Better Wed Than Dead: A Humorous Cozy Mystery (A Working Stiffs Mystery Book 10) by Delaney Wendy

Author:Delaney, Wendy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sugarbaker Press
Published: 2024-09-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

TWO HOURS LATER, I served a subpoena on an accountant who didn’t throw anything at me, didn’t even raise his voice. Instead, he gave me such a frosty death stare that I couldn’t get back to my car fast enough. Already a little spooked, I practically jumped out of my skin when I stepped onto the gravel of the parking lot and my cell phone started ringing.

I didn’t care who the caller was. In that moment, priority number one was putting some distance between me and Mr. Frosty’s death-ray eyes. Preferably the twenty miles to Coupeville to catch the next ferry back to Port Townsend.

“I can’t come to the phone right now,” I said, flinging my bag onto the passenger seat so that I could plop my hiney behind the wheel and lock the doors. “Because I’m a little freaked out and need to get outta here. So leave a message, and I’ll be happy to call you back when my pulse isn’t pounding in my ears.”

Then, a minute later, as I booked down Route 525 in blessed peace and quiet while my blood pressure normalized, my phone started ringing again.

Since my mother wasn’t speaking to me, two calls in rapid succession could only mean that someone from work was making sure I wasn’t shopping for bargains at the outlet mall. My money would be on Patsy.

Fumbling with my bag, I found my phone in a side pocket and glanced at the caller ID. Not Patsy, but it was a number I recognized.

“Hello,” I said, putting the phone on speaker as a green and yellow tractor chugged by in the southbound lane.

“Charmaine, it’s Avery Olcott. Am I catching you at a bad time?”

“No, it’s fine. But I’m in my car and probably miles from the nearest cell tower, so I don’t know how long this connection will last.”

“I’ll be quick. I just wanted to let you know that I spoke with Lenny—he’s the staff member who brought food and drink to the Ireland–Wolfe bridal party. He’s working today and can make himself available for an interview if you have time to stop by. Lenny’s also scheduled for Friday and Saturday if today isn’t—”

“No, today works. I’m on Whidbey now but should be able to get there around four.” Assuming that I made it onto the two forty-five ferry.

“Okay,” Avery said. “I’ll let Lenny know to expect you.”

“Around four” turned out to be an overly optimistic estimate on my part because I didn’t step into the rustic bar of the Rainshadow Ridge Resort until four twenty-one.

I was about to ask the bartender where I could find Lenny when a waiter with a big nose and slicked-back mahogany hair set a round serving tray on the end of the bar.

“Looking for someone?” he asked with a tentative smile.

Since he appeared to be in his mid-twenties, I assumed I had found my interviewee. “Lenny?”

The smile disappeared. “That’s me.”

“Charmaine Digby with the coroner’s office,” I said, lowering my voice so that the bartender wouldn’t overhear.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.