A Killer Edition by Lorna Barrett

Author:Lorna Barrett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2019-08-12T16:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

After she’d locked her own store, Tricia walked ten steps north, took out her keys, and unlocked the door to the Cookery. Locking it behind her, she headed up to Angelica’s apartment—knowing she’d be greeted with a wagging tail and happy barking. She wasn’t disappointed.

“Good evening,” Angelica said as Tricia gave Sarge his treat and then set the bag from the Coffee Bean on the island. The accouterments for martinis sat on the counter, but Angelica hadn’t yet started to make them. “Shall we go outside again?”

“Maybe for our second drink,” Tricia suggested.

Angelica’s eyes widened. “Oooh. You want to talk secrets.”

“Maybe not secrets—but subjects not intended for eavesdroppers.”

“Well, I’m all ears,” Angelica said, and took the chilled glasses from the freezer and the pitcher of martinis from the fridge, and poured their drinks. That night, she also had a plate with cucumber pinwheels. Just four—two each—and just enough.

“Here or the living room?”

“Here is fine,” Tricia said, pushed the bag aside, and sat down on the closest stool at the kitchen island.

Angelica handed her a glass. “Cheers.”

They drank and Angelica took another stool. “So, how was your lunch with Marshall?”

“Exactly what I wanted to talk about.” Tricia took a sip of her drink to fortify herself. “We went to that little Chinese restaurant in Merrimack. He ordered chicken feet.”

“Really? How were they?”

“Surprisingly good. Next time he threatened me with snake soup.”

“Oh, I don’t think I’d like that.” Angelica sipped her drink and looked thoughtful. “Then again, maybe I would.”

Tricia gave an involuntary shudder. “But that wasn’t the only interesting thing that happened.”

“Do tell.”

“As we were finishing our meal, Joyce Widman walked into the restaurant . . . with a date.”

“Oh? I didn’t know she was involved. Anyone I know?”

“Know of—yes. Know personally? No.”

“Well, don’t keep me in suspense.”

“Joyce came in with Officer Cindy Pearson.”

Angelica frowned. “That’s not a date. That’s girls having lunch.”

“You and I have had lunch hundreds of times, and we have never sat at a table holding hands and gazing into each other’s eyes.”

“Oh. That does sound like a date.” Angelica took another sip of her drink.

“I wonder if Chief Baker knows about it.”

“Are you going to ask?” Angelica asked with incredulity.

“I don’t know. I mean . . . Cindy Pearson could get into a lot of trouble—maybe even lose her job over it.”

“Which is why they were in Merrimack instead of Stoneham.”

“I think so. But let’s face it, Merrimack isn’t all that far from Stoneham, and plenty of people just like me go there to shop, eat, or play golf. If they are dating, it’s not going to be a secret for very long.”

“But why would a woman who sells romance novels that feature men and women want to date a woman?”

Tricia told Angelica about her former co-worker.

“Not my cup of tea, but I can understand why it would happen. What did Marshall have to say about it?”

“He didn’t see them—and I didn’t tell him about it. I don’t want to be responsible for spreading rumors—not that I think he would repeat it to anyone.

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