Free The Deep End (A Saints & Strangers Cozy Mystery Book 2) by Keeley Bates Page A

feet.
    “We’ll meet you outside,” Rebecca told them. She could feel the stirrings of a headache. Even a small amount of alcohol seemed to have that effect on her.
    While the trio disappeared into the restroom, Rebecca and Jake made their way to the exit. They strolled down the sidewalk arm-in-arm. They were both a little tipsy, still laughing over Jake's uncharacteristic behavior.
    “Next time, I want to see you up there singing,” he insisted. “It’s as much out of your comfort zone as it is mine.”
    “In honor of your sister, I will,” Rebecca said and quickly realized how crass that sounded. “I’m sorry, Jake. I didn’t mean it to be rude.”
    His expression remained pleasant. “No, of course not. You’re nothing but kind.”
    “We should do this again next time you’re here. Another Elvis song and you might just find yourself with a new income stream.”
    Jake's smile faded. “I don’t know when that will be. I’ll be pretty busy once I get back to work.”
    “Oh.” Of course he did. Rebecca had forgotten that Jake's real life was elsewhere. She squeezed his hand. “You’ll call me?”
    “Of course.” Abruptly, he released her hand. “Would you mind if I catch a cab here?”
    Rebecca started. “Here? Don’t be silly. We’ll drive you.”
    Jake ignored her, hailing a nearby cab. It pulled over immediately and he yanked open the door. “It’s been wonderful spending time with you. I’ll be in touch soon. I promise.”
    Before she even knew what was happening, he disappeared into the cab. Bewildered, she watched it drive away and fade into the darkness.
     
    Meanwhile, Charlotte stood in line for the restroom, trying not to hop from foot to foot. She’d foolishly allowed Kit and Francie to go first and now she was getting desperate. The door to one of the stalls opened and a redhead nearly fell to her knees in front of the toilet. The leopard dress cheerleader.
    “Omigod, this bathroom floor isn’t level,” the woman said, stumbling to her feet. “I hate old buildings.”
    Charlotte wondered how many cocktails she’d enjoyed this evening. She attempted to brush past the inebriated woman and enter the stall.
    “Oh.” The woman ogled her with a curious expression. “Aren’t you one of Jazzy’s stepdaughters?”
    Charlotte bristled. “I am Charlotte Tilton,” she said.
    “That was a nice funeral,” she slurred. “Everything was so fancy.”
    “Jasmine wouldn’t have expected anything less,” Charlotte said. Bitchy wasn’t her usual style, but she wasn’t feeling generous in nature at the moment.
    “I was surprised that Brendan didn’t show. Did you invite him?” the woman asked and then smacked her forehead. “Of course you didn’t. Why would you do that? So inappropriate.”
    Charlotte’s head snapped to attention. “Brendan Williams?” Had people taken notice of them already? They hadn’t even been seen together in Westdale, as far as she knew.
    The woman laughed, an awful, cackling sound that grated on Charlotte’s ears. “Oh, you know about Brendan, do you? Doesn’t surprise me, really. Jazzy didn’t hide her flaws very well.”
    Her flaws? Charlotte shook her head in confusion. “Did Jasmine know Brendan?”
    The woman belched and laughed again. “Oh my. Am I causing trouble again?”
    Charlotte stood and faced the woman. Unsurprisingly, she reeked of alcohol. “How did she know Brendan?”
    The woman placed her sculptured red nails on Charlotte’s shoulder. “Little girl, Brendan Williams was her lover. Her boy toy.”
    Charlotte nearly toppled over and the drunken redhead actually kept her standing. The look on Charlotte’s face must have sobered her slightly because her expression softened.
    “I guess it isn’t funny, is it?” she asked. “You loved your dad. Everyone says he was a nice man. A fool, but a nice one. I wouldn’t mind…”
    She didn’t finish her sentence because Charlotte shoved the woman aside and fled the bathroom. She