A Dreadful Meow-ment (MEOW FOR MURDER Book 2) Read online

  One good thing that’s come from escaping my old life is that I’ll never be subjected to this hypocrisy.

  I take a moment to straighten Shepherd’s tie before we head over to the check-in desk right outside the mouth of that rowdy overhyped senior prom.

  Shep has donned a black suit, dark dress shirt, black tie, and believe me when I say, it’s a hotter-than-heck look juxtaposed against his pale blue eyes. We made small chitchat on the way over, but not once did either of us touch upon the fact I’m no more Bowie Binx than I am the Easter Bunny. I’m guessing he’s saving that conversational nugget for later.

  “How are we going to play this?” I whisper.

  He rides his eyes up and down my dress, doing that broken elevator thing.

  I took him up on his offer and his money, and waltzed down the street to a snazzy boutique called Glitz ’n Glam and picked out a silver dress iced with crystals. It’s both low-cut and high-cut in all the right places—and will scream out to all the girls here, No need to come sniffing around. Sexy Wexy has scored himself a hot sidepiece.

  “We’re definitely dating.” He frowns as if the thought ticked him off on some level. Come to think of it, frowning is Shep’s go-to look. “And, if I haven’t mentioned it”—his cheeks cinch just shy of a smile—“you clean up nice.”

  “I get dirty nice, too,” I tease, giving his tie a tug and he lifts a brow, amused. “Don’t get your hopes up, cowboy. I’m just here doing a favor for a friend.”

  I crane my neck toward the crowded room before us and spot a tall man, handsome in a Ken doll sort of way, dark hair, nice suit with a loud blue and white floral tie, and he looks as if he’s getting into it with someone. His face is red, his arms gesticulating—the whole nine angry yards. I try to get a glimpse of the other guy, but he’s standing behind a cloth partition just behind the buffet, and all I can make out is the glint of a triangular cufflink. The Ken doll of a man steps behind the partition as well and now they’re both hidden from view. I shrug as I take a quick breath. “All right, Shep. It’s showtime.”

  Shep checks us in and already the girls at the reception desk are swooning. No sooner do we step into the crowded hall than just about every person here turns to look our way.

  A series of gasps circle the room, and a few men let out a cheer comprised of Shep’s last name.

  But we don’t get five feet before a caramel-haired blonde accosts us. She’s tall, lanky, has on a hot pink dress that looks as if it was melted over her body by way of latex, and she’s got the greedy hue painted onto her lips as well.

  Her pink mouth falls open. “Well, if it isn’t my high school sweetheart. How I’ve missed taking a bite out of my favorite Shepherd pie.” She wraps her arms around him, and he reciprocates, albeit without as much enthusiasm.

  Why do I get the feeling Pinky here is the reason I’m all dressed up and playing the part of his plus one?

  “Hilary.” Shep sheds a genuine grin, one that’s so rare I’m almost moved to pull out my phone and snap a picture of it. “How have you been?”

  “Better now,” she purrs like the sex kitten I’m betting she still is, before she glances my way and any trace of hope in her eyes quickly vanishes.

  Shep pulls me in by the waist and something in me stirs to have him holding me this way. I’ve been held by handsome men before but never a handsome man of Shepherd Wexler’s caliber.

  He motions her way. “Bowie, this is Hilary Campbell. It’s true. We dated all through high school. And Hilary, I’d love for you to meet my fiancée, Bowie Binx.”

  Fiancée?

  I nod to Shep with a touch of amusement. This escalated quickly.

  “Fiancée,” Hilary echoes and suddenly it looks as if she’s ready to do a throwdown. “Well, how about that?” Her day-glow green eyes twitch back to Shep.

  She’s pretty and not in any ordinary way. She has that glossy magazine cover girl appeal to her and it makes me wonder what pried these two lovebirds apart.

  “Yes.” Shep pulls me closer a notch. “It’s new. But it’s forever,” he chides and now the picture is coming in crystal clear. Hilary is the reason for the faux bling season.

  “Wow.” Hilary sharpens her eyes over mine. “And here I am single for the first time in years.” She looks to Shep with a marked level of wanting. “I guess I was hoping we could rev up the old love wagon, see if it still took us places, if you know what I mean.” She runs her finger over his tie seductively and I reflexively bat it away.

