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It’s time to find out what Vampyra Vex knows about Countess Clawdia Noir’s death, once and for all.

CHAPTER 18

Vampyra Vex is standing at the exact spot where Clawdia died, looking forlorn and haunted, and dare I say a touch remorseful.

The irony is not lost on me. Neither is the location.

Behind us, the Beyond the Grave Rave is living up to its name. Music pounds across the lawn, lights flash purple and orange, and the dance floor is packed with vampires, witches, ghosts, zombies, and at least three men who seem to think an open shirt and a pair of plastic fangs qualifies as a costume.

It’s Halloween night at the Spider Cove Halloween Harvest Festival, and everyone is dressed to the spooky nines and determined to squeeze every last drop of fun out of it.

Everyone except Vampyra.

And me.

Because while a few hundred people dance, drink, and make questionable decisions in polyester costumes, I’m about to question a Scream Queen about murder on the very patch of grass where the victim took her last breath.

Nothing says Happy Halloween quite like revisiting the scene of the crime.

Fish, Sherlock, and Duchess follow me as I approach.

Vampyra sees me coming and doesn’t smile. Just stands there in her elaborate purple-and-black costume, waiting.

“Hey, Vampyra,” I say.

“Bizzy.” She doesn’t sound surprised. “You look fabulous tonight. You make quite the wicked vixen.”

“Well, ‘tis the season.” We share a quick laugh.

I gesture toward a quieter path that leads away from the main crowd. “Want to take a quick walk with me? It’s so loud out here, I can hardly hear myself think.”

“I’d follow you anywhere to get away from the noise.” Vampyra follows without resistance, and we head down the path with the pets trailing behind us. The music fades slightly, replaced by the sound of our footsteps and the cold Halloween wind cutting through the festival grounds.

What did we miss? Sherlock barks. Did she confess? Is she the killer?

Fish scoffs at him. Do you really think Bizzy is walking her to the sheriff’s department? Clearly the fireworks haven’t started yet. Get ready to bite. Duchess, you prepare to claw the woman if you have to.

I can claw with the best of them, Duchess mewls. Clawdia didn’t get her name for nothing.

“Well, it looks as if we have an audience.” Vampyra chuckles as she gives Sherlock a quick scratch behind his ears and soon enough his hind legs start thumping.

A lot of good you are, Fish tells him.

I scoop up Fish and Duchess and hold them close.

We’re far enough from the crowd to have some privacy, but I can still hear the music thumping behind us. The air smells like churros, funnel cake, and corn dogs, which is pretty much Halloween at the Country Cottage Inn in a nutshell.

Vampyra pauses to inspect me, then Duchess. “You think I killed her,” she says.

It doesn’t even come out as a question.

“Did you?” If she’s making the statement, I don’t see why I shouldn’t ask.

I can see we’re not easing into this one, Fish meows as she does her best to stare the woman down.

Vampyra laughs, but it comes out bitter. “I wish I had.”

“Ghoulia told me about the sponsorships. About how Clawdia sabotaged your career. But there’s more, isn’t there?”