder with the guest list in it, because I had a theory I wanted to test out.
Then he and I went into the nursery. I’d planned to kiss JJ goodbye but found him and Sinclair in the rocking chair.
Sin was reading to him from The Great Cat Sled Race and showing him the pictures.
It was sweeter than the cake I’d just devoured. I didn’t want to disturb them.
He looked up. “Headed out?”
“Yes.” I looked at Sugar, who was lounging on the changing table. “You all seem very comfy.”
“We’re having story time.”
“I can see that.”
“You and Spider have fun.” He winked at me.
“Spider and Mama are going out,” Spider proudly proclaimed.
My cheeks were going to hurt from smiling. “I can help with dinner if you want when we get back.”
“You’re on.”
With a wiggle of my fingers, Spider and I left for the Event Planning office. It was a bit of a walk but not enough that the Segway felt necessary. I wasn’t sure how Spider would take to that mode of transportation anyway.
He was happy to walk, his tail straight up in the air with the slightest little hook at the end, his face lifted, whiskers extended. He needed this time together, I realized.
“Mama loves you, baby. Just as much as I always have.”
He chirped at me, because even though there was no one else around, he didn’t generally talk in public. I guessed the palace corridors were public enough.
We rounded a corner and took the hall that would lead us to some of the offices, one of them being the event planner’s.
If we kept going, we’d end up at the archives.
It was only a bit farther down. A pair of cleaners were up ahead, polishing mirrors and furniture.
The two young women smiled at Spider as they curtseyed to me.
“Afternoon,” I said.
“Afternoon, your highness,” they responded in unison.
The smiliest of the pair had yet to take her eyes off Spider. “Mr. Spider, you look extra handsome today.”
He immediately rubbed himself on her legs, securing his place in her heart forever. She looked at me. “Can I pet him, your highness?”
“Of course. He’d love that.”
They both starting petting him. Oh, boy. This was totally going straight to his head.