Free Fatal Fairies (Renaissance Faire Mystery Book 8) by Joyce Lavene, Jim Lavene

sure our eyes were on the same level. “I’d do anything for you.”
    He looked skittish at that and mumbled something about finding boots before he left the dressing room. I sighed and sat back in the chair.
    Ten minutes later, he was back. I loved him so much when he pulled up a short stool and first washed the bottom of my feet and then added some kind of liniment. He wouldn’t have had to work so hard—just looking at him made me feel better all over.
    “These aren’t exactly regulation Ren wear.” He put white socks on my feet. “But you’ll probably need them with the boots.”
    I came out of my Chase-induced love haze and realized I needed to move forward with the plan. “I have the police report about the fairy’s death. And I know they didn’t find anything incriminating when they searched your room at the castle.”
    “Thanks. I’m not sure about following through on looking for the killer,” he said as he put on the half-boots that were common for peasants to wear. “If I’m in the clear, I guess it doesn’t matter.”
    “But what if you don’t stay in the clear?” Thank goodness I’d brought it up. “Detective Almond is like a dog with a bone when he gets an idea. He isn’t going to stop watching you. We have to fight back, and the only way is to find the killer.”
    “You’re very passionate about it,” he said. “How well do you know Detective Almond? I never met him before today. Canyon takes care of all that stuff.”
    “I know.” Forgive me one little white lie. “But he thinks you might be guilty too. You read the ME’s description of the killer. It was someone strong enough to strangle the fairy with one hand while he held her underwater.”
    “Yeah.” Chase wiped off his hands on a towel. “I guess you’re right. There was also the part about the fairy kicking the armor. That had to be a knight or one of the jousters. It could be me—or about a dozen other people—including Canyon. Maybe that’s why the Bailiff thinks I did it. He wants to throw suspicion off himself.”
    He was finally intrigued by the situation. I’d seen it on his face a hundred times as we searched for someone who stole money from the Brotherhood of the Sheaf, an antique teapot from the Honey and Herb Shoppe , or a valuable glass statue from the Glass Gryphon . I could see he was on the trail.
    “Let me get the report and you can look through it, just like old times.” Oops. The words were out before I could stop them.
    Chase had been unbuckling his breast plate. He paused to stare at me.
    “What? We’ve never done anything like this. Is there something about me that reminds you of Canyon?” He laughed so I knew it was okay.
    I got the report out of my bag. My feet really felt a lot better. Chase had been a paramedic for a while after college. It was partially that experience that had made Adventure Land hire him as the Bailiff.
    After he’d taken off his armor, I handed him a cold ale from the mini-fridge and gave him the police report. As he read it and relaxed, I cleaned his boots and polished his armor. I tidied up the room and finally paused to see how he was taking it.
    “She was only twenty.” He shook his head. “If someone who lives in the Village is responsible, you’re right. We have to find him.”
    Yes! The plan is in play.
    He glanced at his watch. “Are your feet okay?”
    “They’re fine. Don’t worry about them.”
    “Good. We’ve got a few hours before the next joust. Let’s see what we can find out. Residents who live and work around the Good Luck Fountain are going to be more likely to talk to us instead of the police. That’s our advantage.”
    “I’m ready to go.”
    He handed me the file. “Just remember to walk a few paces behind me in public and don’t speak unless I speak to you first. We have roles to play.”
    Ugh. I’d forgotten that part of being a squire or a servant.
    Still it was better to be with Chase than hang around the Village without