That seems about right for your life? Half of me wanted to ask what Pearl meant with that comment, but the other half really didn't want to know.

I stuck with staying uninformed. It seemed like the healthiest choice.

A large dog bark came from my bedroom, and then NB barked next. If they kept this up, we'd have our own Twilight Bark happening in Pelican Bay. The neighbors would kill me. I finished the cupcake and stared at another one in the box. I really wanted to eat it right then, but if I did that, I'd be hungry for more cupcakes tonight. When it came to cupcakes, life was full of hard choices.

"So, anyway, as you can see, my life is a mess. The cupcakes really help. Thanks," I said, placing the box on the table next to the couch. I'd have another one as a post-dinner snack after Broadrick returned. Then a midnight snack later in the evening or one for breakfast the next morning.

Anessa nodded. "I'm happy to help when I can."

"You've been crazier than normal lately," Pearl said, staring at me as I stared at the cupcake container.

If I ate one now, I'd still have one for post dinner or a midnight snack. That wasn't too bad. Right?

"Yeah, well, Pearl. I've been under a lot of stress." I tapped the top of the cupcake box.

Pearl leaned forward in her chair with pity in her eyes. "Is this because you put your uncle in jail?"

F it. I deserved that damn cupcake. When Pearl finally took her gaze off me, I reached over and grabbed the second piece of life-saving cake.

"Yes. Also, because Broadrick wants me to move to Florida." Did they forget the moving to Florida part?

I expected-and secretively wanted-both women to jump up and scream in horror. They'd fall to their knees and beg me to stay in Pelican Bay.

But that's not what happened.

Not at all.

Anessa's eyes grew two times their size. "Florida? Wouldn't that be amazing? Think of the heat."

"A little too hot if you ask me," Pearl added. At least she understood some of my concerns. "Although, think of the wonderful winters."

Ugh. Not her, too.

"Plus, they have Disneyland there," Anessa said, leaning back in her chair, her eyes full-on glazed over in thoughts of Mickey.

Pearl's forehead crinkled. "I think it's Disney World in Florida."

"Whatever. Disney is magical."

"Guys!" I waved my hands to get their attention as I unwrapped the cupcake. "I'm not going to Disney."

"Why not? If I was in Florida, I'd definitely be at Disney," Anessa said.

I took a deep breath, considered screaming, and then released the air from my lungs slowly. "Because I wouldn't be in Florida-Florida. It's really more a private island where a bunch of rich people live. They don't have cars, so they all drive around in personalized golf carts."

They continued to stare at me in wonder. I obviously wasn't making the impact I expected.

"It doesn't matter," I said, trying to move us to the important stuff. Chocolate goodness exploded on my tongue with my first bite of the second cupcake.

Anessa watched and waited for me to finish chewing. "And the bad parts of this exclusive island for the mega rich are?"

She just didn't understand. "The bakery is horrible. You can't even sit down to eat the cupcakes you buy."

"You ate at another bakery?" she asked.

Shit.

Now I'd really stuck my foot in my mouth. I had to change the subject and quickly.

"My sister is moving to Texas to be with Allen while he goes to vet school," I blurted.

Both women's faces lit up with smiles.

"Good for her," Pearl said, clapping her hands together once. "They'll have such fun in Texas."

How did she know? And did everyone forget about Allen almost being a killer just a few months ago? Plus, he seemed really wishy-washy with his career plans. First, he had to be a baseball player and now he wanted to be a vet. Did no one question this instability? We were just letting my sister run off with him?

Yeah, I'd worked to clear his name, but right then, he wasn't my favorite person in the world.

"I've always wanted to see the gulf from Texas," Anessa said.

I finished my cupcake while they carried on. Both were completely unaware of my trauma.

"You should definitely talk Bennett into taking you," Pearl told her. "Roland and I spent time in San Francisco when we were younger. That city carries some of my best memories."

"Really? You lived in California?" I asked. It made sense in a few ways, but I had a hard time picturing Pearl as a Cali girl.

