Nine Lies (The Secret Library Cozy Mysteries Book 6) by CeeCee James

Author:CeeCee James [James, CeeCee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-07-26T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

Hank pushed through the crack in the wainscoting and gracefully navigated around the bookshelf. I rolled to watch him pad soundlessly across the wood floor.

“Good morning,” I whispered. Hank meowed back contentedly and his green eyes squinted shut in a little kitten smile.

I could only give him a little pet, though, because chores were calling. I felt guilty for neglecting my duties the past few days with all my focus and running around with questions about Brandon. So, as quick as I could, I got ready and ran down to the kitchen.

Cook jumped when I rushed in. “Heaven’s girl, you surprised me.”

I grabbed an apron and made my way over to the sink to wash dishes. They had piled up, to match the amazing food she’d prepared. Yeasty scents of fresh bread and cinnamon rolls mingled with the brown roasted scent of meat. My stomach rumbled.

“Is Miss Janice having guests tonight?” I asked, deducing it from the huge serving dish waiting on the counter.

“Yes, she is, and I’m tired.” Cook sat in a chair with her feet propped on the spare next to her. She brushed back a sweaty curl that had escaped her headband. “She sprang it on me at dinner last night. I had Lucy nip down to the butchers, and as luck would have it, they had a rack of lamb.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help.”

She smiled kindly. “Now don’t you worry about it. You just keep getting better from your young friend. Have you heard anything new?”

“Not really. No. But both Mary and I are convinced that he didn’t accidentally die out at that cave.”

Just saying those words out loud made me feel kind of sick again. I turned back to the soapy sink. Mary came in then.

“Ah, there you are my petunia,” Cook beamed. Then she scowled. “Did you just track in wet leaves on my nice clean floor?”

“Hi, Cook.” She smiled as she tied on her apron. Her eyes caught mine. “Did you tell her what we learned?”

“She was just starting to do that before you tromped in. And before you begin, you mind getting me a bit of hot water for my tea?”

With a tip of the kettle, Mary filled a teacup with steaming hot water. She handled it delicately as she brought it over. I quickly filled Cook in as I washed a stack of plates.

Cook reached for a chamomile teabag from the basket always kept on the table. “I know one thing. If he had a racing debt it had to be several thousand dollars.” Cook mused. “And to try to earn it from one job? It must have been a big house with big trees or a big yard or something. You are definitely looking for a rich guy.”

“You have any ideas on how we start looking for this rich guy? We keep coming up to dead ends.”

I added, “And nothing is leading back to that cave.”

“How did you ever hear about that cave anyway?” Cook asked, dipping her tea bag in the water.

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.