“I... I suppose. Sure.” Rune looked at Justin, and Elle saw the spark of realization: handled correctly, this could be good for the psychic business.

Elle found herself unexpectedly grinning.

Adam grinned back at her and indicated the holster and pistol draped over his arm. “Would you help me put this on?”

“Sure. Although I don’t know what I’m doing.” She pushed a chair toward Adam. “Sit down.”

Adam slowly seated himself. “It’s a shoulder holster. I’ll explain as we go. The pistol safety is on, so you don’t need to worry about it accidentally discharging. Be careful, um...”

“I know.” She knelt beside him, and she kept her voice low. “The arm.”

Señor Alfonso touched the point of his knife with his finger. “Does this have anything to do with the body found at Bustier Basin Ranch?” He looked to Adam for an answer.

“I don’t know.” Adam indicated Elle should put the strap over his right shoulder. “Anything’s possible, although the description Deputy Dave gave doesn’t match this crime. He said the body suffered battering to the face and body, and the cause of death was a slash to the throat. The recent shot was a high-powered rifle.”

“Told you so,” Mr. Kulshan said to Freya.

Freya ignored him for all she was worth.

The belt went around Adam’s chest, the holster slid on the belt, and everything fastened with Velcro. Self-evident, except for the location of the holster and pistol.

“But a body found in the morning?” Señor Alfonso was doubtful. “Then a bullet shot in early afternoon?”

“This is Gothic. Things like that don’t happen here.” Freya glared at Elle. “Or they didn’t until she arrived.”

The venom made Elle slide back. “Adam said...”

“I said it’s unlikely that whoever attacked Elle and tossed her into the ocean could have followed her here, or would see any reason to do so. I’m afraid, Freya, if you’re going to blame someone in Gothic for the gunshots, I’m a more likely candidate.” Adam sounded absolutely reasonable—and he left no doubt in Freya’s mind he was not pleased.

“For that matter, it could have been me. Or Señor Alfonso.” Ludwig held his knife with the skill of an assassin. “Our lives have not always been as dull as they are now.”

“Any of us, really.” Rune’s coins jingled as she swept around at the group. “No matter how blameless you imagine your life to be, someone will find a reason to hate you.”

Freya tried again. “I’m just pointing out—”

“Put a sock in it,” Mrs. Kulshan snapped.

Freya did.