Grounds for Murder by Tara Lush

Author:Tara Lush
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CROOKED LANE BOOKS

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You need to get in here right now, I texted Erica while I peed. Through the flimsy walls, I heard a toilet flush and the door slam from the men’s bathroom.

In where? I was about to order us another round of drinks. Can Stanley have more whipped cream?

No, he may not. I’m in the bathroom. Now! It’s important. I wondered if this was too much to ask of a new friend. But if anyone understood quirkiness, it was Erica. She had an eccentricity that I admired.

Okay, okay. I’ll put the drinks on hold. You’re buying the next round.

I hyperventilated. What were the chances of running into the guy who’d broken into Fab’s apartment (while I was breaking into it)? Pretty high, actually. Devil’s Beach wasn’t that big, and the Dirty Dolphin was the only bar with live music tonight, if you didn’t count that hoity-toity lounge at The Sands, the luxury resort on the other end of the island. Had I run into the sketchy guy at The Sands? That would have been odd.

Running into a burglar and possible murderer at the Dirty Dolphin? I snorted out loud. Probably a quarter of the men in this bar had been charged with at least one, if not both, of those crimes. Another quarter were probably on probation. (It was another reason why my love life here stunk, but I wasn’t ready to unpack that particular detail tonight).

After about a minute, there was a sharp rap on the door.

“Lana?” Erica’s throaty voice wafted through the flimsy wood. I flung it open ushering her and Stanley inside.

“What’s up?”

I peered out into the hall. It was empty.

“Quiet,” I hissed, shutting the door and locking it.

“Hey, if you want me to snort some toot, just so you know, I don’t do that crap anymore,” she said, putting Stanley on the floor. He wandered to the corner and hiked his leg on a discarded paper towel.

“Stanley, no,” I sighed. Whatever. We had bigger problems. At least it was on a towel. “Erica, no. I wasn’t asking you in here to do coke. I’ve never done drugs.”

She peered into the mirror, checking her ruby red lipstick. It was somehow still bold and perfect. I’d have to ask her later for the brand. “You didn’t seem the type, but you never know. What’s up?”

“The guy from Fab’s apartment. He’s here in this very bar.” I paused for dramatic effect. Blergh. Could I sound more like a bad extra from CSI: Miami?

I explained how I’d been waiting for the bathroom when the guy standing next to me spoke and I recognized his gravelly voice.

“I felt ice through my veins,” I hissed. “I know this is the guy. I’d know the voice anywhere. I swear to God it was him.”

Erica turned, leaning against the lavatory. “Well, this is an interesting dilemma. What are we going to do? Do you want to call Sheriff Hunk?”

I grimaced. “Chief Noah Garcia?”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Chief, Sheriff, whatever. Yeah. Him. Hunk. Dude who wants to get in your pants.

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