Deadly Corsage by Jenna St. James

Author:Jenna St. James [James, Jenna St.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-02-14T23:00:00+00:00

12

Bites & Beers was two streets inland from The Watery Grave. Both bars were located on the northwest side of the island, and both bars were only minutes from Nightwalker Fish Factory.

When Alex and I strolled inside Bites & Beers, the noise quieted for a few seconds before picking back up. But I could tell by the way eyes followed us, most customers knew why we were there. Alex headed straight for the bar.

“I suppose, once again, a drink is out of the question?” Needles whined.

“You suppose right,” I muttered.

Alex nodded to the bartender. “Afternoon. Were you working the bar Sunday evening from six to ten?”

The bartender barely looked up from wiping down glasses. “I was.”

“Do you know Perry and Peony Nightwalker?” Alex asked.

“I do.”

“Riveting conversation,” Needles said dryly. “I can see why you’d want me to keep my wits about me and not have a small drink.”

Alex cocked his head to the side. “Do you remember if they were in here Sunday night between six and ten?”

The bartender set the glass down and studied Alex for a few seconds before turning his eyes on me. Then, when his eyes landed on Needles, they widened. “So the stories are true.”

“What stories?” I asked.

The bartender flashed me a smile so wide, I could see his fangs. “That a Black Forest animal is doing work as a detective.”

“He’s not—”

But Alex’s words were cut off as Needles flew straight up in the air, twirled, then bowed…the colors in his wings so bright, they nearly blinded me.

“Did you hear that?” Needles demanded as he straightened. “I’m known around the island as the Black Forest Detective. I could be called BFD for short.”

I bit my lip so I wouldn’t blurt out what BFD really stood for. He might enjoy that way too much.

“Getting back to my question,” Alex said, “were you working Sunday from six to ten?”

The bartender nodded. “Most nights I work five to close.”

“And close is?” I asked.

“Eleven on Sunday through Thursday, and midnights on Friday and Saturday.”

“Did Perry and Peony leave together?” Alex asked.

The bartender furrowed one brow. “Don’t remember it that way. I think Perry left first. Yeah. That’s right. Because I remember Peony getting up from the table to sit at the bar here for a bit after Perry left and drank another beer.”

“What time did she leave?” Alex asked.

The bartender shrugged. “No idea. Maybe half an hour after Perry left. And, no, I don’t know the exact time he left either. It gets busy in here on Sunday nights.”

“That’s fine,” Alex said. “But you’d say Peony left maybe a half an hour after Perry? Not like an hour?”

“An hour? No way. I think I’d have remembered something like that.”

Alex nodded. “Thanks for your time.”

The bartender nodded, then fist-bumped Needles.

“Stay cool, little dude,” the bartender said.

“Well?” Alex mused when we got back inside the vehicle.

“It doesn’t tell us much,” I said. “Could be both Peony and Doyle are telling the truth. Let’s say Peony left the bar around eight. That gives her plenty of time to walk to the plant, kill her father, and walk home.

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