Dead Man's Hand by Lorraine Bartlett & Gayle Leeson

Author:Lorraine Bartlett & Gayle Leeson [Bartlett, Lorraine & Leeson, Gayle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Polaris Press

Despite the cool weather, Katie was sweating when she got to Sassy Sally’s. Don was at the reception desk, but he came around to meet her, immediately picking up on her distress.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

Nodding, she said, “I need a glass of water. Actually, I could go for something a lot stronger.”

“Of course. Come on.”

Katie followed Don into the kitchen, where he opened the liquor cabinet and pulled out a bottle of Black Velvet whisky. He then filled an old fashion glass with ice, measured a shot and a half of the amber liquid, and filled the glass with ginger ale. Between sips, Katie explained that Connor Davis had just spotted her on the Square.

“And Connor Davis is—?” he prompted.

“One of the men who played poker at my table last night.”

“Are you sure he saw you?”

“He pulled up alongside me as I was walking from Artisans Alley to Tealicious and asked what I was doing here. He was headed to Gilda’s shop and appeared to be in a hurry. I hope he doesn’t enter Wood U and see Ray.”

Don blew out a breath. “I hope so, too.”

“But the worst is, he’s going to Jamie’s funeral tomorrow and expects to see me there.”

Don groaned. “I knew this entire harebrained scheme was going to come back to bite us.”

Nick came into the kitchen. “Which harebrained scheme are we discussing?”

Don filled him in while Katie drained her glass of what Nick often teased her as whiskey pop and tried to will her hands not to tremble.

“We have to tell Seth,” Nick said.

“We can’t.” Katie shook her head. “He’ll be upset.”

“Why?” Don asked. “He’s the one who put you up to the ruse in the first place.”

She set down the glass and got up from her stool at the kitchen island. “This is a nightmare. How can I go to the funeral as both Katie Bonner and Kelly Ferrell? Plus, I can’t have Ray pose as my husband again. Not only would it make tongues wag on the Square, but after this morning, I’m not even sure Ray and I are friends anymore.”

“What?” Nick raised a hand to his throat. “What?”

Katie heaved a sigh. “I realized last night that he and I have an unhealthy, codependent relationship that needs to end,” she said. “I can’t go running to Ray every time I have a problem, and he can’t continue thinking we’ll ever be in an intimate relationship.”

“And you don’t think your friendship can survive?” Nick asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe we’ll get there someday, but it’s going to take me a while to get over last night. And last night is precisely why I wouldn’t trust him to do any more undercover work, either.” She ran her hands through her hair. “The only solution is for me to not attend Jamie’s funeral.”

“If that’s what you’re planning to do, you have to call Seth,” Nick said. “He’ll be so hurt if you miss the funeral with no explanation.”

“I agree. But a phone call won’t cut it.

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