Fake Visions and Bad Decisions: An Amateur Sleuth Cozy Mystery (Olivia Twist Mystery Series Book 4) by Jorgensen Irene

Author:Jorgensen, Irene
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Apatite Publishing
Published: 2022-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Tired of non-stop problems, my mind fogged up. “Bigger than polyester?”

“What’s with the polyester comments?”

“It’s Poppy. She’s a nutter about the bedding.”

“Oh, jeez. The princess and the polyester. My brother Dillon told me she refused to eat a hotdog off a paper plate at a family picnic last year. She called Martha to bring fancy plates. The breakable kind. One of my nephews broke his.”

I laughed and sunk into the old-time comfortable feeling of chatting with Jake. So much so that I blurted, “It sounds like Dillon finally forgave you after you ratted him out.”

His stunned silence pierced the comfort. Unbelievable how easily I'd let down my guard. He had impaired vision, but nothing was wrong with his hearing. And I’d forgotten my rule not to laugh. It’s hard to disguise a laugh, although I’d worked on changing mine. My mind scrambled. “Blimey, sorry, shouldn’t have said that. Meg Twist told me the story.”

Jake chuckled. “Tell Gossip Granny that Dillon forgave me.”

Only Jake, Annie and I called GG those various names. Better pretend ignorance. “Pardon?”

“Ah, something my ex used to call her grandmother.” He cleared his throat. “As I said, we’ve got a bigger problem. I want Poppy to hear this.”

“Hold on.” I unplugged my phone. As I left the bathroom, I remembered how sad Jake had looked at lunch when he’d mentioned his siblings. I’d assumed it was because Dillon hadn’t forgiven him. I was wrong. So, what had the sadness been about? Maybe someday I could ask him.

“Hey, Poppy, Jake wants to talk to us.”

She turned off the television, and I put my phone on speaker. “Go ahead, Jake.”

“Baxter called me, and he’s furious you got Sam and me involved. He insists Leila arranged her kidnapping a second time.”

“Even though there’s a dead body?” I asked.

“Graham doesn’t believe there is one. Said he’s cutting his business meetings short and flying home tomorrow night, which means he’ll be back early Sunday.”

“Oh, no.” Poppy clapped her head. “Before the ransom call.”

“What about the dosh? What if he freezes all his accounts?”

“Don’t worry about the money. That’s Sam’s job. And he’s the best hacker I know.”

Just how many did he know? Another thing I might ask him someday. “I’m surprised Graham hasn’t got on the blower with you, Poppy.”

“He doesn’t talk to me when mad at me.”

“And he’s furious we're combing his property for a dead body," Jake said. “His head of security told him you and Poppy made that up.”

“Cracked crumpets. I sure wish we’d taken a picture. This explains why Graham ordered Otto to bring Poppy home. He doesn’t want her out and about trying to get the moolah.”

“Yup,” Jake agreed. “And Otto would’ve already called Baxter and told him about finding you in Canada, Poppy. Do you think he believes you’re there to sell your purse?”

“I’m not sure.” She slumped onto the bed. “Maybe we should just go home.”

“No!” Jake’s voice thundered through the room. “Don’t you dare go spineless now. Sam won’t get the money until you hand over the guitar.

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