  “Sorry,” I say, wrapping my arm around him. “This is a fiancée only zone. I’m a bit overprotective of him. He’s a big famous author now in the event you weren’t aware.”

  Something tells me Little Ms. Priss here is well aware of every aspect of Shepherd’s life. I don’t think she ever let the flame die out on her end.

  Before she can respond, a happy-looking trio crops up among us, two dapper-looking men and a pretty brunette who get right to the business of air-kissing Hilary.

  I do a double take at the taller of the two men. It’s the man I spotted just a few minutes ago, getting angry at what I’m presuming was one of his former classmates. I can’t say I blame him. If I were at my class reunion, I’d be out for blood myself.

  “Hey hey!” The Ken doll pulls Shep in for a partial embrace. He’s got a thick mustache, deep-welled dimples, and a tan that makes him look like Tom Selleck. I’m hoping Hilary will notice the stunningly handsome resemblance and take her hot-to-trot libido in that direction. “Shepherd, my man. What is happening? I see your books everywhere I go. I’ve read a few, too. Who knew you could put pen to paper?”

  The man next to him with the shock of silver hair swats the guy.

  “Everyone knew Shep could do whatever he wanted and succeed. He’s Maple Grove’s golden boy. He could do no wrong.” He shoots the man next to him a sharp look. “Unlike you.”

  Shep shakes the other man’s hand.

  “Bowie”—Shep pulls me in—“I’d like to introduce you to my old buddies, Craig Walker and Oliver Kincaid.”

  Craig is the handsome walking-talking moustache with the floral printed tie, and Oliver is the one with the premature gray.

  “Super nice to meet you,” I say. “I’m his fiancée,” I toss out the matrimonial nugget only because I can. Besides, I have a feeling now that Hilary has been shown the boundary line, Shep might actually forget all about our little arrangement.

  Craig inches back. “Fiancée? Did I hear that right?” He mock-socks Shep in the stomach. “And here I thought we were destined to play our cards right for the rest of our lives.”

  The three men share a laugh, and I give Shep the stink eye.

  The brunette dives over Shep with a warm embrace.

  “I can’t believe it. Has it really been fifteen years?” She shakes her head before looking my way. “I’m Kadie.” Her lips lift into something shy of a snarl as she examines me from head to toe.

  Kadie has got on a tight-fitting red dress with matching heels. She’s graying at the roots, her skin looks thick and littered with lines as if the years haven’t been all that kind to her, and yet there’s an edge to her, a tough girl vibe which I’m guessing translates into a mean girl vibe, too.

  “Kadie.” Shep shakes his head. “What have you been up to?” He looks my way. “Kadie Beaumont and Hilary were best friends.”

  “Still are.” She wags a finger at him. “I’ve got kids now, you know.” She shoots Craig the side-eye before elbowing Oliver in the ribs. “This guy is working on an addition for me right now. And at the rate it’s going, it should be buttoned up in about another fifteen years. Now I know why he insisted I pay him by the hour.”

  Everyone indulges in a warm chuckle on Oliver’s behalf, but he’s not laughing.

  He looks her way. “I’d get a lot more work done if you weren’t distracting me with your shenanigans. Excuse me while I get a drink.” He takes off and Kadie gives a nervous laugh as she glances to Craig once again.

  “No shenanigans here,” she declares. “I’m a busy mom of two teenage girls.”

  Shep nods. “That’s right. I heard you married Skip Ryan.”

  Hilary slings her arm around her old bestie. “She sure did. Fourteen years and going strong.” She tucks one of Kadie’s curls behind her ear. “Fourteen years is an awful long time. She’s entitled to a little shenanigan now and again.” She licks her lips as she looks to Shep.

  It’s clear Hilary is up for a shenanigan or two—with my fiancé.

  Okay, so Shep may not really be my fiancé, but that’s beside the point. I don’t take too kindly to cheaters, and I’m about to demonstrate it to her firsthand by way of my fist.

  A couple of men step into our circle and the air grows icy as Hilary and Kadie quickly decide their palates are in need of a libation.

