“So that’s why you didn’t want me to pick you up,” Wally deduced.
“Yep.” Skye put a paper plate heaped with fried chicken, potato salad, and biscuits in front of him, along with a napkin wrapped around a plastic fork and knife. “You’re always doing such nice things for me. I thought it was about time I reciprocated.”
“Sugar”—Wally’s voice deepened—“you have no idea all the nice things I’d like to do for you.”
“We should probably talk about that, now that we’re engaged.”
“What do you mean?” Wally bit into the chicken leg he’d picked up.
“There’s a lot of stuff I haven’t asked you about and probably should have.” Skye stared at the smooth blue water. “For instance, I had no idea you hadn’t been in touch with Darleen since she left here two years ago, or that you two had had a prenup.”
“Oh.” Wally wiped his fingers on a napkin. “What else?”
“Money.” Skye took a deep breath. “I know your father is wealthy, but I’m completely in the dark about what your financial situation is like.” Her stomach felt queasy. She hated discussing issues like this, but she summoned up a smile. “You know I pretty much live paycheck to paycheck and plow anything extra into my house.”
“Money never seemed that important to you.” His tone was cautious.
“It’s not the cash per se,” Skye hurried to explain. This was what she’d been afraid of. Growing up rich, Wally had probably been pursued by a lot of women. “It’s how money affects people.”
“Ah, now I understand your concern.” He scooted nearer. “Okay. I don’t have a trust fund. I do have a small inheritance from my mother, which would be about enough for us to pay cash for a really nice house. As for my father’s empire, I don’t know who’s in his will or what he’s done about the company, but I doubt my name is mentioned.” He took her hand. “Does that make you feel better?”
“Yes.” Skye kissed his cheek. “I’m not crazy, and I like being comfortably well-off as much as the next girl, but the thought of being insanely wealthy scares the heck out of me.”
“Me, too.” Wally hugged her. “Anything else you want to know?”
“Not at the moment.” She had considered asking him whether he wanted children but could handle only one big life-changing question a day. And considering the annulment might take a year or more, she had time to work herself up to that topic.
“Good. I don’t want us to have any secrets.” Wally kissed her. “I want us both to go into this marriage with our eyes wide open, so ask away anytime.”
“You, too,” Skye said. Wally had worked with her mother for more than fifteen years, and even though May did not want him as a son-in-law, there was no way she had kept her mouth shut on her favorite topic—her kids. Which meant Wally already knew everything about Skye, so she felt pretty safe offering complete disclosure.
After they finished eating, Skye brought out a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries. “Are you ready for dessert, or would you rather wait a bit?”
“Definitely wait a while.” Wally patted his flat stomach. “I’m stuffed.”
“Me, too.” Skye crawled over and sat between Wally’s legs, resting her back against his chest. “So, what do you think about this latest development with the bookstore case?”
“Probably the same as you.” Wally pulled her closer and rested his chin on top of her head. “Burglary was not the motive for the murder.”
“I agree, but what makes you so sure?”
“The victim was hit over the head. Then the bookshelves were pushed over on top of her.”
Skye contemplated that piece of information for a moment, then said, “You’re inferring that if the thief had already knocked her out, thus enabling his or her escape, why also crush Kayla? The crook would only do that if he or she wanted her dead.”
“Exactly.” Wally nodded. “And even if the criminal killed Kayla so she couldn’t identify him or her, then why attempt a robbery in the first place when it was clear someone was still in the store? The lights were probably still on. And since we didn’t find any evidence of forced entry, the door was still probably unlocked, too. Which means anyone could have walked in and caught the bad guy in the act. Most thieves wait for the place to be empty.”
“Hmm.” Skye bit her lip. “Good point.”
“Those pieces of information, along with the books turning up in the library return box, make me think we’re after a murderer, not a thief who killed someone in the course of a burglary.” Wally’s voice was confident.
“Great.” Skye’s tone was resigned. Should she mention Xavier’s involvement with the bookstore? No. If Kayla was the intended victim, the fact that he had invested in the business wasn’t relevant.
They were silent for a moment before Wally mused, “The county crime scene techs have finished with the store, so I gave Risé and Orlando the go-ahead to open up tomorrow. Maybe I should stop them.” He paused, then said, “No.” He trailed his fingers lightly up and down Skye’s arms. “The techs already gathered all the evidence, and if the criminal was after Kayla, not the books, Tales and Treats probably doesn’t have anything to do with the case. And if it does, better to let it open up and allow whoever murdered that girl to think he got away with it.”
“Yep, keep an eye on the store and see what happens,” Skye agreed. “But what I can’t figure out is, who would want to kill a young girl like Kayla?”
“The usual motives are money, vengeance, and obsession.” Wally covered her hands with his. “What do you know about her?”
“She doesn’t seem to have any money. Her family is lower-middle-class and she needed that job.”
“How about revenge or passion?” Wally asked. “Anyone mad at her, or does she have a jealous ex?”
“Not that I’ve heard. She seems well liked and dated Chase Wren all through high school. They were engaged to be married. You saw how broken up he is about her death.” Skye twisted to look at Wally. “Do you want me to see what Xenia has to say?”
“That’s a good idea. And I’ll work on the forensic side.” Wally got to his feet. “Now, let’s stop worrying about criminals and concentrate on us.”
“Good idea.” Skye took his hand and pulled herself up. “Want to take a dip?”
“Sure.” Wally looked around. “Did you say you brought our suits?”
“Nope.” Skye unbuttoned her ecru blouse, revealing a cream lace bra. “Is that a problem?” She twitched her shoulders and the top dropped onto the sand.
“Guess not.” Wally grabbed the tails of his shirt and skimmed that garment along with his white T-shirt off over his head.
Skye shimmied out of her nut brown skirt. “I didn’t think so.” She fingered the top of her ivory satin panties.
He unzipped his uniform trousers and kicked off them and his Jockeys. “I’m ready.”
“Yes. I would say you definitely are.” Skye unhooked her bra and wiggled out of her underwear. “Race you to the raft.”
CHAPTER 14
The Turn of the Screw
Skye was still smiling when she arrived at work Tuesday morning. Her night with Wally had been fabulous. They’d gotten a lot of issues between them cleared up, and the rest of the time they’d spent together was better than she’d thought possible. Even the ominous note she found in her mailbox from Neva Llewellyn, the junior high principal, couldn’t wipe the grin off her face.
“Why are you so happy?” Ursula Nelson, the school secretary, watched her with suspicious beetle brown eyes. “Didn’t you see that message from Neva?”
“I saw it.” Skye refused to give the older woman the satisfaction of appearing concerned. “Please tell her I’m available anytime she’s ready to see me.”