Free Killer Closet Case: a Danger Cove B&B Mystery (Danger Cove Mysteries Book 6) by Elizabeth Ashby, T. Sue VerSteeg

product in my hair since we got here. That's huge."
    I nodded. "That is. I've seen your beauty stash, so it's not like there isn't plenty in reserve."
    She heaved a huge sigh, dropping her head on my shoulder. "What about this Mal drama? Can you believe it?"
    "Nope, not even kind of. I'm usually a fairly good judge of character."
    "Right." She lifted her head and nodded. "I was sort of feeling a connection with him too."
    "Seriously?" I paused for her to laugh or give some other indication that she was joking, but she still had that devoted look on her face. "Even though we just met him?"
    Her head bobbed, hands clasped over her heart. "Totes."
    While I didn't feel like Mal and I had bonded on any kind of deep, meaningful level or anything, I couldn't help admitting to myself that I was a little jealous. I wouldn't go so far as to say I felt a connection, but I did feel a little warmer when he was around. He was extremely handsome and built like the cover model for a best-selling romance novel. But as usual, he was right up her alley and probably already smitten with her too. They almost always were.
    I took a tiny smidgeon of comfort that, this time, the smitten guy in question was wanted for questioning in a murder.
     

CHAPTER SIX
     
    I leaned my elbow on the reception desk and looked across at Cris's doe-eyed gaze, full of expectation. I shuddered one last time at the random thought of that Amazonian spider that'd watched me as I'd brought the clean sheets up out of the basement earlier. Even though I'd taken a shower since then, I still couldn't shake the feeling I'd just walked through the web or something. It was almost as bad as the blank stare that haunted my dreams and most of my daily thoughts. I gladly dragged my attention back to the task at hand. "I'm afraid there isn't much on the internet about Mr. O'Connell."
    The look of expectation morphed into a pout. "Why? There was so much on there about that Mafia guy."
    "I guess this is a good thing. If Mal was plastered across the pages, it would mean he was in trouble a lot or something."
    She snapped her fingers and pointed at me. "What about your brother? Isn't he interning for some big firm in Seattle? Call him and see if he'll dig up the dirt."
    "I believe that's an invasion of privacy. I'd imagine he'd get in trouble for plowing into someone's past just because his sister asked." I looked at her skeptically from the corner of my eye.
    She leaned both elbows on the desk, resting her chin on her upturned palms. "And his sister's BFF. Look, Mal is working here. He pretty much has access to everything. Don't you want to know what we're dealing with? What if he comes back with a gun, all mad that we told the cops where he was and stuff? We probably need to be prepared if that's the kind of guy he is."
    I scoffed. "Do you really think that's how he is? You know, since you have that connection with him."
    She scowled at me and leaned back. "You mock that which you don't understand." She dropped her hand over her heart and heaved a woeful sigh.
    "Fine, I'll call him and ask." I picked up the desk phone but quickly slammed it back down. "You don't think they bugged this, do you?"
    Cris let out a lilting laugh. "In this out-of-the-way area? Please."
    I pulled my cell phone from my jeans pocket. "Just to be on the safe side." I clicked on Bradley's pic, and it only rang twice before he answered. Evidently he didn't get the tech-no family gene either, thank God.
    "Hey, sis. What's up? Are you going to be in Danger Cove for Christmas?"
    "Uh," I muttered. "I'm already here. I guess Mom and Dad didn't call you?"
    We both broke out into gut-wrenching laughter.
    As it subsided, I eked out between giggles, "They kind of took off to San Diego for a Bon Jovi concert shortly after I got here, and left me in charge. I mean, I walked in, and the next morning they were pulling out of the drive. No lie."
    "Ah, they went to visit your dad. They probably should have taken you," he stated