  I bet they’re going to have a quick powwow on how to best snag Shep away and undress him in the nearest dark hallway. I knew girls like that in high school. I didn’t like them then and I don’t like them now.

  Shep takes a breath. “Well, if it isn’t the skirt patrol.” He slaps each of the men before us with a handshake. “Bowie, this is Lloyd Jackson.” He nods to the beefy-looking man, bald, sparkling green eyes and a wide, tight smile. “He’s a deputy down at the Woodley Sheriff’s Department.”

  “That’s right.” Lloyd sheds an easy grin. “Come this fall, I’m running for sheriff. I’ll expect a few votes from you all.” He gives a cheesy wink while he belts out a laugh.

  “Sheriff?” Shep nods. “You got my vote already. Let me know if you need any help with the campaign.” He points to the stalky man next to him with a full head of brown hair and matching dark eyes. “And this is James Palmer. He, too, is a deputy down at the Woodley Sheriff’s Department. It’s like old home week in more ways than one. Boys, this is Bowie Binx.”

  “His fiancée,” I’m forced to highlight the point once again. “Nice to meet you both.”

  “Fiancée?” Lloyd shakes his head over at Shep. “You do know what that means, don’t you?”

  The three of them share a laugh on my behalf.

  “Very funny,” I mutter. “So you all worked together, huh?”

  “That’s right.” James gives a wistful shake of the head as he looks to Shep. “We sure miss you down at the station. “But don’t worry. We came packing heat.”

  Shep nods his way. “So I take it we’re all safe here tonight.”

  “We’re all safe. And if you don’t behave”—James peels back his suit jacket and exposes the butt of a gun—“this is what I’m going to kill you with.”

  The three of them share another hearty guffaw, and it’s then I realize the vision I had this morning just came to fruition.

  Okay, so nobody was actually going to kill Shep, but you can never be too cautious. I’m glad I came. It turns out, he still has a very big target on his back.

  Shep leans in. “So what’s going on with Craig and Kadie?” He shakes his head at his friends. “I sensed some tension there.”

  The men exchange a look.

  Lloyd sniffs as he looks around. “Nothing that I know about.”

  James shakes his head. “Me either. Maybe she’s sick of the old man? Skip is twenty years her senior.”

  “I’m sure they’re fine.” I don’t mind adding my two cents at all. Men always think women are so eager to cheat, when in my experience it’s been the other way around. In fact, I’d bet good money Skip is skipping out on poor Kadie. “Shep, how about a drink?”

  I’d rather find a bottle of strychnine than listen to the three of them gossip like a bunch of seventh graders.

  Shep and I take off, and thankfully there’s no sign of Hilary or her shifty bestie.

  “How did I do?” I whisper, wrapping my arms around his neck, and we begin to sway to the music. His heady cologne hits me in the exact place God intended it to and, for a moment, I’d like to pretend this arrangement between the two of us is genuine.

  His lips twitch shy of a smile. “You’re doing great. You can tone it down if you want.” His hands hesitate around my hips and I help land them there before resuming the hip swaying.

  “You can’t scale back at a time like this. If Hawkeye Hilary sees that you’re afraid to touch me, she’ll sense a crack in the engagement armor.” I’m about to suggest a peck on the cheek to add to our legitimacy—and to satiate my own cravings—when a loud bang goes off.

  The odd thing is, the bodies in the room don’t seem to notice or care.

  “That wasn’t the music,” I say. “Believe me when I say I’ve been privy to hearing a gunshot or two.”

  Shep inches back with a hint of intrigue in his eyes.

  “I’m going to have you tell me exactly what you’ve been privy to, but not now.” He pulls back, his right hand drifting to his waist as if to feel for his own weapon. “Stay here, Bowie. I’ll be right back.”

  “Not on your life.” I trot ahead of him in the direction the sound was coming from and lead us down a dimly lit hall. I’m about to pull out my phone and turn on the flashlight when I trip and land over something soft and warm.

  “Oh my God.” I do my best to scramble off this warm pile of jelly as Shep helps me to my feet. And then I see it for what it is. “It’s a body,” I pant as I note the dark stain of blood pooling from his chest.

