Egg Shooters by Laura Childs

Author:Laura Childs [Childs, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2021-01-26T00:00:00+00:00

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* * *

Afternoon tea was underway, the air perfumed with the aroma of Indian Darjeeling and a mellow black tea from Ceylon. Petra had baked coconut-cherry scones today and made chicken salad tea sandwiches as well as traditional cucumber and butter sandwiches.

Suzanne had just poured a cup of tea for Sarah Jenkins and her two guests when Sheriff Doogie walked in. He was followed by a grim-looking man with a slightly florid complexion, thin brush mustache, and white close-cropped hair.

And he walks with a military bearing. Interesting.

Doogie cast a peevish glance at Suzanne, then his eyes lit on Toni. He lifted a hand and beckoned to both of them.

“Who, us?” Toni said.

“What?” Suzanne said, hurrying over. “What’s wrong?”

“Is there someplace private where we can talk?” Doogie asked. He looked serious, a lot more serious than he usually was around a café full of scones, brownies, and glazed donuts.

“Let’s go in the Knitting Nest,” Suzanne said. She cast a quick glance around and decided they could let things ride for a few minutes. Then she walked in with Toni, Doogie, and the grim-looking man, and shut the door behind them.

Doogie didn’t beat around the bush.

“Tell me straight,” Doogie said to the man. “Are these the two crazy women who trespassed on your property last night?”

“They certainly are,” the man said without hesitation.

Toni gave a long, drawn out, “Whaaaat?”

“Don’t look so puzzled, ladies,” Doogie said. “This is retired Major Allan Winston.”

“Uh-oh,” Suzanne said. She felt a sinking feeling deep in the pit of her stomach, and pretty much knew what was coming.

“The good major here runs a halfway house for vets with PTSD,” Doogie said.

“Aw jeez.” Toni slumped down into a nearby chair.

“And what you did last night, firing the gun or whatever it was . . .” Doogie said.

“Firecrackers,” Suzanne said.

“Okay, the firecrackers that you ladies so wantonly tossed out . . . might have set some of Major Winston’s guys back months in their treatment.” Doogie jabbed at the air with his index finger for added emphasis.

“We thought they were crazy survivalists,” Toni said.

Doogie placed his hands on his ample hips. “Where did you ever get that idea?”

Suzanne thought about mentioning Smacky by way of Junior, but figured the story would sound too preposterous. Instead she said, “We were operating under the theory that they could have been the ones who shot Harold Spooner and robbed the pharmacies. Look, you can’t blame us for being suspicious. Those guys were hiding out in the woods, hunkered away from everyone. Who knew what they were up to?”

“I’ll tell you what they’re up to,” Major Winston said. He could barely control his anger. “They’re trying to heal. Do you have any idea what these men, men who valiantly served our country, are going through?”

Suzanne and Toni remained silent. It felt like the safe thing to do.

“I’ll tell you,” Major Winston continued. “These men have seen battle, they’ve endured hardships. They did it willingly for their country—for citizens like you—and they deserve to heal in peace.

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