Fatality in the Forest (Hearts Grove Cozy Mystery Book 9) by Danielle Collins

Author:Danielle Collins [Collins, Danielle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fairfield Publishing
Published: 2020-01-19T22:00:00+00:00

“Henri, wanna take a walk with me?”

Henrietta looked up from where she sat on the couch at Ralph’s slightly messy but mostly clean house. Olivia and Scott were looking through albums of Scott as a kid and Ralph was finishing up washing the dishes. The four had come over to his place, which was decidedly larger than Henrietta’s, to have dinner together and to hear more details of the wedding.

They’d eaten a hearty Italian dish that was one of Ralph’s signature pieces and enjoyed chocolate cupcakes Henrietta had purchased on the way there. It had been a night of celebration amidst the storm of what could have been devastation. It made Henrietta even more thankful for the time with friends.

“A walk?” she said, eyeing the darkened windows that looked out over the sprawling backyard that ended in a cliff that met the water below.

“I’ve got an extra hat and scarf you can borrow,” he said with a wink. “Come take a walk with me.”

Something in his gaze and the way he said it caused little wings to take flight in her chest but she agreed with a demure nod. “Oh fine, suit me up.”

He laughed and did just that, wrapping her from head to toe in a borrowed scarf, knit cap, and even an overly large pair of mittens.

“We’ll be back,” he said to Olivia and Scott.

Scott’s only response was to grin back at his father and Henrietta turned before she could see more. It was odd, this newfound sense of nearness that she had when she thought of Ralph. It was one thing to have a friend like him but a completely different thing to realize that that friendship could be morphing into something else.

“Tell me what’s on your mind,” he said as they stepped out onto the paved driveway that would lead to another road that looped the neighborhood.

“I think my mind is full with many thoughts,” she admitted honestly.

“Well, we did call Abe back so he’s not worried which is good, but what did he slip you at the station? And I saw you, you saw something in those papers of his.”

She grinned, liking the fact that Ralph knew her well enough to spot such things. “I’d almost forgotten about the note,” she admitted. She pulled it out now, but it was so dark they had to walk another block before a streetlight would illuminate it. “But, I did notice something on that call log.”

“Oh, from Melanie’s phone?”

“Yes. It was Mayor Rickey’s number.”

“Mayor Rickey?” Ralph said with disbelief. “I mean, if she was involved at city hall or something maybe that would make sense but…we don’t know much about this girl.”

“We don’t,” Henrietta agreed pensively. They approached the light and both stopped to look down at the half page and the words scrawled there.

Melanie’s mother wants to speak with you. Here’s her address and phone number. I wouldn’t usually do this, but I think you should talk to her.

Henrietta looked up to meet Ralph’s gaze. “That isn’t something he’d usually do,” she agreed to the words on the note.

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