Free BLUE WEDDING (Melody The Librarian Mysteries Book 3) by Leslie Leigh

no doubt strategizing over the future of the reception. Tiffany glanced my way, and I saw that her eyes were free of tears.
    Upstairs, Jimmy was leaning against the doorway of Charlie’s room. He allowed me to step in. I saw Bergman was taking photos from the bathroom entrance while his videographer fixed her camera on him.
    “Bergman’s the wedding photographer and the crime scene photographer?” I asked.
    The videographer tuned my way and smiled, cracking her gum. “Yeah, he’s double-dipping!”
    “Well, it’s not really a crime scene, Melody,” Jimmy said, and motioned me over to the bathroom door. Bergman backed out so we could edge inside. Jimmy knelt beside the sink. “See here? Mr. Hayes must have splashed some water around in the sink, slipped on it, and fell back into the tub. If you look closely,” he said, hunching down further, “you can see where the water is streaked across the floor from the puddle. So it appears to be an accident.”
    I looked up at the videographer, who was recording Jimmy’s hypothesis, and then looked back at Jimmy.
    “I did that,” I said.
    “Did what?”
    “Slipped in the water. I made that streak.”
    Jimmy’s eyes darted back and forth between the camera and me. “You did that?”
    “I did that,” I nodded.
    “Well, there may have been another little streak that dried up,” he said, smiling nervously at the camera.
    I pointed at the dead man’s feet. “Check out his shoes, Jimmy. They’re bone dry. And they were dry when I first saw him; right after Mrs. Hartford found him.” Jimmy shook his head. “Look, I don’t know anything about forensics,” I continued, “but maybe you should remove his shoes and place them in evidence bags. Maybe there’s a way for the experts to tell if patterns in grass or carpet residue indicate he slipped. Just an idea.”
    Jimmy was sweating. Maybe it was the close quarters or maybe it was the bright light from the video camera. “Can you please turn that off?” Jimmy snapped. Collecting himself, he rose and said, “I’ll go get my crime scene kit.” He turned to Bergman. “Make sure no one enters the bathroom, okay?”
    The videographer snapped her gum and flashed a smile. “Major burn, dude.”
    “He’s new,” I explained.
    “Me, too! I’m Margo.” We shook hands as I introduced myself.
    “That was pretty cool. I’m glad we caught that. Wow, we might have recorded a crime scene, Bergman! I can’t wait to look at what we’ve shot!”
    “And you won’t be the only ones. If there are any signs of foul play, the images both of you shot will be helpful to the authorities. I wouldn’t be surprised if Deputy Jimmy impounds your equipment.”
    Margo looked shocked. “Do you think he’ll really do that?”
    “I know he will,” I replied, “because I’m going to strongly suggest that he do so. No offense.” I wanted to leave, but had second thoughts about leaving an eager, enterprising, young videographer on-site unaccompanied by the authorities. Not that she would think to take any creative license with the surroundings, but still….
    You know, Margo,” I said, “I have a hunch that the family is going to have to make an announcement to the guests soon. Something like, ‘The party’s over,’ you know what I mean? It just might be a good idea to capture it on video.”
    “Oh, yeah,” she concurred. “The emotion. All that stuff.”
    “Exactly.” Together, we walked across the grass just as the band stopped in mid-song. The woman I’d seen earlier, shouting ‘Here they come!’ as the wedding party approached, turned out to be Melissa Mudd, Tiffany’s wedding planner. She now stepped to the microphone, seeing her professional duties to the bitter end.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve all gathered here today to celebrate a joyous occasion, but I’m just heartbroken to have to inform you that there has been a tragic accident tonight that necessitates ending the reception earlier than we’d