Beach Blanket Homicide (Lucy McGuffin, Psychic Amateur Detective 1)

“Sure. Abby brought Paco to The Bistro yesterday. That’s the café Sarah and I own. Only his real name isn’t Paco.”

He frowns. “What do you mean that’s not his real name?”

Rats. Me and my big mouth. I’m not about to explain my special “gift” to Officer Fontaine. First off, I doubt he’d believe me. I’ve only known him ten minutes, but I can already tell this guy has a stick up his butt.

“Nothing. I must be confused. This is my first dead person, you know?”

Instead of looking concerned that I might be about to faint, he gives me a look that says he doesn’t have time for any more of my monkey business. Just the facts, ma’am.

“Do you know Derrick’s last name?” he asks.

“I’ve never met him. He lives in Mexico Beach, I think, but I imagine it’s Delgado. Abby wasn’t married.”

Sarah chimes in. “Lucy is right. It’s Derrick Delgado. I haven’t met him either, but I’ve heard her mention him a few times.”

“Do any of you know how we might reach him?”

We all shake our heads.

He begins to question the rest of the group. The photographer finishes taking pictures. Then a couple of guys come in with a gurney.

“Will that be all, Officer Fontaine?” Sarah asks. “I need to get back to the food pavilion.”

“Can I get all of you to write down your contact numbers, please? And your addresses, in case we need them.”

Here is where I want to snicker because Travis has no idea that pretty much everyone in Whispering Bay knows everyone else, as well as where to find them. But we all comply and write down our number next to our name.

“I wrote down my cell phone, my home, and all my business numbers,” Brittany emphasizes. “Just in case you need me. For anything.”

I cringe. Brittany’s blatant flirtation is an embarrassment to womankind.

I glance at Will to gauge his reaction. He looks miserable.

If the object of Will’s affection were anyone other than Brittany, I would feel sorry for him. But she’s so not worthy of him. Can’t he see that?

We’re all about to leave, when Travis says, “Miss McGuffin, can you stay a moment? I’d like to speak to you in private.”

Brittany makes a pouty face, but she follows Sarah and Will as they go out the door.

Travis stares at my hair again.

“I’m supposed to Annette Funicello,” I explain. “In case you’re wondering.”

His eyes cut back to mine. “You said you were following the dog back into the building when you discovered the body?”

The way he says body puts me on alert. Like something sinister has happened here.

“Yes. But… this was an accident, right?”

“When was the last time you saw Miss Delgado?” he asks, ignoring my question.

“I already told you. She came in yesterday to The Bistro with the little dog.”

“Did she seem agitated in any way?”

Yes.

“No,” I lie. Because: