A Necklace and a Knifing: A Pawnshop Cozy Mystery by Poppy Parkes

Author:Poppy Parkes [Parkes, Poppy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Choice Publishing
Published: 2023-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

17

I stand behind the counter at the pawnshop, typing away on my laptop when Chandler walks in. He looks nervous, fidgety, and I can tell something is off.

“Hey, Daisy.” He leans against the counter. “Have you seen Chelle today?”

I furrow my brow. “No, she hasn’t come in yet. Why do you ask?”

Chandler glances around the store. Is he trying to make sure no one is listening in? “I’m worried about her. I think she might be in trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?”

Chandler leans in and lowers his voice. “I think that maybe she really might be involved in Lee Harvey’s murder. I saw her with Ben last week, and he threatened to kill the man. Why would they have any reason to be together? I’m worried.”

My mind races as I process this information. Could Chelle really have been involved in the murder? It doesn’t seem possible. But then again, I’ve only been back in Luster for a few months, after being gone for years at college. People do change. “Do you have any proof?” I try to keep my voice steady.

Chandler shakes his head. “No, nothing concrete. Just a feeling. But I think we should tell the police about this. They can investigate and figure out what’s going on.”

I nod slowly, then shake it in denial almost immediately. “No, I can’t believe that about Auntie Chelle. It’s a small town. There has to be another reason for them being together.”

Chandler nods, still looking worried. “You’re right. Sorry, Daisy. I just want to make sure Chelle is okay.”

“No reason to be sorry. I know we both love her and just want to get to the bottom of this.” The smooth plastic of the keyboard clacks as I type a few notes about what Unc just said.

“What are you doing?”

“You know how much I love to keep everything nice and orderly. Well, I’ve got a spreadsheet here with everything I’ve learned about this murder.”

“But is that safe? You aren’t trained in investigations. You’re a businesswoman. You should probably stop.” His face betrays his concern.

“Maybe you’re right. But we must find out who really killed her.”

“Listen, I’m sorry for doubting her, but we really need to leave this for the professionals.”

I let out a breath of air in a whoosh. “I hear you.” I know he’s just concerned, but I’m getting sick and tired of everyone telling me to leave it to the professionals. I’ve read plenty of books where amateurs did just fine. I should probably let this go, but… I can't. Or is it won’t? “Do you know why Ben threatened to kill Lee Harvey?”

“Yeah. Emma had an affair with him not too long ago.”

“Oh…” I knew Lee Harvey liked to play the field, but I didn’t know he’d go after married women, too. “Infidelity has certainly been a motive for murder before.”

“Exactly.”

We stand in silence, lost in our own thoughts with only the clickety clack of the laptop’s keys breaking the background hum of the store’s electronics.

“Well, I guess I should get going.

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