LITMIR.BIZ

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      He stepped away, too, as if aware of her discomfort, giving her more space. ‘I’m sorry I startled you.’

      ‘Why are you loitering out here?’ She didn’t mean to sound so abrupt, but it hadn’t been the best evening.

      He held up an unlit cigarette. ‘I’m wrestling with my demon.’

      ‘Ah,’ Katie said. ‘I’ve heard it’s harder to give up nicotine than heroin. Or is it cocaine?’

      He shrugged.

      ‘Why aren’t you in there?’ Katie gestured to the hotel. ‘The police want to speak to you.’

      ‘To everyone, surely. Not me specifically.’ He tilted his head back. ‘You look better. Are you feeling better?’

      ‘You did find the deceased,’ Katie said. ‘I think that makes you a key witness or something.’

      ‘You found him first.’

      ‘And I’ve spoken to them,’ Katie pointed out.

      ‘Good for you. Very public spirited.’

      ‘Seriously. A man is dead. You ought to—’

      ‘I prefer to keep a low profile.’

      Katie’s mouth twisted. ‘I hardly think they’ll care about you crashing the wedding.’

      ‘You noticed that, huh?’ He pulled out a packet and stuck the unlit cigarette inside. ‘And I thought I was so stealthy.’

      ‘It wasn’t that obvious. I was watching you, though—’ Katie broke off. That was an embarrassing thing to say. He looked amused, which didn’t help.

      ‘That’s good to know.’

      ‘Because you seemed dodgy,’ Katie said. ‘Not for any other reason.’

      He smirked. ‘I’m Max, by the way.’

      ‘Katie. So, big drama tonight.’ She indicated the looming building behind them.

      ‘Yep.’ Max sat down again, his elbows on his knees.

      ‘What were you doing in Mr Cole’s room?’

      ‘I was just passing, the door was open and I heard a noise.’

      ‘Did you know him? The one who—’

      ‘No.’ Max shook his head quickly.

      He was lying. Katie felt sick. It was unlikely that he had anything to do with the poor guy having a heart attack, but still. He was a liar. And he crashed the wedding which made him a thief, too. She felt a crushing sensation of guilt. She ought to have told the police about him. Ought to go back inside and tell them right now. He’d just lie to them, of course. And he seemed to be awfully good at it.

      Like it or not, he was her responsibility. She sat down on the step next to him, probably a little too close for comfort but she’d always found this particular trick easier if she was physically near to the person she was trying to read.

      She took a deep breath, concentrating hard, and trying to ignore the fact that she was close enough to catch the scent coming from his skin. ‘Did you have something to do with his death?’

      She watched him closely.

      He frowned. ‘Are you serious?’

      ‘Just answer the question,’ Katie said. Her voice was calm.

      ‘No,’ Max said. He looked disgusted. ‘No, I didn’t have anything to do with his death.’

      He was telling the truth. Thank God. It wasn’t his expression or the tone of his voice or the way his eyes met hers, it was something else. A certainty. Another of the Harper family intuitions but one that came in handy more often than most. ‘Sorry.’ She smiled, more at ease now. ‘I’m just a bit shaken up, I guess.’

      ‘Well, that’s understandable—’

      ‘It must have just happened when I found him. He’d called room service twenty minutes before. He was really cold, though.’ Which was odd. Maybe. How long did it take for a body to get cold? Katie swallowed, feeling suddenly sick again.

      ‘Oh, Christ. That can’t have been fun.’

      ‘Worse for him,’ Katie said.

      ‘No wonder you passed out. Are you sure you’re okay? You still look really pale.’

      ‘I’m always this colour,’ Katie said. She started to unwrap the cheesecake. Dessert would help. She needed some sugar to give herself the energy for the walk home. ‘So, how’d you know the guy, Mr Cole. Were you two close?’

      ‘I told you. I don’t — I didn’t — know him.’

      Katie raised an eyebrow. ‘If you keep lying to me I won’t give you any cheesecake.’

      ‘What makes you think I’m lying?’

      ‘I know when people are telling the truth.’ She smiled. ‘It’s a gift.’

      Max tilted his head back and regarded her for a moment. Then he said, ‘Remind me never to play poker with you.’

      ‘So?’ Katie used her fingers to break off a piece of cheesecake; it was messy. Messy and delicious. She closed her eyes to enjoy the creamy perfection and opened them to see Max looking at her with an odd expression. ‘What?’

      Max shook his head slightly, then said, ‘He owed me money.’

      ‘A lot?’

      ‘Fair bit.’ Max reached for the plate.

      Katie moved it away. ‘Why did he owe you money?’

      ‘Do you play poker, as a matter of interest?’

      ‘No,’ Katie said. The sugar was helping, making her feel less weak and fuzzy. ‘I used to play gin rummy with my dad all the time. I like whist but you need more than two and mum wasn’t a card player.’

      Max snagged the plate while Katie was talking and dug in.

      ‘You know I’m not staying here, right?’

      ‘Right.’

      ‘Well, I’m just kind of passing through. When I’m moving around I incur expenses. Petrol. Accommodation.’

      ‘Food, when you’re not crashing weddings, presumably.’ Katie paused. ‘Don’t you get found out all the time?’

      ‘Not really. I prefer corporate events, but big weddings are pretty easy. No one ever knows everyone at those things. If someone chats, you make sure to ask them first whether they know the bride or the groom and then you say the opposite. As long as you avoid the happy couple, you’re golden.’

      Katie shook her head. ‘All for a free lunch?’

      ‘I usually play poker in casinos or backroom games, but sometimes they’re hard to come by, so I check out places like this that hold functions, turn up and make friends and play a few games of cards. For money.’

      ‘You conned him?’

      ‘No. Not really.’ Max stared at the cheesecake. ‘Maybe a little. Light hustling, perhaps.’

      ‘And he croaked before you could collect your ill-gotten gains. Sucks to be you.’ Katie stood up. ‘Are you staying in town?’

      ‘Uh-huh. At the delightful Cosy Inn.’ He re-wrapped the cling film over the remaining cheesecake and got to his feet. ‘I’ll walk you home.’

      Katie stifled the urge to laugh. ‘I’m fine. Thank you.’ She was Katie Harper. She was the latest in a long line of magical women. She was practically a witch, for goodness’ sake, the dark was not a problem.

      ‘Okay.’ Max shrugged. ‘You can walk me home.’

      ‘Nice

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