“You will not do anything with it,” said Julianne. “I’m calling the police.”

  Honey took a step back. “You can’t have me arrested for this.”

  “Not for this,” said Julianne, as she dialed the number. “But what’s to say you weren’t involved in Blake’s death? You came here looking for a handout. When he refused you, you got rid of him. You sneaked a look at the will and realized what you’d get once he was dead.”

  Blake shot toward me and waved his hands around, pointing at the phone and shaking his head.

  “Hang on a second,” I said. “Don’t be too hasty about this. I don’t think Honey would do that.” Well, I had thought it for a while, but she wasn’t the top of the suspect list anymore.

  “Don’t you get involved,” snapped Julianne. “You’re the one who put the idea in my head. You questioned me about whether my husband’s death was an accident. Now, it all makes sense. Honey turns up and Blake’s dead a few months later.”

  A sliver of guilt ran through me. She had a point. I had been snooping around and asking people about Blake’s death.

  “I didn’t hurt him.” Honey backed away toward the door, a fearful glint in her eyes.

  “We’ll let the police decide that.” The call connected and Julianne turned away. “I’d like to report a murder.”

  Honey’s gaze shot to me. “I didn’t do it.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t,” I said, catching hold of her arm to stop her from bolting in fear. “Explain everything to the police. It will all be okay.”

  “What if they don’t believe me?”

  “They will,” said Helen. “There’s nothing to prove you were involved in Blake’s death.”

  “Because there’s no proof at all,” said Honey. “I came here looking for my dad; that’s all. I wasn’t after money or anything else. Just wanted to know who the man was who meant my mom never found love again. I always figured he was somebody extraordinary.”

  “And I bet he was,” I said. Although Honey looked genuinely shocked at the accusation, the more I considered it, she did have a strong reason for killing Blake. Honey would have had access to Blake’s papers and could have found a copy of the will. She’d admitted her mom was struggling and behind on the mortgage payments. This would solve everything. There might even have enough money to get her mom the latest cancer treatment. It must have been a temptation.

  Julianne put the phone down. “The police will be here in five minutes. And they’re very interested in talking to you.” Her gaze settled on Honey.

  “We should wait outside for them,” I said to Honey, gesturing discreetly for Blake to follow us. “You look like you need some air.”

  Honey wobbled on her feet and then nodded. “I need to get out of here and as far away from her as possible.” She glared at Julianne before hurrying out the door.

  I followed her as Helen stayed behind with Julianne, Charlie, and the ghosts.

  “This is a nightmare,” gasped out Honey as we left the house. “She can’t seriously think I killed my dad.”

  “Julianne is in shock,” I said. “She’s just found out she’s got a stepdaughter.”

  “So she tries to have me locked up.” Honey shook her head and stared back at the house. “All I wanted to know was where I was from and what my family was like.”

  Blake appeared and rested a hand on Honey’s arm, making her shiver and step away.

  “The police will want to know where you were when Blake died,” I said. “Do you remember that night?”

  “They’ve already asked me about that,” said Honey. “They questioned us all after his death. I remember it well enough. I was here. Blake often went to the yacht on his own in the evening. He liked to use it for his thinking time. Things had been tense between him and Julianne and he used it as an escape.”

  “They were fighting about you?”

  “They were fighting, but not just about me,” said Honey. “But yes, he was worried about how he was going to tell her. He thought she’d think he’d cheated on her. But honestly, he was only dating them at the same time for a few weeks.”

  “If your mom had given him the choice, would he have stayed with her?” My question was aimed more at Blake than Honey.

  Blake’s eyes widened before he slowly nodded.

  “Without a doubt,” said Honey. “He loved my mom. Used to write her songs full of his devotion to her and how they’d spend their lives together. But she had to let him go. She didn’t sing professionally for years after she had me. And even as I got older, she could only pick up poorly paid gigs. She sacrificed her career to raise me and sacrificed her relationship with my dad so he was free to do whatever he wanted. Mom always thought he’d be some super famous guitarist. Instead, Julianne forced him into this life.”

