“Yeah. Ed texted me just now. He got tied up in traffic leaving Raleigh, so he’ll be doing well to make the seven o’clock ferry.”
“What time will the kids be here?”
“I’m not sure. They’re flying on a buddy pass because Amanda’s dad works for the airline. They’re supposed to call when their flight gets into RDU. So I’m just having boiled shrimp and a nice green salad tonight. They can eat that whatever time they get in.”
A flash of silver caught her eye, and Parrish pointed across the street, at a silver Kia about to make a left turn out of the bank parking lot. “That looks like Melody now.”
“Follow that car,” Riley said, grinning. “I’ve been waiting my whole life to say that.”
Parrish pulled away from the curb and did a quick U-turn.
“That was subtle,” Riley said.
“It was that or lose sight of the Kia,” Parrish said. She slowed down and hung back by half a block. “You know, following a car without being spotted isn’t as easy as they make it look on TV.”
“That’s because very few cop shows are set in towns with a population of just under three thousand,” Riley said. “You’re doing fine. If Melody spots us, so what? We had a totally legit reason to be in town, grocery shopping for the holiday weekend.”
“True,” Parrish agreed. “We’ve even got the Harris Teeter bags to prove it.”
“Damn,” Riley said, pointing at the Kia. “She’s turning left. She’s headed for the ferry. Guess she’s not planning on leading us to her accomplice. Or the murder weapon. Still, the day wasn’t a total failure. We figured out Melody’s come into a buttload of money recently.”
“And probably not because she got a bonus from the bank. You want me to turn around and drop you at the car?” Parrish asked.
“Yeah. I’ll meet you at the ferry. Save me a seat as far away from Melody as possible. And order me a drink, will ya?”
46
They’d gotten the text at eleven o’clock the night before.
No open seats on any flights. Headed back to apt. Sorry.
“Hey,” Ed said softly. “Parrish. Come on. It’s not the end of the world.”
“I know,” she said, sniffing. “I’m being stupid. But I can’t help it. I had the whole weekend planned out with the kids.”
Parrish sat up and reached for a tissue to blow her nose. “I haven’t seen our son in two months, and he’ll be back in school in early August, and then he’ll probably go home with Amanda for Thanksgiving.”
Ed looked puzzled. “This isn’t like you. Is something else going on that’s making you so emotional?”
“No! I mean, I guess maybe seeing what all Riley has been going through, first Wendell being murdered, and then all this money stuff. And now the sheriff actually told her she’s a suspect. It just has me thinking about how important family is.”
“I’m your family,” Ed said, dropping a kiss on her neck. “And I’m sorry David and Amanda had a change of plans, but look—I’m here now, and I’m staying ’til Tuesday.”
“You are? Really? I thought you had depositions.”
“One of the associates can take the damn deposition,” Ed said. “Why be senior partner if you can’t delegate authority?”
“That’s great,” Parrish said.
“And I’m going to make more of an effort to cut back on all my hours and travel. And I promise not to get myself killed or to bankrupt us. Okay? Will that cheer you up?”
She punched his chest lightly. “You’re terrible. Don’t even joke about it. I haven’t even told you the latest developments.”
“Tell me over breakfast,” Ed said, standing and tugging at her hand. “Let’s ride over to the village.”
* * *
They got their food and sat at a table by the Mercantile’s front window while Parrish detailed what she and Riley had accomplished the day before. She was careful not to mention their previous raid on Wendell’s office.
“I don’t like the idea of you two following that woman,” he said, frowning. “What if she figures out you’re stalking her? And Riley needs to be careful about making accusations she can’t prove. If Melody is as smart as you think, what’s to stop her from suing Riley for slander?”
“You sound like such a lawyer,” Parrish said.
“I am a lawyer, and so were you, so you know better,” he said. “I thought she was going to hire that woman in Wilmington to represent her.”
“She was sympathetic, but Riley’s got no money for a retainer,” Parrish said. “So I’m just helping out a little.”
He looked over his glasses at her. “Have you been studying up on criminal law while I’ve been away?”
“Eat your breakfast and read your paper,” Parrish said.
Ed sat at a table in the café, happily devouring his favorite everything bagel with cream cheese and lox, reading the Sports section of The New York Times, while Parrish nibbled at an apricot croissant and leafed through a magazine from the Mercantile’s newsstand.
“Ed and Parrish! Where have you two been hiding all summer?”
Parrish knew the voice without looking up, but silently prayed she might be mistaken.
“Hi, Andrea.” Ed, ever the Southern gentleman, doffed his baseball cap. He gestured at the empty chair at their table. “Would you care to join us?”
Parrish gave him a swift, vicious kick in the shin.
“Oh, no, you’re too sweet,” Andrea cooed. “I’m just going to pick up a cake I ordered, and then I have to run. It’s my Thomas’s birthday and we’re having fifteen three-year-olds for his party this afternoon. It’s a Star Wars–themed party, and I’ve got to go home and finish putting together the light sabers. Can you imagine? Total bedlam!”
“Totally,” Parrish said, turning back to her magazine as though it was the most fascinating thing she’d ever seen.
“Okay, well, toodles,” Andrea said.
“Toodles,” Parrish said under her breath.
“What was that kick for?” Ed rubbed his calf absentmindedly.
“For trying to inflict Belle Isle Barbie on us for one minute more than is absolutely necessary,” Parrish said. “That woman is a pestilence.”
“That seems kind of harsh,” Ed said, turning back to his newspaper.
“You and your good manners,” she said, standing. “I’m going to get another cup of tea. Do you want a coffee refill?”
He held out his mug without looking up. “Thanks.”
The Mercantile hummed with activity. Shoppers trundled carts across the wooden floors, kids clamored at the candy counter for treats, and the cash registers beeped with a constant flow of purchases. Parrish stood patiently at the counter in the café until Annie Milas came over to take her order.
“Hey, Parrish,” Annie said, eyeing the empty mugs she held out. “Let’s see, Earl Grey tea for you, French roast for Ed?”
“You’ve got a great memory,” Parrish said, looking around. “How do you keep everything straight, as busy as you are?”