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.I planned to just hand them the champagne, but the poor guy looked so worried that I decided to stay and try to cheer them up.I'd hate to see such a lovely young couple throw away their chance at happiness over some squabble,” she shook her head sadly.“Wait, are you saying that Trinie and Seth were fighting?” Mitchell asked and stepped closer to Aunt Ida to ensure that he was hearing her correctly.“Not exactly fighting,” Aunt Ida corrected him with a slight frown.“It was more like a heated discussion.Seth was insisting that the bodyguard, Matt, I think he called him, had nothing to do with it, and Trinie was determined that he was mistaken.Anyway, it all ended when I showed up with the champagne, so I took it upon myself to attempt to lighten the mood,” she fluttered her hands lightly in the air.“And how long were you there?” Sheriff McDonnell asked with keen interest.“Just a few minutes?”“No, no, had to be at least an hour,” Aunt Ida sighed and then looked guiltily at Sarah.“But they wanted me to stay, Sarah.I wasn't bothering them, I swear,” she looked at her niece pleadingly.Sarah sighed and reached out to give her aunt a small hug.She knew that Aunt Ida was well meaning and loved the adventure.“Well, as long as the time of death matches the time you're claiming to have been with Trinie and Seth then you've just provided them with an alibi,” the sheriff stated.“I'm going to check on what forensic results have come through at the station, Mitchell, I want you to stay on top of this, understand?” he met the deputy's eyes with an authoritative glare.“Yes sir,” Mitchell nodded.“I happen to enjoy that young lady's acting, and I want to make sure neither of them comes to any harm.If they had something to do with this, then justice will be served, until then consider them both to be under protective custody,” he nodded his head to Sarah, Vicky, and Aunt Ida before turning to the front door of the inn.As he walked away Sarah wiped her hand across her face and grimaced.“I knew this was going to be a bad idea,” she groaned and shook her head.“It's going to be fine,” Vicky promised her, but she didn't even really believe that herself anymore.So far they had one dead body and evidence that pointed them in the direction of a celebrity couple that was meant to be married at the inn today.“I'm going to take another look upstairs,” Mitchell said and started to walk away.Vicky grabbed his arm gently to stop him.When he glanced back at her, she asked almost in a whisper.“Is it true? Were there really pictures?”“Yes,” he nodded with a grave expression.“And not pictures she would have ever wanted getting out.I'm afraid, that until we can confirm beyond a doubt that the time of death occurred between ten and eleven o'clock, Trinie and Seth are still our best suspects.”Vicky nodded with dismay and released his arm as he headed for the elevator.She left Aunt Ida to go and get Sarah some calming herbal tea and decided to check that everything was ready for the wedding, if there was a wedding.As she walked into the kitchen she found the chef, Henry, staring out the window at the commotion.“Henry?” she asked as she stepped up behind him.He nearly jumped out of his skin as he turned around to face her.“Oh Vicky, I'm sorry, you startled me,” he cleared his throat.“Sorry to sneak up on you.Are you ok?” she frowned as she studied the concern on his face.“Vicky, I feel so terrible,” he gulped out and shook his head.“What is it? What's wrong?” Vicky asked him and reached out to lightly touch his shoulder.“Last night I heard a scream, I was getting ready to watch a show on TV, and I had just settled down with a bedtime snack.I heard this scream, and then a thump,” he shook his head again.“I would have thought it was strange, I really would have, if it wasn't for all the media camped out.I figured one of them had just tried to make it over the gates.When I didn't hear anything else, I assumed it was fine, and I just went on watching my show,” he shook his head again and moaned into the back of his hand.“To think I was snacking while someone lay dead in the daisies, but I didn't know!”“It's okay, Henry,” Vicky assured him as she patted his arm.“There was nothing that you could have done.Now the best thing you can do is tell the police about this, and what time it was when it happened.”“Oh yes, it was just before ten-thirty,” he said with a quick nod.“I know it was, because that's what time the show comes on
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