  “He didn’t have to live this life,” I said, glancing over at Blake. “Maybe he was happy doing this, instead?”

  “I can’t believe that,” said Honey. “We shared a love for music. He was always introducing me to new bands from his childhood. Dad loved rock ‘n’ roll music. He even had a guitar on the yacht. He used to sneak it out and play it when Julianne wasn’t around. I’d never seen him happier than when he was playing.”

  Blake smiled again. He raised a hand to touch Honey’s arm but then lowered it, his attention turning away from the house.

  I looked up as I heard the sound of tires crunching over gravel. A police car rolled to a stop outside the front of the house.

  Honey took a step back, her hands going to her mouth. “What if they don’t believe me? What if they charge me with Blake’s murder?”

  Blake shook his head and gestured for me to do something. I wasn’t sure what he was expecting me to do. Now the police were here, it was out of my hands.

  “They will if you’re innocent,” I said, not entirely convinced by my own words. “Tell them the truth. Hide nothing.”

  “But I’ve been left this house,” said Honey, her voice quivering. “That’s a great motive for killing my dad, a man I never knew existed until recently. They’ll think the same as Julianne, that I came here for money and revenge.”

  “You were here on the night of his death. You can’t be in two places at once.”

  “You don’t understand. Nobody saw me.” Honey watched as two police officers climbed out of the car. “I was alone in my room that night.”

  “Are you sure no one can vouch for you?” Suddenly, things didn’t look so good for Honey. She could easily have snuck out of the house, gone to the marina and killed Blake.

  “I keep to myself.” Honey’s bottom lip wobbled. “Easier to keep my head down and stay out of the way.”

  One of the police officers, a tall broad man with a crooked nose and brown eyes, stopped beside us. “I’m looking for Mrs. Julianne Carlisle?”

  “She’s in the house,” I said.

  “And you are?” asked the police officer, his sharp gaze running over me.

  “Lorna Shadow, her personal assistant.”

  The police officer’s gaze went to Honey and he raised his eyebrows.

  “I’m Honey Partridge,” whispered Honey.

  “Don’t go anywhere, Miss Partridge,” said the police officer. “You stay here,” he said to his colleague. “I’ll go in and talk to Mrs. Carlisle.”

  I tightened my grip on Honey’s arm. I hoped she could prove her innocence. But right now, things didn’t look too good for her.

  Chapter 20

  It was late that same evening, and I couldn’t sleep. Honey had gone for questioning by the police. Julianne was in bed with a headache, keeping Charlie with her, and Blake had vanished, again.

  I was torn up with indecision about Honey’s involvement in Blake’s murder. She had the perfect motive but had been terrified when the police took her away.

  Sighing, I climbed out of bed, wrapped myself in a dressing gown, and headed downstairs to the kitchen, Flipper by my side. Maybe some sugar and chocolate would help clear my thoughts.

  I’d just finished making myself some cocoa, when Helen’s head appeared around the kitchen door.

  “Thought I heard you go past my door.” Her eyes landed on the cocoa. “Got any spare going for me?” She came into the kitchen, wearing a bright pink dressing gown, and sat at the table.

  “Sure. Although it won’t be as good as yours.” Helen had a secret way of whipping the cocoa until it was creamy and full of delicious sugary froth. I made more cocoa and then joined her.

  “Thinking about Honey?” asked Helen.

  “I can’t decide if she is guilty,” I said. “And I hate to think of her stuck at the police station being interrogated.”

  “Surrounded by all those gorgeous policemen.”

  I smacked her arm. “They don’t all look like Gunner.”

  There was a quiet tap on the kitchen door. James appeared, his shirt disheveled and a glass of whiskey in one hand. I checked the wall clock and saw it was past midnight.

  “Hope you don’t mind me joining you, ladies.” James wobbled his way to the table and sat down. “Saw Helen come in and wanted to catch up on all the news.”