She nodded. "Yeah, you have to live a little while you're young. You can always come home when you're ready to settle down again. That's what we did."

I snorted at Pearl, considering herself in Pelican Bay to settle down. She caused half the riots in town. She and Katy worked together most of the time.

Anessa bobbed her head along as Pearl spoke. "Think of what I'd have missed out on if I didn't move across the country for a fresh start. It's okay to move forward in life and see other places, Vonnie."

I took a deep breath so they didn't notice the sniffle. They both made it sound so easy, but it's not like I could just pack a bag and hop on the next plane out of town. I had responsibilities here.

While Pearl told Anessa all about the hippies in Haight-Ashbury district in San Fran, I contemplated eating a third cupcake. The first two were delicious, but they hadn't calmed the storm in my chest.

A knock on the front door forced me to lower the cupcake box back to the end table. Before I stood up completely, the three dogs came barreling out of the back bedroom, barking at top volume.

"Shhhh, you'll scare people," I yelled at them as I walked toward the door. The dogs beat me there and continued to bark as if they'd save us from any intruders. NB fit under the Bits' legs, and he stayed between them to bark at the door. I opened it to the scowling face of Detective Anderson in his long tan trench coat with his badge hanging from a chain around his neck. "What's up?"

He pursed his lips before saying, "Vonnie Vines, I have a warrant to search the contents of your vehicle."

"What the hell, Anderson?"

He kept right on talking, but nothing he said made it past the word warrant.

"In the murder of Emma Richards," he finished.

I held out my hand in front of the piece of paper he shoved in my face. "You think I killed Emma?"

Anderson didn't respond. He folded his piece of paper and handed it to me. "We received a tip."

"From whom?"

His eyebrow twitched. "An anonymous source."

Who the hell would say I killed Emma? Obviously, the actual killer. "Did you track the call? Where did it come from?"

"Vonnie, you know I won't tell you any of that. Now, are you going to give me the keys to your car so I can execute this search warrant, or do I need to call in the locksmith?"

All three dogs sniffed the air near Anderson. He glanced down at them and took a step back. That's what I thought.

I threw my hands up and turned to dig through my purse for the keys. "This is absolutely outrageous, and you know it." How dare he accuse me of being a murderer and being stupid enough to have evidence on me? Like I wouldn't get rid of it at the first opportunity. "We both know I'm not stupid enough to keep a murder weapon."

Anderson groaned. "Anything you say in my presence may be used against you at a later time."

"That's not my Miranda warning."

He shook his head and took the keys from my outstretched hand. "I'm not here to arrest you."

"Whatever," I said as he turned around with the keys. "And thanks for the warning, ahole."

One of the ladies behind me sucked in a breath. Probably Anessa. Pearl would expect this behavior from me.

I'd never been delusional enough to believe Anderson and I were friends, but this was low, even for him.

He turned back with a scowl. Could he arrest me for calling him an ahole? "I warned you."

I crossed my arms, and NB growled from between Bits' legs. He did not. I'd remember if Anderson said, 'Hey, Vonnie, I'm coming to your house to dig through your car.'

"When?"

He hesitated on the first step. Behind him, Bradley and another officer whose face I couldn't make out hovered by my car. Damn it. He brought Bradley. The cop disliked me. He had to be in love with the fact he got to be here to dig through my possessions. NB nudged against my leg and then returned to hiding between Bits' legs.

"When we talked earlier." Anderson stepped off the porch. "I said I'd see you soon."

"You've got to be kidding me." I followed Anderson outside, letting the door close behind me. The dogs used the opportunity to bark nonstop at my departure. "That was your warning?"

In what world did that count as a warning?

Officer Bradley and his stupid flippy haircut held out his arm wide to stop me from approaching the car when I got close. "You'll have to stay back as we perform the search, ma'am."

"Don't fucking tempt me." I stopped a few inches away from his arm and waited while Anderson unlocked the trunk.