I smiled. “I’ll just tell her I got lost looking for the bathroom.”

  “Ah, yes,” he said sardonically. “And while looking for the bathroom, you happened to end up in her room, going through her stack of bills.”

  I almost laughed, but this was getting serious. “Seriously, what’s she going to do? Point a gun at me?”

  “Please don’t even mention that possibility, because it could very well happen,” he said. “I’m not ready to admit that Ella pulled off this murder, but if she did, she’ll be trying her best not to get caught. And she could very well have a gun.”

  “You can be such a killjoy,” I muttered.

  He chuckled. “Darling, this is why we’re friends with Inspector Lee. We’ll call and give her the details and ask her to get a search warrant.”

  “But—”

  “Look at it this way. Maybe the thought of Ella doesn’t put the fear of God in you. But how will you feel if Inspector Lee finds out what you did?”

  “I wouldn’t feel anything because I would be dead.”

  “Exactly.”

  I huffed and puffed, then admitted defeat. “Okay, killjoy. We’ll call Inspector Lee.”

  We walked back home carrying our pizza and salad, and talked about the incident on the riverboat.

  “Nobody saw anyone push her into the water,” I said.

  “You believe she jumped in.”

  “I do. I can’t believe anyone would do that, but at this point, she needs to make herself look like the victim instead of a suspect. And she’ll do whatever it takes to achieve that.”

  “If nothing else, she does seem to have a lot of chutzpah,” Derek said.

  I smiled briefly at his use of that word. “Did you talk to Tom after he got out of the water?”

  “I listened as Inspector Lee questioned him. He didn’t see the person who pushed her into the water. He simply saw her fall in and reacted accordingly.”

  “Like the hero that he is,” I murmured, then groused, “nobody saw who pushed her because she did it herself.”

  “She’s obviously a lot smarter than anyone gives her credit for,” Derek said.

  I shrugged. “It’s because everyone sees how beautiful she is and they don’t look any deeper. Which isn’t fair,” I insisted.

  “No, it’s not.” But then he grinned. “I’m willing to give her all the credit she deserves if she really did manage to pull off this rather diabolical murder in plain sight.”

  “It’s weird,” I said. “But when I was eavesdropping on her and her mother the other day, I remember thinking it was odd how her own mother called her silly.”

  Derek thought about it for a moment. “Do you think she was pulling the wool over her own mother’s eyes?”

  “I don’t think she’s silly at all, but she seems pretty capable of putting on an act.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Yes.”

  We walked in silence for half a block, then I said, “Her mother was really broken up over Hobson’s death. Ella wasn’t. In fact, she called him a bastard and Ingrid slapped her.”

  “You didn’t tell me that,” Derek said.

  “Sorry. There was so much to remember, I must’ve left out some details.”

  “So Ella called him a bastard,” Derek repeated, “and Ingrid slapped her as a way of protesting her comment.”

  “Exactly.” We walked to the corner.

  “It gives even more credence to the possibility that Ella is our killer.”

  I thought about it, and a picture of Ingrid ridiculing Ella popped into my head. “Maybe Ella killed him precisely to piss off her mother.”

  He frowned. “Not that we needed another motive, but it’s quite possible that she felt she had to get rid of Hobson so he could never reveal his role in manipulating Joseph to marry her.”

  “Oh my God, yes! What would people think if they knew that the butler had coerced him into marrying her.” The light turned green and we walked across the street. “You know, that possibility takes this whole scenario right into the psychopathic realm.”

  We reached our building and walked into the lobby.

  “Whatever the realm,” Derek finally said, “Ella is looking more and more suspicious by the minute.”

  As we stepped inside the old elevator, I grabbed his arm. “We really have to search her room.”

  He actually laughed at me.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “I love you,” he said gently. “And that’s why we’re going to call Inspector Lee. She’ll get a search warrant and that’ll take care of it.”

  “Darn,” I muttered. “I was really looking forward to searching that room.”

  We watched a favorite cop show while we ate. I had just taken the dishes into the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Since we live in a security building, I knew it had to be one of our neighbors.

  “I’ll get it,” Derek said.

  “I’ll clean up.” I was loading the dishwasher when I heard voices.

  “Brooklyn, I have cupcakes.”

  Ah, the four most wonderful words in the English language. My spirits lifted and I felt lighter than air. A good thing because I was about to scarf down a fabulous cupcake made by our dear friend Alex Monroe.

  “I’m in here, Alex,” I cried out from the kitchen.

  Seconds later, Alex appeared at the island and set down a cupcake carrier. “I could only bring you six. The rest went to an investor meeting at work.”

  I pouted. “Only six?”

  Gabriel popped into the kitchen. “It’s soooo unfair.”

  “It really is,” I said, and grabbed him in a quick hug.

  “But you’ll survive, won’t you?” Alex asked.

  “I hope so,” I said dramatically.

  “Here’s why you’ll be okay.” Gabriel held up a small bag.

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  He handed the bag to Derek.

  “I decided to try my hand at making doughnuts,” Alex said with a shy smile. “I’d like to hear your opinions.”