  “Been having a fun night?” I asked him.

  “Bit too much fun.” He ran a hand down his face.

  “I’ll make you some coffee,” said Helen.

  “If you put whiskey in it, I’ll say yes,” said James, staring at her with bleary eyes.

  “Maybe you’ve had enough for one night,” I said to him, my gaze on the whiskey glass.

  He shrugged. “Channing’s been telling me about what happened with Honey. Didn’t figure her as the sort of girl to commit murder.”

  “That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” I said. “Do you know Honey well?”

  “No. She kept to herself,” said James. “She was often hanging around when Blake did business. He said he liked her being there and she was getting hands-on experience of how to run things. I never could figure out their relationship. Now, it all makes sense. Who’d have thought it, my business partner had a secret love child. It’s all very scandalous.”

  “Honey won’t appreciate being thought of as a scandal,” I said.

  “Bet she won’t,” said James, as he accepted the coffee from Helen and sniffed it gingerly. “You sure you put whiskey in this?”

  “Just drink it,” said Helen, as she sat back down.

  James took a sip and wrinkled his nose before putting down the mug. “Well, at least, we now know what happened to Blake. Always thought his death was a bit odd.”

  “We don’t know for certain it was Honey,” I said. “The police are only questioning her for now.”

  “It’s a terrible business. What we need is something to cheer ourselves up,” said James, his fingers tapping the edge of the table. “Something to bring the brightness back after this shock.”

  “What do you have in mind?” asked Helen.

  “A trip to the vineyard,” said James. “Promised I’d take you both. Now’s the perfect time. Julianne won’t be up to much while she sorts out this mess, which leaves you free to come out with me.”

  “Our day off isn’t until the weekend,” I said. “She might want us around.”

  “Julianne is leaving for a couple of days,” said James. “Heard her making the arrangements. She won’t be around to care about what the two of you do. Take your day off early. I’ll treat you to some fun at the vineyard. All the wine you can dream of.”

  “I could bring along a cheese board and some fresh bread,” said Helen, her eyes bright at the thought of delicious food and wine.

  “Now you’re talking,” said James. “What do you think, Lorna? Time to get away from all this misery and enjoy ourselves? Blake wouldn’t want us moping around. He was always the first to open a bottle of wine and have a laugh.”

  I chewed on my bottom lip. I couldn’t do anything to help Honey while she was being questioned. “A day out would be nice. Okay. I’m in.”

  “That’s a good girl,” said James.

  “We can head off early,” said Helen. “Make a day of it.”

  James’s nose wrinkled again. “Why don’t I meet you outside at noon? I’m not an early riser.”

  We would miss half the day by the time James surfaced. But it would give me time to investigate the accounts with no distraction, something I’d been meaning to do. “It’s a date.”

  James clapped his hands together and picked up his mug of coffee. “Excellent news. I’ll see you ladies tomorrow. Don’t stay up too late.” He staggered out of the kitchen, looking like he was heading toward the lounge to continue his drinking session.

  I let out a sigh and took a sip of my cocoa.

  “So it’s all over,” said Helen.

  I shrugged. “I guess so. Honey’s being questioned. She has no alibi and a good motive.”

  “And the ghosts?”

  “They’re not around.”

  “So, no more mystery to solve.”

  Something niggled in the back of my mind. I still wasn’t convinced. “I’d like to see Blake one more time, see if I can jog his memory about Honey’s involvement in his death, just to be certain it was her.”

  “If he doesn’t come back, it proves she did it,” said Helen. “Maybe he remembered she was there the night he died and that was all he needed. Blake’s gone now his killer has been caught.”

  It was a convincing argument. Honey was in the frame for Blake’s murder. Maybe that really was it, and I’d been letting my budding friendship with her cloud my judgment.

  “Come on. We need to get some rest. Got a busy day of wine slurping to look forward to.”

  ***

  I put on my sunglasses and smiled up into the brilliant blue sky. It was a perfect day to go to a vineyard.

