The Ghost of Valentine Past by Anna J. McIntyre

that allowed his soft dark curls to remain. While this new cut was longer than a buzz cut, it was far shorter than Danielle had ever seen him wear his hair, and the curls were gone.
    â€œAre you okay, Danielle?”
    â€œWell, aside from the fact I got about an hour of sleep last night—if that—and someone was murdered in my house, I guess I’m terrific.”
    â€œIt really does seem Marlow House wasn’t meant to be an inn.”
    Danielle frowned. “Why do you say that?”
    â€œLooking back, most of the bad things that have happened to you since you arrived never would have happened if you hadn’t pursued the bed and breakfast. Opening your house to strangers just invites danger.”
    â€œNow you’re making up rhymes?” Danielle smirked.
    â€œThis is serious, Danielle. You know what I mean.”
    She let out a weary sigh. “Unfortunately, yes I do. But don’t start that again. Please, not right now. I’m too flipping exhausted to argue with you.”
    â€œI don’t want to argue with you,” Joe insisted.
    â€œSure sounded that way. And it’s always the same argument.”
    â€œI just worry about you, Danielle. I won’t apologize for that. You have no idea how I felt when I heard Morris had been brutally murdered under your roof. What would’ve happened had you walked into the parlor at the wrong time? It might be you lying in the morgue right now.”
    â€œI appreciate your concern, Joe. And trust me, that thought has crossed my mind too.”
    â€œHow about I take you away from all this ugliness—at least for a couple hours. Let me take you out to dinner tonight. You need a break.”
    â€œThanks, Joe. But honestly, all I want to do is go home and crawl back into bed and sleep. Which will not be so easy, considering all that dang caffeine I consumed this morning.”
    â€œThen let me take you out tomorrow night.”
    Danielle studied Joe for a moment before responding. “Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day.”
    â€œDo you have a date already?”
    â€œUmm…no…but…well, restaurants are always swamped on Valentine’s Day.”
    â€œI’m sure I can get us in somewhere.”
    â€œThanks for the invitation, Joe. But I just don’t think it would be such a terrific idea.”
    â€œAh, come on Danielle. We’re still friends, aren’t we?”
    â€œSure we are.”
    â€œThen what will dinner with a friend hurt?”
    â€œOn Valentine’s Day?” Danielle shook her head. “I don’t think so. I don’t want to give you the wrong impression. We are friends, Joe. But just friends. Nothing else.”
    Joe leaned back in his chair and studied Danielle. “It’s Chris, isn’t it?”
    â€œChris has nothing to do with this.”
    â€œI think he’s dangerous, Danielle. I believe he murdered Morris.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous. There is no way Chris would’ve killed him. He had no motive.”
    Joe then proceeded to share his theory with Danielle—the same theory he had given Ian. When he was done, Danielle silently stood up.
    â€œWhere are you going?” Joe asked.
    â€œI imagine the chief is off the phone by now.” Danielle turned toward the door, but then paused and turned briefly back to Joe. “You’re wrong about Chris. Please don’t do this again.” Without waiting for a response, Danielle left the office.

Chapter Ten
    â€œ I swear , Joe drives me insane,” Danielle told MacDonald when she entered his office a few minutes later. She shut the door behind her. Without waiting for an invitation, she sat down across from him. They were alone.
    â€œLet me guess, Joe told you his theory of who murdered Peter Morris,” MacDonald asked.
    â€œYou mean how Chris killed Morris in a fit of rage and then left him in the parlor for a couple hours, waiting for everyone to fall