Ava entered the small interview room, a notepad and laptop in her arms. “Hey. How’d you sleep?” she asked politely. She set her things down on the table with a sigh and dropped into a chair. “Why did all that driving exhaust me? All I did was sit. I should feel rested today.”

“It’s the mental concentration. And we talked a lot about the two cases.”

A faint scent of coconut drifted his way. A smell he always associated with her presence. It was probably shampoo, but each time he smelled it, he wished he were on a tropical beach with a drink with a little umbrella. And not by himself.

“Say.” Ava kept her gaze down as she rooted through her purse. “My wedding planner is my neighbor. You knew that, right?”

Zander’s defenses instinctively rose. “I think you mentioned it. You pick a location and date yet?”

She frowned. “Not yet. It’s complicated.” She turned a speculative look on him. “But she’s really great and I’m surprised she’s single.”

“Oh,” Zander forced out, his back growing rigid. “I don’t think—”

“Don’t say no. You haven’t even heard what I have to say.”

“But—”

“The only ‘but’ would be if you’re seeing someone. You’re not, are you?” Her blue gaze cornered him.

“No, but—”

“I’ve thought a lot about her and you, and I can see the two of you hitting it off. She’s attractive and outgoing and I like her.”

Zander was silent. What’s stopping me?

“Do you have a reason to say no?”

He took a deep breath. “You like her? You’re not just saying that?”

“She’s great. I get along better with men than women, but she’s an exception. She’s about to kick my ass for not making decisions about my wedding and I like that about her.”

He nodded. “She’s not desperate or nuts, is she?”

“I don’t see it. I think she’s been single for about five years and if she’s carrying baggage, I haven’t heard about it. Her wedding planning business is very successful, but hectic at certain times of the year. She’s the type who seems to thrive on that chaos and handles it efficiently.”

The door opened again and an administrative assistant ushered in Sharon Weldon.

“We’re not done here,” Ava whispered. She stood and held out her hand to Sharon with a greeting and sincere words of condolence about her husband’s death. Zander put Ava’s suggestion out of his mind and mentally shifted gears back to the investigation.

Sharon Weldon could have been a blonde twin of the actress Melissa McCarthy, but she didn’t project the mirth or smiles. Understandable. “I’m sorry for your loss,” he said as he shook the woman’s hand. She regarded him with unemotional eyes and thanked him. She looked drained as she took a seat.

“I appreciate you coming to the office and saving us a trip,” Zander started.

“It was harder than I expected,” Sharon answered. “I’ve been in the parking lot out front for the last fifteen minutes, trying to get up the nerve to come in. I think the guards at the security hut were about to come knock on my car window.”

“Is this a bad time?” Ava asked kindly.

Sharon turned her empty gaze toward Ava. “This is as good a time as any. I don’t expect there will be a good time within the next twelve months. But if there’s a chance Vance was murdered, I want you guys on it immediately and this is the best way I can help. You’ll understand if I’m a bit numb . . . it was bad enough that I believed he committed suicide. I never dreamed that someone killed him.”

“We’re still exploring the option,” Zander said hastily. “We haven’t made that determination.”

“Was I wrong to assume he’d taken his own life?” she whispered, tearing up. “Am I a horrible person that I immediately believed he’d done the worst? What if he was murdered? What does he think of me now?” Her voice cracked and tears streamed. She sat motionless, holding Zander’s gaze, silently begging him to make her feel better.

He couldn’t speak.

She must feel like her husband has died twice.

Ava leaned forward, drawing Sharon’s attention. “Vance knows your heart, Sharon. He would forgive you, but forgiveness isn’t necessary. You were married for a decade and everyone has told me how happy the two of you were. If he was standing here today, would he be angry that you believed what you saw?”

Sharon silently shook her head, her gaze locked on Ava as if she held her lifeline.

“Of course not,” Ava continued. “From what we’ve seen, all the evidence points at suicide. Even the medical examiner agreed. You weren’t wrong to believe what you did! Vance loves you. He isn’t disappointed in you.” She paused. “I don’t believe we can have negative emotions on the other side.” She held Sharon’s gaze.

“You don’t?” Sharon whispered.

Zander internally cringed. He didn’t get involved in conversations about the afterlife. It was touchy territory, along with politics and religion. If Ava was going to wade into a discussion about it, she was on her own.

“I don’t,” said Ava. “I’ve always felt it was a place of peace. There’s no purpose for doubt or disappointment.”

Holding his breath, Zander studied the woman across the table. She seemed to accept Ava’s words and her tears had stopped.