Cabanas, Cupids, & Corpses by Louise Stevens

Author:Louise Stevens
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Louise Stevens

The first thing I did the next morning when I got to work was fill Emily in on what happened and sent her off to tell Jennifer, who would then be able to pass it on to her sweetie, Detective Green. It was much easier on previous cases when I could just text Tyler.

I turned away from the concierge desk and bumped into a human wall. Ronald Gaines, the director of security here at the Gulf Palms Resort and Spa. A retired Tampa policeman, Ronald was in his fifties but really buff and super suave. It was next to impossible to look cool in our Gulf Palms uniforms. I was currently wearing a pink skort with little green palm trees on it, and not looking chic. But Ronald carried off his uniform with style and looked eye-catchingly handsome. The pink polo shirt complemented his dark brown skin tone, and the tight sleeves accentuated his bulging biceps. Which were also very much in evidence since his arms were folded across his chest.

Light from the chandelier gleamed off his shaved head, and the corners of his lips quirked up ever so slightly. “What are you up to now, Nancy Drew? Telling Emily your deductions and sending her off to Jennifer Davis? One might ask ... why?”

“Because Tyler Johnson is off the case, and he’s always been able to share the results of our sleuthing with Detective Green. I had to find another way. Ergo ... Jennifer.”

“I heard through the Port Sunset grapevine you found another body yesterday. Wanna grab a cup of coffee at Sunset Sweets and tell Uncle Ronald all about it?”

“That sounds good. I’d really like to talk it through with you.”

We got our coffee drinks, a hazelnut cappuccino for me and plain black coffee for Ronald.

“How can you drink coffee with nothing in it?”

As we placed our drinks on a café table in the shade on a patio outside Sunset Sweets, Ronald shuddered as he stared pointedly at mine. “And how can you drink a dessert masquerading as a coffee?”

“Agree to disagree.” I took a sip of mine and licked the foam from my lips.

“Tell me what you know. About the latest murders ... not about coffee, because you clearly know nothing about the latter.”

The argument about our morning beverage preferences was almost as old as our friendship, so I ignored the poke and proceeded to tell him all I knew. When I was done, I leaned back in my seat and took another sip of my cappuccino. The cool froth on top contrasted with the hot coffee, and the hazelnut flavor elevated the whole experience. Good thing Ronald knew a lot about criminal investigations because the man knew nothing about deliciousness.

The blue sky and puffy clouds reflected in his mirrored sunglasses as he looked upward and tapped his long fingers on the table. He looked at me and bobbed his head. “Got it. A lot’s been happening.”

“It has. What are your thoughts?”

“Like everyone who’s ever worked in law enforcement, I don’t like coincidences.

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