  I’d spent the morning scouring the accounts, checking the bills, and making sure everything was in order with the business.

  I’d found a few things that could be trimmed and a staff member who was receiving a larger salary than most. There was also a business receiving a large payment every month, J.M. Smithe, but I couldn't find out why they were being paid. They weren’t listed in any company directory. I needed to find out more about them from Julianne. It looked like they’d received this payment every month for years, so they must be a regular supplier of something.

  Helen hurried out the front door of the house, a picnic hamper over one arm. “I’ve got everything. I’ve packed the cheeses in a cool box, and there’s freshly baked bread, olives and then fruit for dessert.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’d have liked something that was actually a dessert, but chocolate will melt in this heat.”

  “The fruit will be lovely,” I said.

  “This is just what we need after everything that’s happened,” said Helen, “a fun day out, no ghosts or mysteries to solve.”

  I looked around the garden, half expecting Blake or Dillon to appear. But ever since Honey had been arrested, there was no sign of them. Perhaps Helen was right. Blake’s murderer had been uncovered so there was no reason for them to hang around.

  “From your silence, I’m guessing you’re still not convinced it was Honey?”

  “She seemed so shocked,” I said. “And I was beginning to like her.”

  “And you’re such a good judge of character.” Helen nudged me with her hip. “After all, you picked me to be your best friend.”

  “A decision you remind me of regularly.” I grinned at her. “Maybe it’s nothing. Honey is guilty and the police will find the evidence they need.”

  “But until they find rock solid evidence, you will keep on snooping?”

  “I won’t snoop,” I said. “But if information comes my way that helps clear Honey’s name, I’ll look into it. We can’t have the wrong person go to prison for Blake’s death.”

  James’s Jaguar cruised around the side of the house and stopped in front of us. He hopped out and took the picnic hamper from Helen. “Good afternoon, ladies. Ready to sample some wine?”

  “Can’t wait,” said Helen, as she hopped into the back seat alongside Flipper and me.

  James drove out of the driveway. “Gotten over the shock of yesterday yet?”

  “Just about,” I said, “but I hope Honey is okay.”

  “Always had her down as a sweet girl,” said James. “She was never any trouble and always easy on the eye. I’ll miss that aspect of her.”

  I shook my head at Helen. “Looking good is an important quality.”

  James chortled. “What can I say? I’m a man. I like to look at women. No harm in that.”

  “Have you seen Julianne this morning?” I asked James. “I looked around but couldn’t find her. Wanted to double check some details in the accounts.”

  “She planned to leave at dawn,” said James. “Needed to get away from all of this. Can’t say I blame her.”

  I nodded. Julianne had been stunned by the revelation Honey was Blake’s daughter. But what if that had been a ruse? What if she knew all along and had set up Honey? It would be the perfect act of revenge. Get rid of her husband’s secret love child, get rid of the husband, and then reap the rewards.

  Sitting back in my seat, I sighed. I could come up with these wild theories all day, but with no proof, it was all for nothing.

  Flipper rested his head on my knee and looked up at me. I stroked his head. I needed to stop worrying and enjoy myself. Sunshine, good food, and wine would make things better.

  We arrived at Firefly Vineyard twenty minutes later, the sun still glorious overhead.

  James opened the back door of the car and extended his hand to us. “Welcome to The Pigsty.”

  I looked around and saw acres of vines spread before us. I expected to be overwhelmed by the scent of ripe fruit, but all I got was a tang of overly ripe grapes. It was a sweet, cloying smell on the breeze. “This used to be a farm?”

  “That’s right,” said James, as he collected the picnic hamper and strode ahead of us. “An enormous pig farm. Let me tell you, the place stank the first time we looked at it. But Blake had the vision to see it could be so much more. When they arrived to take over the existing business, Blake knew this place would be perfect to expand into. And he had a soft spot for pigs and decided they deserved a better life than ending up in someone’s bacon roll.”

 

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