Death at the Summit by Nikki Haverstock Page B

times then tentatively reach out to pet one.
    M.C. smiled widely. “Go on, touch one. They feel like butter, don’t they?”
    She stroked the toe of the boot a few times then ran a finger over the embroidery along the side. “Wow.”
    Taking her hand back, she looked at him. I elbowed her in the side. She shook her head and pulled herself out of her trance.
    “Nice boots,” I said. “Uh, what does M.C. stand for? I have always wondered.”
    “I’m named after my dad. He’s MacIntosh Davis, and I’m MacIntosh Davis II. When I was born, people started calling him Big Mac and me Little Mac. Obviously. I didn’t want to go by Little Mac forever so I switched to M.C. around fifteen and people dropped the ‘Big’ from his nickname.”
    “Do you know why someone would kill your dad?” I tried to bring the conversation back around.
    “He made some nasty remarks to Orion. I told you about Bucky. I’m pretty sure Kandi was fooling around. Minx was still mad about that time she tried to seduce Dad and Kandi busted her. Loggin was pissed that his sponsorship deal fell through and kept threatening us. Who knows? People are jealous of success, and Dad was definitely successful.” He looked over our shoulder, sat up, and stomped his boots onto the floor. “Looks like it’s my turn to talk to the police.”
    Brian stood at the entrance to the dining area. Brian’s eyes landed on us, and he headed our way. “Can I speak with you, sir?”
    “Sure thing, officer.” M.C. gave us a wink, stood, and started to leave with Brian.
    I burst out of my seat. “Brian, wait, can I talk to you for a second? Privately.”
    “Sure. Wait here, M.C.”
    M.C. leaned against a wall while Brian and I went into the hallway.
    “Uh, how did Mac die? Stabbing? Bludgeoning? Shooting? Poisoning?”
    Brian shook his head through my questions, but when I got to poisoning, he snorted. “Definitely not poisoning. I told you I’m not telling you how he died. You didn’t find something, did you?”
    “No, sir, I have nothing to share with you.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “I’m suspicious when you call me ‘sir.’”
    “I have nothing to share with you, you big doofus.”
    He chuckled and shook his head. “That’s better. Now if you have nothing to share, then let me get back to work.”
    I went back to sit with Mary, only to spot Minx hesitating in the doorway. At the far side of the room, Loggin watched her from the edge of his seat.
    I scooted my chair around so my back was to him, and patted the seat next to me. Minx came over and sat down.
    “How was it?”
    Minx sighed dramatically and flopped her head down onto the table.
    Mary leaned over to pat her back for the millionth time today. “That good, eh?”
    Minx rolled her head to the side so that her cheek was resting on the table. “If I wasn’t feeling crappy before, then let me tell you, I feel awful now. Explaining the whole story to Brian was beyond embarrassing. I really need to get a handle on my life.”
    Her voice had a bit more strength to it. Instead of being hollow and wistful, she sounded a bit disgusted.
    “Minx, can we speak with you?”
    We whipped around to see Elizabeth with Jess behind her. Jess was nervously spinning her phone in her hand.
    Minx went a little white. “Yes, ma’am, of course.” She stood up, knocking her chair over backward in her haste. Elizabeth’s face was impossible to read as they quietly left the room.
    “Do you think they are going to tell her that she isn’t going to be an OSA?” Mary asked.
    I sucked air through my teeth. “Ouch, if that’s the case, I think Minx might win the award for the worst day ever. Well, I mean, after Mac.”
    I checked around the room. Loggin was no longer watching us and was instead intent on his phone.
    I scooted over next to Mary. “Get out the list, Shaggy.”
    She pulled the list out of her pocket with a giggle and smoothed it on the table. Moo shoved his head into the list and gave it a good