Free Til Death Do Us Part (A Darcy Sweet Cozy Mystery Book 16) by K.J. Emrick Page A

life.
    Which begged the question, what was she really doing in town?
    “It was nice of you to stop and talk to me,” Phoebe said after another minute or two, “but I’m afraid I really must be going.  I have an appointment to keep.”
    “I understand,” Darcy answered, quickly thinking of ways to get more information out of Phoebe.  A-ha, she thought.  “Are you staying in town?”
    “I am.”  Phoebe collected her book and her heavy black purse as she stood up.  “There’s this wonderful Bed and Breakfast over on Fairfax.  Do you know it?”
    “Yes, I do.  The Butterfields own it.  I’ve heard good things about it.”
    “All true, I can assure you.  Perhaps we’ll see each other again before I leave town.”  She turned to leave.
    “Are you staying long?” Darcy called after her.
    Without stopping, Phoebe raised her voice to answer.
    “For as long as it takes.”
    Then she began whistling and walking in a way that accentuated the curve of her hips.  Darcy saw more than one man turn their head to watch Phoebe Stewart walk away.  She told herself she wasn’t jealous, which she wasn’t.  Really.
    Phoebe crossed the street to the sidewalk on the opposite side.  When she got near the bookstore the door flew open.  Brianna Watson matched her stride to Phoebe’s like it was completely accidental, and Darcy could already see the questions coming rapid fire.
    Brianna was on the scent of another story.  Darcy almost felt sorry for Phoebe.  At least she would have, if she wasn’t so sure that Phoebe was hiding something.  Maybe the bloodhound television reporter could get the truth to come out.
    Or maybe her fiancé had learned something new.
    The police department was only a short walk from the center of town.  It was quicker by bicycle, and now that the snow had gone away Darcy rode hers everywhere.  In a few minutes she was standing in the lobby of the station, waving through the service window at Sergeant Sean Fitzwallis.
    The old man was in a cheerful mood today, drumming his fingers on the countertop to some old tune.  His thick white hair was neatly trimmed.  His face looked thin today, and Darcy knew he was starting to show his age, but his smile was as bright as ever.
    “Well, hi there Darcy,” Sean said.  “I hear you’re a consultant for the department now.”
    “Well.  I don’t know how much help I can be,” she said, trying not to blush.  “I think it’s just a fancy title that means I can be in the building without anyone complaining about it.”
    “Now, don’t be so modest.  I figure Jon is just saying what the rest of us already knew.  Yup.  You help out a lot around here.  In more ways than one.”
    He laid a finger to the side of his nose as he said that, almost as if he was trying to hint that he knew something.  Darcy stared at her old friend.  As far as she knew, Sean wasn’t aware of her being able to talk with ghosts.  People in town might think she was a little strange, but only Grace and Jon and maybe one or two others knew what that was really about.
    He winked at her, then buzzed the door open for her to come inside.
    Darcy promised herself again that she would have a good long talk with Sergeant Fitzwallis sometime soon.  There was a lot more to the man than met the eye.
    She walked into the officer’s work area, the squad room with the desks set up for the detectives and the two or three shared by the rest of the officers.  Her sister Grace was at her desk, looking sharp in her white blouse and dark slacks.  Her short dark hair used to be much longer, but the grasping hands of her little baby girl had convinced her to keep it in something like a pageboy cut.  Darcy thought it suited her.  They had pretty similar facial features, her and her sister, but she knew she would always keep her long hair.  No short styles for her.
    Hmm.  How should she wear her hair for the wedding?  Just one more thing to worry about getting done so she could