Mortgaged to Murder : A Lily Sprayberry Cozy Mystery by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

Author:Carolyn Ridder Aspenson [Aspenson, Carolyn Ridder]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Magnum Grace Publishing
Published: 2025-02-21T00:00:00+00:00

“He did not!” Belle slammed her coffee cup onto Millie’s table so hard it cracked. “Oh.” She searched the diner for Millie. “At least it’s empty.”

“You’re lucky she wasn’t out here.”

Millie hurried out of the kitchen. “Who⁠—”

Belle held up the cracked mug. “It was me.” She sank into her chair. “I’m sorry.” To me, she whispered, “That woman has the ears of an owl.”

Millie reached the table and snatched the broken cup from Belle’s hand. “I heard that, and you’re right, I do.”

Belle dug into her purse and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill. “Let me pay for it, please.”

Millie poured Belle’s coffee into another cup, then filled mine. “It’s okay, darlin’.” She refused the money. “You’re like family. Family don’t pay for accidents.”

Al walked over. “Mornin’, ladies. Miss Belle, you’ve got an order ready for pick up at the shop.”

“Mr. Gibson, aren’t you supposed to be retired?” she asked.

“Dry cleaning is in my heart, and I’m still tryin’ to get my son on track with the business.”

“Oh, then thank you. I’ll come get it today.”

He chit-chatted for a bit, then when his son walked in, they sat a few tables from us.

“So,” Belle said, after taking a sip of her coffee. “Dylan didn’t tell you about a suspect?”

I eyed her cup. “Please don’t slam that one. But no, he won’t tell me about the other suspect.”

“That’s cold. I’m going to ask Matt.”

“Good luck. Dylan said I should find out on my own since I’m an investigator. He also told me they’ve found nothing connected to gambling.”

“He just lost points in my book.”

“He can’t lose points. He gave you a beautiful goddaughter.”

“Who, by the way, could have stayed with us today. I’ll be at the office until five.”

“What if I have to leave?”

“Then I can practice perfecting my godmothering skills.”

I cocked my head to the side. “What about Bo? Don’t you love him anymore?”

“Of course, but he’s at doggy day care, right?”

I nodded.

“Then let him stay. He has fun with the other dogs.”

I texted Allison to let her know I’d be picking up Magnolia.

“Tell me what you found out,” Belle said.

“It’s a lot. Can we wait until the rest of our coffee club gets here? I don’t want to repeat it all.”

She glanced out the window. “They just pulled up.”

Billy Ray helped Bonnie inside while Larry handled Henrietta. Handled perfectly described walking Henrietta anywhere. The woman was a spitfire, for sure.

“Millie,” Henrietta hollered once she was inside. “Get the biscuits ready. I’m starving.”

Larry and I made eye contact.

She’s in a mood,” Bonnie said. “Told her she might could stay home, but she swears her mood is good and that I’m the problem.”

“Sometimes, you are,” Billy Ray said. He sat next to Bonnie, who sat next to Belle.

“Sure, sometimes, but not today. I hadn’t said a word, and she started griping like someone stole her candy.”

“Is she talking about me?” Henrietta asked. She stood behind me. “My mood is as good as my momma’s chicken pot pie.”

“Glad to hear it,” I said.

Larry helped her into her seat and sat between us.

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