Page 80 of The Wedding Party

I keep talking, sharing details of my investigation, and a few minutes later Jesús amends his thoughts to say, “It was Natalie.”

Whit waves his slice around and argues, “It was Brody.”

“Forensics says a female stabbed him,” I remind him. I glance at my father. “Maybe it was Danielle,” I say dryly, because Lord only knows the woman kills me every time I’m with her.

“I damn sure didn’t shut my eyes with her.”

I cringe. “Oh God, Dad,” I snap. “Stop. I do not need the image in my head you just gave me. I am your daughter.”

“Okay,” Whit says, ignoring our chitchat about Ms. Littleton and getting back to business. “Brody’s sleeping with Natalie and she did it,” he suggests. “He just helped her clean it up.”

“Carrie was covered in blood and in the attic,” I argue.

“They were having sex when Natalie showed up,” my father interjects.

I snort. “And Carrie answered the door naked?”

Whit runs with my father’s theory. “Eddie’s onto something. She hid in the bathroom while he tried to get rid of his sister,” he says. “She was cut, right?”

“Yes.”

“She runs out of the bathroom to save her man and gets attacked. She runs for her life and goes into shock, thus losing her memory.”

I consider that a moment. “That’s actually believable.”

“See,” he says. “You need me. Stop being pissed.”

“Stop beating people up.”

“She tells me that all the time,” my dad says. “Don’t listen.”

Jesús stands up. “I don’t need to hear this. I’m leaving.” He turns and heads in the other direction.

The doorbell rings again. “Who the hell is that?” my dad grumbles. “Can I not just have dinner with my daughter?”

“That will be Aiden.” I call out, “Jesús, let Aiden in!”

My father scowls. “Really, daughter?”

“Yes, really, Father. He’s my boss.”

“Your boss with the wrong intentions.”

“Don’t be such a father.”

“I’m your fucking father. That’s who I am.”

“I can handle myself.”

“And I can and will help,” he counters.

Aiden walks into the room, and my father eyes him. “Aiden King, you’re in my castle.” He points at me. “And she’s my castle. Remember that.”

Aiden just shakes his head and slides into the seat beside me, holding up a small key in a baggie. “What is this?” I ask.

“Marcus found it taped to the bottom of the desk drawer in Oliver’s home office.”

My father motions to him. “That’s a locker key,” he says. “I know all the secret locker locations. Let me see that.”