Coconut Chocolate Murder (A Maple Hills Cozy Mystery Book 7) by Wendy Meadows

Author:Wendy Meadows [Meadows, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Majestic Owl Publishing LLC
Published: 2017-01-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

An hour later, Nikki walked into a warm, single-story building that smelled of pine and cinnamon. Shaking sleet off her thick, green, wool coat, she hurried up to a glass window, walking across a beautiful brown carpet in her wet boots. A young woman in her late twenties spotted Nikki approaching and put down a magazine. “Can I help you?” she asked.

Nikki continued to shake the sleet off her coat and spoke in a polite, calm tone. “I need to access your public records, please.”

The young woman stared at Nikki coldly. Aware of who was asking to see the public records, she debated with herself whether to deny the request or allow it. Of course, if she denied Nikki access to the public records, she would be violating the law and might, as a result, risk being canned from her job. She brushed a piece of lint off the blue sweater she was wearing and then checked her short brown hair. “My mother doesn't like you,” she told Nikki.

Nikki ignored the insult and signed her name on a guest registry form attached to a brown clipboard sitting on the counter under the window. “Which way to the public records room?”

“No one likes you,” the young woman continued in a hateful voice.

“I wasn't that popular in high school either, sweetie,” Nikki replied in a sharp voice. “Now, either you tell me which way to the public records room, or I ask to see your supervisor. You are a public servant. Your job is to assist the public, not harass them. The cell phone in my purse has been recording our conversation. Shall I ask your supervisor to take a listen?”

The young woman glanced at the white purse Nikki had sat down on the counter. “Through the main door, fourth door down on the right,” she said. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean—”

“Save it for the courts,” Nikki said coldly and grabbed her purse.

“Have a nice day,” the young woman called out, hoping to sound authentic. Nikki rolled her eyes and hurried to the heavy wooden door and pulled it open. She stepped through it and walked down a long hallway lined with doors. When she saw Oliver Bates standing in front of the door leading into the public records room, she paused. Be strong, she told herself.

Oliver waved at Nikki. “Nice to see you again, Ms. Bates,” he called out.

Nikki approached him cautiously. “I have work to do,” she said angrily. “I don't need you micro-managing my every move.”

“I intend to watch,” Oliver warned her in a stern tone. “I don't need you to withhold any new findings you might... accidentally... discover.”

“Fine,” Nikki said and pushed past him. Stepping into the public records room, she was disappointed to find that the room had no windows. Instead, it was cramped, lined with old metal filing cabinets and a single, wooden table on a dark brown tile floor. Oliver stepped in behind Nikki and closed the door. “Don't get in my way,” Nikki said and placed her purse down onto the table.

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