  “Are you kidding?” I rounded the kitchen counter and got up close to Gabriel. “Are you going to open that bag?”

  “Maybe. Eventually.”

  “Do it now,” I said, “or suffer the consequences.”

  He grinned. “She’s serious.”

  “Yes, she is,” Derek said. “If I were you, I would open the bag.”

  Gabriel was laughing as he unfurled the bag and held it out for both of us to look inside.

  I gasped at the sight of the fluffy glazed beauties. “Oh, they’re so pretty.”

  Derek gazed at Alex reverently. “You’re unbelievable.”

  “I kept it simple for my first try,” she explained. “Just plain glazed doughnuts.”

  I had to back away from the bag to get my brain to start working. “But they’re so big and thick and the glaze shimmers in the light.”

  “You guys are so easy,” Alex scoffed.

  “Yes, we are,” I admitted, then looked at Derek. “Dessert?”

  “We’ll split one,” he decided. “They’re quite big.”

  Gabriel handed him the bag. “Enjoy.”

  “Would you like one?” Derek said.

  Gabriel patted his rock-hard stomach. “I’ve had one. They’re deadly.”

  I took the bag and pulled out one doughnut. After cutting it in half, I placed each half on a plate. Then I had to lick my fingers because of all the sticky, gooey, wonderful glaze.

  We all sat at the dining room table and Derek and I ate the heavenly doughnut. Derek cleaned up the plates and then called out from the kitchen. “If either of you aren’t too busy tomorrow, would you like to join us at the Jumping Frog Contest in Golden Gate Park?”

  Gabriel and Alex exchanged a look, then Gabriel’s eyes narrowed on Derek. “You’re expecting trouble.”

  “It’s the last event of the festival,” Derek explained, “and so far there’s been some sort of trouble every day.”

  I couldn’t recall anything too awful happening today at the children’s museum, unless you counted the fact that Ella Cabot had revealed herself to be a liar.

  So yes, bad things had happened every day.

  Alex frowned. “I can’t make it. It’s the second day of this marathon investors meeting. How about you, babe?”

  “I’ll be there,” Gabriel said easily. “Should I be packing heat?”

  Alex elbowed him. “Nobody talks like that.”

  “That was for Brooklyn,” he said with a wink in my direction. “She digs that kind of lingo.”

  * * *

  • • •

  By eight o’clock Tuesday morning, the weather was already warm and sunny.

  “A perfect day to watch frogs jump,” Derek said as he read the paper, drank his coffee, and ate his half doughnut. After last night we had wised up and we were using knives and forks this morning to eat these wonderfully sticky treats.

  “Alex is a force of nature,” I said after finishing my half doughnut.

  “She’s lovely, but dangerous to our health.”

  “Yeah, but I can’t quit her.”

  “Absolutely not,” he said. “We’ll simply have to learn to live with the consequences.”

  I touched his hand. “We’re doing okay so far, aren’t we?”

  He smiled at me. “Yes, we are.”

  All through breakfast we had successfully avoided the subject of Ella Cabot and the fact that we both thought she was guilty of murder. Finally, though, Derek spoke up. “Darling, I really don’t want us to be the ones who point the finger at Ella.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It would hurt Joseph a lot if he found out that we were the ones who called the police to arrest his wife.”

  It didn’t take me long to consider. Derek was right. “If it makes you feel any better, we don’t have any actual proof that she’s guilty. Especially since you won’t let me search her room.”

  He chuckled. “I intend to keep you as far away from her room as possible.”

  “I understand. And I agree, Joseph would never forgive us.” I sighed. “So I guess you’re right about calling Inspector Lee in to do the dirty work.”

  “I’ll call her after the Jumping Frog event.”

  “Okay. But I still believe she’s guilty.”

  “And while I believe a few others could’ve done it, I agree that she has some very strong motives for killing the butler.” Derek took a big sip of coffee. “But let’s allow Joseph to get through the festival first.”

  “We’re going to have to watch her very carefully. I’m afraid that she could target someone else in the meantime.”

  “I agree. That’s why I asked Gabriel to join us.”

  “You’re really smart.”

  He chuckled. “And you’re beautiful.”

  “Together we’re perfect.”

  He laughed and took the last bite of doughnut.

  A minute later I had to ask. “Is it dumb that we’re going to waste half a day watching a frog jump across a finish line?”

  Derek reached over and patted my hand. “Yes.”

  “I was afraid of that.”

  “We’ve bought into the entire festival project, darling, and we’ve got to see it through to the end. No matter how silly it sounds.”

  “And it does sound pretty silly.”

  He smiled. “It does. But we’re doing it for Joseph.”

  “And Tom,” I added.

  “Yes.” He nodded thoughtfully. “Tom has shown himself to be quite a good man.”

  “He saved Ella’s life. Even if it does turn out that she jumped in on purpose, he’s still a hero in my book.”

  “In my book as well.”

  “And you should’ve seen him with the little kids at the museum. He was really good with them. Especially the crying ones.”

  “He has a deep well of knowledge and a lot of warmth that I frankly didn’t expect to see.”

