“We’re suspicious people by nature. We’re called in to solve unexplained deaths, attacks, and other events. And this might have been accidental,” Logan said. “Maybe Reverend MacDonald just wasn’t paying attention. Don’t forget, we never suspect anything but what is real and solid until we’ve given up on real and solid.”
“Then again,” Sloan pointed out, “if we’re not suspicious, I don’t think anyone else will be. Because it appears to be real and solid that our minister tripped and broke his neck tumbling down the stairs.” He stroked Jane’s dark hair and looked into her luminous eyes. “You met the Reverend MacDonald in the village, right?”
She nodded. “When I came here and saw the castle on the hill, I thought it was just perfect. I had gone into a coffee shop and the clerk there told me that it was open for tours. After I spoke to Mrs. Avery and discovered we could get this date, I went back down to the village and inquired about someone at the library. I met with Reverend MacDonald in the same coffee shop and he was delighted. He couldn’t marry us on a Sunday because of his church services, but a Saturday would be marvelous. And I told him I’d have a room for him here, so that he’d be ready for the services.”
“What else do you know about him?” Sloan asked her.
“Nothing, except that he’s from the area. A bachelor. He loves when his youth groups have cookie sales. And the parents he works with are wonderful and love to work at creating carnivals to support the church.”
“Doesn’t sound like a man anyone would want to hurt,” Logan said.
“No,” Kelsey agreed.
“He looks great on the surface,” Sloan murmured. He caught Logan’s eye and he knew. What had happened might have been a tragic accident. But, they wouldn’t just accept that as fact. They’d dig and see what might lie hidden beneath appearances.
“Okay, then,” Kelsey said. “I’m up and off.”
“Off where?” Jane asked her.
“To the local library. I’ll see what I can dig up about this place,” Kelsey said. “And then I’ll head to the church and speak with people and find out what I can about our good Reverend MacDonald.”
“Then I’m… not really off,” Jane said. “I’m going to talk to Scully Adair. Bad things have happened here before. We need to find out more about the bride who died.”
“I’ll head into the village, too,” Logan said. “And see what I can dig up by way of gossip there regarding both the reverend and the castle folk. I think I saw Mr. Emil Roth head out. It would be good to have a chat with him. The castle’s hereditary owner should definitely know what there is to know about the castle.”
“We’ll meet back upstairs in a couple of hours?” Jane asked. “In the bridal suite? It’s the biggest and gives us the most room to work.”
“We might as well make use of the size,” Sloan agreed dryly.
They wouldn’t be laughing tonight, sipping champagne, eating strawberries and enjoying a totally carefree time as their first night of being husband and wife.
“You know, maybe you two are not going to become legally wed here,” Kelsey pointed out, a smile in her eyes, “but there’s no reason to make a perfectly good room go to waste.”
“Don’t worry,” Sloan told her, smiling and meeting Jane’s eyes. “We don’t intend for you two to stay long.”
“A man just died,” Jane murmured.
“In our line of work, someone has frequently just died,” Logan said softly. “And that really shows us just how important it is to live.”
Jane smiled and nodded. “We have champagne and fruit and chocolate. And we’re willing to share. We’ll meet in the suite in about two hours. And we will know the truth.”
Sloan looked at Jane as they all nodded. She was so beautiful. Calmer where Kelsey could be animated, serene often in a way that seemed to make the world stand still and be all right for him. She could be passionate and filled with vehemence when she chose and courageous at all times—even when she was afraid.
God, he loved her.
Scully Adair’s place was the reception desk in front of the doors that led to Mrs. Avery’s medieval and elegant office on the ground floor of the castle. Mrs. Avery, Jane thought, was going to be a tough nut to crack. She was all business and no nonsense. But, of course, if she heard Jane talking with Scully, she’d probably butt right in. So Jane waited, standing by the office door. Soon enough, Scully came out, her pretty features furrowed in a frown, her movements indicating that she was disturbed and restless. Her fingers fluttered as she closed the office door. There was a twitch in her cheek.
“Hey,” Jane said softly.
She was glad that Scully didn’t scream in surprise. Instead, her slender fingers flitted to her face. Her hand rested at her throat.
“Um, hey,” she said. “I’m so, so sorry. I mean, what a wedding day, huh?”
“I’m not worried about my wedding,” Jane said. “Sloan and I will marry somewhere soon enough. But were you going for lunch or a cup of coffee?”
Scully nodded with wide eyes. “Coffee, with a stiff shot.”
“May I go with you?” Jane asked.