Meow If It's Murder by T.C. LoTempio

Author:T.C. LoTempio
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2014-11-11T00:00:00+00:00

FOURTEEN

I had to hand it to her—Patti recovered quickly. One second she looked as if she were going to barf her breakfast all over the expensive shag carpeting, and the next the brilliant smile was back in place, eyes crinkling as she offered me a nervous laugh.

“Sorry. I didn’t realize you had Chicago roots. I—ah—I lived there for a few years. Couldn’t wait to relocate out here. Those winters are brutal!”

I nodded in agreement. “That they are.”

The smile got a bit wider. “I much prefer balmy sunshine and eighty degrees to twelve-plus inches of snow on a daily basis.” Her nail beat a swift tattoo against the folder. “You were a crime reporter, you said? That’s an unusual profession for a woman, isn’t it?”

“Not really.” Obviously Patti had never heard of Anne Rule or Aphrodite Jones. “Well, I won’t kid you. It was no walk in the park.” I made the sign of the cross. “It’s amazing what one can get used to, if you put your mind to it. I fought for that column because I wanted to show my editor a woman could do just as well on that particular topic as a man, and I succeeded.”

“I bet. What made you decide to leave Chicago—to give up reporting?”

“My mother passed away, as you know, and I thought coming home and taking over the family business would be what she’d have wanted me to do. Still, there are days when I miss the stress, the danger. There was a part of me that hated to say good-bye.” I fixed Patti with a stare. “Probably the same part of me that just has to keep pecking at unsolved mysteries. I’m sorry if my questions upset you.”

“Oh, you didn’t upset me,” she said, but her assurance came a tad too quickly for real sincerity. “Sadly, Mrs. Grainger had many personal demons, but she worked hard to overcome them. As for her being in the dinghy—well, that’s supposition. None of us really know what happened that night. I’m afraid that will always be a mystery.” She paused and then added, “An unsolved mystery.”

“Perhaps, since the one person who can supply the answers is dead.”

Patti slid the menu all the way back into the folder and then turned it on its side. She pushed the papers into the folder, picked it up, tapped it against the table. “Well, thank you for stopping by. I’m so glad we had the opportunity to meet.”

“Me, too.” As she started to rise, I settled back farther in my chair. “You know, it might be a good idea for me to sign a formal contract to finalize our catering agreement.” I gave a short laugh. “Mrs. Grainger and my mother might have liked the hearty handshake method, but both you and I know it’s not the most practical way to do business.”

She hesitated, then nodded. “Of course. I’ll have one drawn up immediately and messengered to the store for your signature.”

“If it won’t take long, I don’t mind waiting.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.