  “And he’s a reader, remember?” I said. “He reads a book a day, so he’s got to be a pretty smart guy. And his buddy Wyatt is very loyal to him.” I shook my head. “I’m making him sound like a saint.”

  “Or a prince,” Derek said.

  I blinked at the word. “Wow. So who’s the prince and who’s the pauper?”

  “Good question,” Derek said. “Frankly, both men are quite decent.”

  “I agree.” I took my last sip of coffee. “Do you think they’re related?”

  “Honestly, yes.”

  I took a deep breath. “I agree.”

  “So let’s make sure they both stay safe.”

  * * *

  • • •

  When we arrived at the picnic area adjacent to Stow Lake in the middle of Golden Gate Park, I couldn’t believe my eyes. “There’s got to be a thousand people here.”

  Derek continued driving until he reached the de Young Museum. He took the ramp down to the underground parking lot.

  “I don’t think you can park here unless you’re going to the museum.”

  A guard signaled us to stop. Derek promptly pulled out his ID and the man waved him on.

  “Seriously?”

  He smiled and drove forward into a spot and turned off the engine. “According to Joseph, he paid the museum a big pile of money to rent twenty parking spaces.”

  “And we get one of them?”

  “Yes. Aren’t we lucky?”

  “I’ll say. But I’m still feeling guilty, so maybe on the way we can go into the de Young and spend a bunch of money.”

  “All for a good cause?”

  “Yes, because I’m feeling unworthy of this parking place.”

  “You’ll snap out of it.”

  “I suppose.”

  We walked up the ramp and into the park. It was a lovely morning for a stroll so we enjoyed it until we got close enough to hear the crowd. “I’m amazed at the amount of people who showed up for this crazy event on a weekday.”

  “You knew this was always going to be the big draw.”

  “Actually, I didn’t think about it. But I should’ve known.”

  The area around the actual competition was roped off and from there we spotted Joseph and Ashley. They had commandeered several picnic tables and benches for their supplies and on one table sat at least ten fish tanks. I stared at one tank and finally picked out several frogs.

  “Wow, these are the frogs.” I grinned. “How exciting is that?”

  Derek didn’t answer, but the look he gave me said, I’m worried about you.

  I laughed. “Frogs are fun.”

  “That’s the right attitude,” Ashley said as she approached the picnic table.

  I glanced back at Derek and realized that he had quickly slipped into security agent mode. He was speaking with two men and a woman and they all looked deadly serious. That was a good thing, I thought. They would keep us all safe. Especially Joseph and Tom.

  And thinking of Tom, I glanced around looking for him, but didn’t see him anywhere. I wasn’t worried. He and his buddy Wyatt would show up any minute.

  I was just beginning to wonder how we’d find Gabriel when the man himself walked up and grinned at me.

  “Hey, babe.”

  “Hi, Gabriel. I’m glad you found us.”

  “I’m good at picking you out of a crowd.”

  “Silly,” I murmured.

  “Never.” He winked at me, then said, “I’d better report to the chief. See you, kiddo.”

  He walked over to talk to Derek and I realized I’d ignored Ashley. She was filling out a notebook and didn’t seem to notice.

  “How are you, Ashley?” I asked.

  “I’m on top of the world,” she said, then shook her head. “My mother always says that. It’s such a goofy old saying.”

  “But it makes sense,” I said. “It’s a beautiful day.”

  “Yeah, but I’m a little antsy,” she said. “Everything’s done so there’s nothing to do but wait.”

  “Everything’s all set up?” I asked.

  “Yes. We’re ready to go. We’ve set up a perimeter border around the competition area. And we’ve run chalk lines to indicate ten lanes.” She glanced up at me. “Ten lanes for ten frogs.”

  “So nobody’s bringing their own frogs,” I said.

  She laughed. “No way. We figured that out early on. We’ve brought in the frogs and people can bet on the outcome. It’ll be fun for everyone and that’s what counts. We’ve even got scorecards we’ll hand out.”

  “Are you excited to see the end of the festival?” I asked.

  “I suppose I should be, but I’m really not,” she admitted. “I’ve had the best time of my life this week. And I feel so much closer to Joseph now. We just click on so many levels. It’s a dream come true for me to be able to work with someone like him.”

  “He’s a great guy,” I said.

  She sighed. “He really is.”

  “Have you been able to spend much time with Tom?”

  “A little bit. He seems like a great guy and I wish I could hang out with him a little more. But when there isn’t an event, I’m usually back at my office working on some other aspect of the festival. It’s so huge and complicated, I’ve got to keep my eyes and ears open and stay close to my computer at all times.”

  “You must be exhausted,” I said. “You’ll need a vacation after this.”

  She laughed. “But that’s the thing about me. I don’t feel exhausted at all. I feel energized. I could do this for another month and still feel fantastic.”

  “You’re a true extrovert,” I said with a laugh.

  “Oh, for sure,” she agreed. “I’m that Energizer Bunny that lives for the crowds and the stress and the excitement.”

  I shook my head in amazement. “You’re awesome.”

  She beamed at me. But as I watched, her expression faltered and her eyes clouded. “I’d better get moving. Talk to you later, Brooklyn.”