Chapter 14
Supernatural Sport Resort was a sprawling three-story brick building located outside of Mystic Cove.
The resort offered activities such as golfing, kayaking, hiking, paddle boating, and outdoor yoga classes.
Indoor activities included shopping, fine dining, and spa and massage packages.
I knew from experience their mud baths were no joke.
As Zane and I approached the entrance to the resort, the set of massive glass doors whooshed open, and a warm gust of air hit me in the face when I stepped inside.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been inside the lobby,” I said. “Usually, I just go straight to Crystal’s cabin.” I smiled up at him. “Have I told you how much I loved your Valentine’s gift to me? The girls and I are going to love a pampered day.”
Zane winked at me. “I figured as much.” He sobered. “Although, it’s still lacking in comparison to what you bought me.”
I rested my hand on his arm. “You gave me something that means the world to me—a place where I can go and be pampered with the women I love. When you’ve never had that, it’s huge.
I gave you the book I knew you’d never buy for yourself, even though you could.
That was my way of saying thank you for everything.
If it weren’t for you finding me, Zane, I’d never get to experience all these wonderful things. ”
“I love you, Kara.”
I smiled. “And I love you.” I glanced around. “Now, let’s pay our suspects a little visit.”
The lobby was enormous, with a rustic yet ritzy feel to it.
Cathedral ceilings stretched high overhead, supported by thick timber beams. The floor was a polished stone tile in warm golds and tans, and directly in the center sat a large tiered fountain.
Water cascaded down three levels of carved stone, and enchanted lights beneath the surface shifted from blue to green to soft amber.
Comfortable sofas and armchairs were arranged around the fountain, creating a space that felt homey and warm.
Along both sides of the lobby, shops lined the walls.
To my left, a coffee shop with a dark green awning spilled the scent of roasted espresso into the open air.
Next to it, a jewelry shop sparkled behind glass windows, followed by a sporting goods store with enchanted fishing rods displayed in the front window.
On the right side, two clothing boutiques sat on either side of a chocolate store I now recognized.
Fairy-Kissed Confections glowed above the wooden door.
In the window, truffles were arranged on tiered displays, and ribbon-wrapped boxes hovered in the air.
The last shop on the right appeared to be another boutique, this one selling outdoor gear and winter accessories.
Guests milled about the enormous lobby, browsing the shops or sitting by the fountain with drinks in hand. The whole space felt like stepping into a small village, and if it weren’t for the check-in desk along the far wall, I might have forgotten I was inside a building at all.
Zane and I approached the front desk, where a young werewolf in a crisp navy blazer greeted us.
“Welcome to Supernatural Sport Resort,” he said. “How can I help you?”
“Hello,” Zane said. “My name is Zane, and this is my partner, Detective Hilder. We’re with PADA. We need you to ring Hunter Quinn’s room and inform him we need to speak with him.”
The werewolf’s eyes went wide, but he did as Zane said, not asking any questions. He spoke into the phone, and a few seconds later, he hung up and smiled at us. “Mr. Quinn will be right down.”
“Thank you,” Zane said as we moved aside and waited for Hunter.
A few minutes later, Hunter emerged from the elevator with Jayla at his side.
He was dressed in a suit, his hair was in place, and he looked refreshed, like he’d had a good night’s sleep.
His daughter, on the other hand, had her backpack slung over one shoulder, a book tucked under her arm, but her face was puffy and swollen.
“What now?” Hunter asked. “Can’t you understand we’re grieving as a family and need some time alone?”
“We just have a few follow-up questions,” Zane said. “It won’t take long.”
Jayla looked up at her father, and he gave her a nod. “Go read by the fountain, honey. I’ll be right over there.” He pointed toward the coffee shop across the lobby. “I’ll get you a hot chai, how does that sound?”
“Okay. Thanks.” The young girl wandered over to one of the sofas near the fountain, settled in, and opened her book.
“I could use some coffee as well,” I said as we headed toward the shop.
Zane held open the door for us, and I took a deep breath when I stepped inside. The smell of ground coffee beans and sugar consumed me, and I felt a rush of adrenaline...and I hadn’t even consumed the caffeine yet.
Hunter ordered a white chocolate mocha and hot chai, and Zane and I each ordered a regular coffee.
With coffees in hand, we headed outside to the seating area in front of the shop.
Three wrought-iron tables and chair sets sat among large potted ferns and trailing ivy.
