Kittens Cupcakes & Conspiracy (Magical Kitten Cozy Mysteries Book 3) by Allen Amity

Author:Allen, Amity
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bad Baby Press
Published: 2023-03-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

“Is Opal there?” Deputy Becca asked.

I sighed into the cell phone. After Van hung up, after letting off a string of invectives about Opal and her thieving—and probably murdering—ways, according to him, Becca called within moments.

I glanced into the kitchen, where Opal still talked animatedly with Nell about the planned bake sale. Luke looked like he might fall asleep at any moment, but Nell appeared rejuvenated, some slight color having returned to her cheeks. “Yes, she is. Why didn’t you just call her?”

“Because I have Opal’s phone,” Becca replied. “It was at Elizabeth’s house.”

It was? What did that mean?

Before I could think about it overmuch, Becca went on. “Van called about an hour ago. I’m at his mother’s place now, and he’s right. It looks like all her recipe books are gone. The only clue I’ve found at the scene is Opal’s phone. It was actually on the shelf the books were missing from.”

Wow. That was incriminating. But something niggled at me about it. Opal didn’t seem like the kind of person who would miss a detail like that if she had been the one to steal the books. Leaving her cell phone right on the shelf?

No, Opal was well used to paying attention to details. That was her whole job, really. Keeping track of Elizabeth’s details for her.

Of course, anyone could make a mistake. But this seemed beyond that. “Are you going to arrest her?” I asked, glancing into the kitchen again and wondering how Opal was going to take this news. And how she’d explain her phone being at the Brantley home, on the shelf where some books were missing.

“Not yet. I don’t have enough evidence.”

I chewed my lip for a moment, then made a decision. “How about if I come over there? Maybe I’ll notice something.”

“You think you’re a detective now, huh?” Her tone was teasing, which softened the words.

“Not at all. I’m just good at noticing details, I guess. Fifteen minutes?”

“Better make it ten. And if my boss finds out, I’ll be in trouble, so try to be discreet.”

“I’m not sure how I’ll be discreet about showing up at the scene of a crime. Let’s just not tell Ballard about it and hope that’s enough.” I hung up, filled Stephanie in quickly on what was going on, in a whisper, then went into the kitchen.

Opal and Nell looked up, smiling, and Luke jerked awake, grumbling and wiping his face.

I giggled and rubbed his shoulders. “You can take a nap if you want, you know. There’s more than one guest room in this place, not to mention the farmhand’s cottage has a nice, comfortable bed.”

“I’m fine. It’s a food coma from eating two sandwiches. I should go to the barn and get something done. That’ll wake me up.”

I squeezed his shoulders to keep him in the chair when he started to get up, and he shot me a questioning look. I shook my head slightly, then turned to Opal. “Do you know where Elizabeth’s recipe books are?”

Her brow furrowed.

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