A Spirited Accusation: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery Book 6 (Midlife is Murder Series) by Clare Lockhart

Author:Clare Lockhart [Lockhart, Clare]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Apatite Publishing
Published: 2023-02-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Toni and I sat in the Cozy Nook with our feet up. Due to winter storm warnings, it had been a slow day in the café, which was nice every so often. I’d given Poppy the afternoon off when the forecast proved true. Bookend Bay was once again blanketed in white.

Outside the picture windows, the snowfall was ending, leaving the trees sugar-coated and sparkling white. I’d walked to work that morning and looked forward to walking home through the winter wonderland.

“I love this minty hot chocolate,” I said, setting my mug on the table and passing Toni a wool throw. “All comfy?”

She drew her gaze from the dancing flames in the gas fireplace. “Thank you, and I sure am. This nook is my favorite thing about Break Thyme. I love your special touches. Did you get these candles from Bubbles or from Lulu’s?”

The candles were all natural. “Lulu’s. They were the last of the winter scents. She’s bringing in spring and summer stock now.”

Toni laughed and tucked her legs under the throw. “I do dream of summer. Especially when I’m at Clark’s place. It’s going to be nice there in hot weather. And by the way, I’m sorry I haven’t been much help with Della’s case lately.”

“You can’t do everything, Toni, and Clark needs help to unpack. Have you been setting up his kitchen the way you like it?” I’d love to get Toni to admit she might move in with Clark. Soon, if they were already married.

She looked at me and pressed her lips closed.

“Okay. Still not telling.”

“He needs my help. He’s losing things, and it’s driving him a little crazy. He’s actually worried about his memory.”

“Moving is stressful, especially when you’ve moved to a new town. And it doesn’t seem like he’s taken much time off work to get settled.”

“No, not really. He’s pretty busy and still needs to be in Minneapolis at times. When he gets everything set up here, things will be easier. Anyway, that’s his agenda. Let’s move onto ours.”

She picked up the notebook on the table beside her. Decorated with sleuth-like stickers she’d ordered from who-knew-where and letters spelling out Murder Gals Jottings, we used it to keep track of our investigation details. My kids had suggested an online program that Toni and I could use corroboratively, but she preferred good ol’ fashioned pen and paper. I had to admit, her notebook made me feel nostalgic. When had pen and paper become nostalgia?

Toni clicked her pen. “So far, we know Della’s accident occurred on Tuesday, probably during the late afternoon. She believes someone pushed her off the road.”

Della believed it was Clark, but I didn’t see the point in repeating that. We’d know more after Alec checked Clark’s car for damage, which led me to another thought. “Alec talked to a mechanic at Trusty’s, and no one has brought in a vehicle with front end damage, but that doesn’t mean the murderer didn’t use a garage outside Bookend Bay.”

“Okay.” She made a note. “What else?”

I pulled out my phone and brought up the notes I’d written.

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