  It’s not just any body—it’s Craig Walker.

  And by the looks of it, this will be his last high school reunion.

  Craig Walker is dead.

  Chapter 3

  “He’s gone,” Shep confirms after checking his pulse.

  “I’ll call the police,” I say, reaching for my phone.

  “No, don’t do that.”

  “Okay then, I’ll scream.”

  “Don’t do that for sure.” Shep stands and glances over my shoulder. “I’ll call it in. Would you do me a favor? See if you can find Lloyd out there. He’s the bald guy with muscles.” Shep steps past me and begins shouting commands into his phone.

  “Bald guy with muscles,” I whisper, giving one quick glance down the hall and something gold and shiny catches my eye about ten feet away from the poor guy on the floor. I quickly cast my flashlight over it, noting it’s a tube of lipstick, gold case, the expensive kind you buy at the mall for close to fifty bucks a pop—a brand called SMACK. I should know. I used to have a dozen, if not a hundred, of those tubes rolling around at home when I lived in another state, another town, and another tax bracket entirely.

  The door at the end of the hall sits slightly ajar and I can see a seam of light coming from the other side. Judging by the balmy fresh air blowing this way, I’m guessing it leads outside.

  I step out of the hall of horrors and into the ballroom. That primal urge to howl as loud as humanly possible is still very much alive within me.

  “Hey?” a female voice calls out before me, and I turn to find Hilary gawking at my dress in horror. “Did you spill wine on yourself?” She leans in to better inspect it. “I’m not an expert, but I’d say that was blood. You didn’t kill Shep, did you?” she teases, but her lips quiver as if she meant it on some level.

  “Actually.” I lift a finger just as her eyes drift past me, and Hilary Campbell does all the screaming for me.

  Before I know it, everybody in this hot and sweaty ballroom has congregated around the entry to the hallway and is craning their necks for a glimpse of the poor man.

  Whispers of who it might be float around the vicinity. From the corner of my eye, I spot James Palmer, the dark-haired deputy, coming into the room, and on his heels is Kadie. She looks just as surprised as he does by the sheer number of bodies congregating in my direction.

  I’m about to head over when I spot Lloyd, the bald muscle man, making a beeline over. His suit jacket has been abandoned, his gun holster is exposed, and he has his weapon drawn.

  “All right, back up,” he barks as James joins him in the gun-wielding department.

  “Shep is back there,” I pant at the two of them as they pass me. And soon, the hallway is flooded with emergency medical workers and others from the sheriff’s department.

  Shep comes over and takes a look around at his old friends.

  “I’m going to have to ask everyone to step back,” he shouts. “There’s been a homicide.”

  A round of gasps and screams fills the room.

  He holds up a hand. “Nobody leaves the building. Make yourselves comfortable. A deputy will come around to get your information.”

  Hilary slithers up to Shep, tugging at a blonde lock. “This reminds me of those shut-in parties we used to have. Boys and girls, you and me?” She inches her way closer to him. “A few rounds of hard liquor and—”

  “And”—I gently push her away as I curl up next to my make-believe man—“one of his good friends just passed away. I don’t think he’s in the mood to trot down memory lane.” I look to the handsome man before me. “Shep, are you okay?”

  He takes a solid breath. “Yeah, I think so.” He sighs as he looks to the thirsty woman beside us. “Hilary, it was Craig.”

  “What?” A genuine horror overtakes her.

  Wait a minute. Didn’t she just look down the hall a few minutes ago? I mean, it’s dark, but it’s not that dark. For some reason, I’m having a hard time buying that shocked look on her face.

  “Okay.” She shrugs it off. “Now what?”

  Shep and I exchange a glance.

  “Now we mourn,” I tell her.

  She makes a face. “I get that. What I meant was should we call somebody? Like his parents?”

  “Lloyd is on it.” Shep nods. “I’m sorry, Hilary. I know you were close.”

  She sucks in her bottom lip and her eyes begin to water on cue. It looks as if good old Hilary here found an easy inroad to Shep’s heart—by way of grief.

  “This is going to be really hard for all of us.” She lifts her chin. “I suppose that means we’ll be seeing a lot more of you.” She’s right back to tugging at her curls and staring him down.