A Book to Kill For : A Bookish Cafe Mystery by Harper Lin

Author:Harper Lin [Lin , Harper]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harper Lin Books
Published: 2021-02-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Despite the weather forecast predicting more steady rain and even a flash flood watch in some of the more rural areas, the people of Fair Haven were not deterred from an evening out. As she stood in front of the bathroom mirror and tried to get a look at herself in her new red dress, Maggie couldn’t help feeling like she was playing a character in a book.

She’d never tell a soul, but she had taken the dress off three times after convincing herself it was too flashy, too scandalous, too red for the bookshop and café event. As she slipped it back over her head and adjusted her glasses for the fourth time, there was a knock on her door. Dropping her hands to her sides in frustration, she padded to the door in her bare feet and yanked it open with a fuss.

“Who the heck…oh, hello, Mrs. Peacock.” Maggie tried to put on a smile as she pushed up her glasses.

“Why, Maggie, you look splendid!” Mrs. Peacock gushed.

“Oh, well, thank you, but I don’t think I’m going to wear…” Maggie started but was quickly interrupted.

“Are you wearing that to the café tonight? Everyone in town is planning on stopping by. My goodness, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so dressed up. I do hope you aren’t getting your hopes up for Joshua Whitfield.” Mrs. Peacock frowned as the gossip hung there on the tip of her tongue, just waiting for the slightest nudge to fall out of her mouth.

“What?” Maggie crinkled her face and shook her head.

“I’m just looking out for you. I know how fond you were of Mr. Whitfield, but sometimes the apple falls far from the tree,” Mrs. Peacock said from beneath her umbrella. “You know what everyone is saying about Joshua? That he had something to do with poor Bo’s death. Now, I’m only saying what I heard.”

“Mrs. Peacock, I don’t think Joshua had anything to do with Bo’s death,” Maggie protested. “You can’t tell me you really believe he did, too?”

“I’m not sure what to believe. That’s why I’m going to the café to get a better look at him for myself,” Mrs. Peacock replied.

“Was there something else you wanted? Or did you really just come here to tell me you were going there?”

“Oh, dear, I’ve plumb forgotten what I came to tell you. Well, I will tell you this: there isn’t going to be a fellow in all of Fair Haven who isn’t going to notice you in that dress. You look as pretty as a picture,” Mrs. Peacock said. “You should dress up more often.”

Maggie rolled her eyes as her landlady hurried back to the big house. She would probably be on the phone within seconds, telling someone in town about the scandalous red dress she was wearing.

When Maggie looked at the clock, she had zero time to change into one of her more sensible skirts and cardigan sweaters. She had no choice but to leave for the bookshop wearing what she had on.

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