Enchanted orbs floated through the foliage overhead, and the stone floor and open air of the lobby made it feel like we were sitting at an outdoor café, not in a lobby of a resort.
Jayla hurried over and took the chai from her dad, thanked him, and headed back over to the fountain. Hunter watched her leave, then pulled out a chair and sat down.
“We’ll be right back,” I said.
“Wait,” Hunter said. “Where are you going?”
Instead of answering, Zane and I turned and crossed the lobby to Fairy-Kissed Confections. Through the window, I could see Sasha behind the counter, tying a bow around a box of chocolates. A banner across the front window read, “Post-Valentine’s Day Sale! 50% Off All Boxed Chocolates!”
“This is going to be hard,” I said. “Tell me not to buy chocolate, even though it’s half off.”
Zane chuckled. “Why do I have to be the bad guy?”
I pushed open the door, and a small bell chimed, alerting Sasha to our presence.
“Welcome to—” She broke off when she recognized us. “Oh, hello.”
I glanced around the store, taking it in.
Glass display cases ran the length of the left wall, filled with rows of hand-dipped truffles, chocolate clusters, and caramels.
Shelves along the right wall held gift boxes in various sizes, each one wrapped in colored cellophane and tied with ribbon or twine, while others were bound with thin braided cord.
I strolled along the shelf and ran my fingers over one of the cords.
“Can I help you?” Sasha said tersely.
“We need you to come with us,” I said. “We have a few more questions.”
She set down the box of chocolates in her hand. “I have work to do. It’s the day after Valentine’s Day, and I’m running a sale. I can’t just leave.”
I glanced around the empty store. There wasn’t even a customer browsing.
“Looks like you can spare a few minutes,” I said.
Sasha pressed her lips together, but she untied her apron and tossed it on the counter. “Fine. It is lunchtime.”
“Oh,” I said, “and we want the valentine you received. We know you got one in the mail earlier this week.”
Sasha huffed and reached under the counter, plopping her purse down. She reached inside, withdrew a valentine similar to the others I’d seen.
“What does it say?” Zane asked.
“‘Secrets are sweet, until they spoil.’” She shook her head. “And no, I don’t know what it means.”
I conjured up an evidence bag and had Sasha drop it inside. “Thank you.”
We exited the shop, and Sasha swiped her hand across the air. The words “Back in Ten Minutes” appeared magically overhead and hovered near the door. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it would probably be longer than ten minutes.
We all walked back across the lobby, and Sasha slowed when she saw Hunter sitting at one of the wrought-iron tables. She glanced at me, but I kept walking. As I neared the table, I saw that Hunter had gone inside the coffee shop and ordered another coffee.
“I saw where you went,” Hunter said, “so I got Sasha a coffee as well.”
“Thank you, Hunter,” Sasha said as we all sat down. She picked up the coffee, took a sip, and smiled coyly at him over the rim.
So they weren’t even trying to hide the fact they were involved. I shot a look over at Jayla, but she didn’t seem to be paying us any attention. I couldn’t help but wonder what the girl would think if she knew the truth about her dad and Sasha.
“We know you two are having an affair,” Zane said. “Even Mari suspected Hunter was seeing someone. She said so in the diary we found.”
The two exchanged looks, but they didn’t say anything.
I took a sip of my coffee. “We also know you both lied when you said you never received a valentine in the mail. Sasha just gave us hers. And Hunter, we found yours in your nightstand.”
Hunter scowled and slammed down his to-go cup. “You went through my stuff?”
“Your house is a crime scene,” Zane said. “So yes, we did.”
“Who sent them to you?” I asked.
Hunter and Sasha looked at each other. Something passed between them, but neither spoke right away.
“We don’t know,” Hunter finally said.
I crossed my arms and leaned back in my seat. “Really? Maybe Eliza Nordic?”
Sasha’s eyes went wide. “Why do you say that?”
I decided to play a hunch and see where it landed. I was fishing, but they didn’t need to know that. “That’s who Rayna and Reed thought sent them.”
“Reed got one too?” Sasha asked.
“You know what else makes me curious?” I said, not answering her question. “Why did you five get them? What secret are you keeping?”
Hunter and Sasha sat back from the table and refused to answer.
“I don’t think Eliza sent them,” I said. “You know what I think? I think someone in your friendly circle suspected you two were having an affair, and so they sent the valentines to see who would break first. Which one of you would admit to it.”
Zane nodded. “Could be Mari sent them out herself, just to see who would talk.”