Devin shot a glance at Rocky, who had lowered his head, trying unsuccessfully to hide his smile.
Hard to get? Not her. She’d brazenly knocked on his door and basically asked if he wanted sex.
“Oh, no, not again. I hate this,” Auntie Mina said, her voice fading along with her image. “I can’t believe I’m going to miss the party.”
And then she was gone.
There was a knock at the door; Sam, Jenna, Jane and Angela had returned bearing grocery bags filled to the brim. “Everything is easy to set up,” Angela said.
“We brought grapes and apples, too,” Jane said. “For you, Poe!” she called.
The bird cawed happily.
Devin led them to the kitchen to start setting up. “I’m still not sure how this is going to help,” she admitted to Angela.
“Rocky’s throwing everything in a pot to see what bubbles to the surface,” Angela said. “If he’s right, and this killer is somehow related to one or both of you, we just might learn something new tonight.”
As she spoke, there was a knock at the door.
“Got it,” Rocky said.
Devin noticed that as he went to see who it was, the other agents instantly went on alert. Sam shifted slightly, and she realized he was wearing a shoulder holster beneath his jacket. Angela straightened from setting a tray of cheese in place, and Devin saw the bulge of a gun tucked into the waistband of her jeans and hidden under the back of her shirt.
Everyone relaxed when it turned out to be Jack and Haley.
“We’re out like big people tonight,” Haley said. “My mom has Jackie. And I would be delighted to have a glass of the lovely Cabernet I see sitting there.”
“Of course,” Devin said, stepping up to join them. “Welcome, and by all means come and have a glass of wine.”
“Just what are we doing here tonight, Devin?” Haley asked. “Trying to figure out if one of your friends is the homicidal maniac this time?”
“Haley!” Jack said in horror.
“Sorry. That was rude,” Haley said, accepting the wine Devin had poured for her. “I guess I’m more upset than I realized about the other night.” She smiled self-deprecatingly. “So, can I help in any way?”
“I think we’re all set,” Devin said, glancing toward the kitchen. “We took the easy route, I’m afraid. Premade pasta and salad.”
“Have a seat. Enjoy your wine,” Jane said, joining them.
As Haley took a seat on the couch, there was another knock at the door. Vince Steward had arrived, greeting everyone jovially. He didn’t want wine; he wanted Scotch. Devin poured him one and he thanked her, then said to Rocky and Jack, “I heard you had one on the hook but lost him.”
“You’re referring to Brent Corbin?” Rocky asked.
“We didn’t lose him, but we don’t make a habit of holding people without evidence,” Jack said, bristling slightly.
“And he’s a friend,” Devin said quietly.
“Hey, I’m just telling you what I heard,” Vince said, perching by Haley. “Ivy Donatello, down the hall from me, has taken him on as a client.”
“I thought you were in maritime law?” Rocky asked.
“I am. But it’s a big firm and my colleagues have specialties of their own. Anyway, I think Ivy was a little surprised you let him go so easily. I heard he had a dead woman’s phone in his pocket, and yet you cut him loose.” Vince looked at Sam. “Still, nothing but circumstantial evidence when you get right down to it, so no jury could convict him. Don’t you agree, Sam?”
“I can’t imagine a jury that wouldn’t find reasonable doubt.”
“I’m assuming you obtained search warrants for his home and office?” Vince asked.
“We did,” Rocky said. “And you know we can’t discuss an ongoing case with you, Vince—especially when he’s retained your colleague to represent him.”
“I’m actually hoping Brent will be joining us tonight,” Devin said, even though she knew her hope was unlikely to be rewarded.
Vince looked genuinely startled. “Really? You invited a possible murderer to have dinner with us?”
“Oh, I believe in his innocence completely,” Devin said. “He’s been one of my best friends since we were kids.”
“Oh,” Vince said. “Well, then, I look forward to meeting him.”
On cue, they heard a knock at the front door again. It wasn’t Brent, however, but Beth, Theo and Gayle, who had come together, probably direct from the shop.
Beth seemed surprised to meet Rocky’s group and quickly dragged Devin off to the kitchen. “Are you all right? You sounded okay on the phone earlier, but what happened was just terrifying. And you’re not even Wiccan. What do you think that they’re trying to say? And Brent! They arrested Brent. Devin, did—”
She stopped speaking as Rocky walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bag of chips.
“We should eat soon—everyone is probably hungry,” he said, smiling at Beth. “We’ll give Renee and Brent another minute or two to get here, and then we’ll sit down.”
As soon as Rocky left, Beth looked at Devin. “Aren’t you terrified?”