Paws, Claws, and Curses (A Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery Book 1) by DeAnna Drake

Author:DeAnna Drake [Drake, DeAnna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Published: 2024-06-05T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Frantic Call

The ice cream did a somersault in my stomach. “You know how to find Gunther’s killer?”

Bitsie froze, then touched her forehead and whispered, “Oh dear. Perhaps I shouldn’t have said anything. I told myself I wouldn’t and look at me. This might destroy Luna if she finds out. She doesn’t deserve that. He’s already hurt her so much.”

He? Who was he? “What do you mean? Someone hurt Luna? When?”

“Not in a physical way. At least not that I know of. But he broke her heart. I don’t think he even realizes it, but that’s not the point. The damage is done.”

“Are you talking about Hank Malone?” Luna had consoled him so tenderly at the restaurant. They were obviously close.

“No, no. Not Hank. Martin.”

“Martin Fincher?”

Slowly, she nodded.

Martin Fincher was Stirling’s thieving ex-manager. He’d been the one who stole Cleopatra’s cat, so it wasn’t a total surprise that he knew Gunther Vernon. Bitsie had also mentioned that Martin recommended Luna for the job at her shop. “Are you saying you think Martin killed Gunther?”

Bitsie closed her eyes and remained quiet for an agonizingly long moment. When she looked at me again, she was struggling to smile. “No, but I think he might know something that could help you. You see, Martin and I would chat sometimes when he came in for ice cream, like you and I are now. He always seemed like such a nice young man. I even told Luna she should give him another chance. Men can be so foolish at that age, and he seemed keen to win her back.”

“They were romantically involved?” She’d already hinted as much, but I wanted to be sure. “How long ago?”

“A year, perhaps more. But they’ve known each other for years. Since high school, I think. All of them. Luna, Martin, and Hank, too. I think that’s one of the reasons Martin wanted me to hire Luna. He was hoping to rekindle her affections.”

“When did she start working for you?”

Bitsie touched her temple. “I hired her in January. So, let’s see. That makes it just over three months now. Why?”

“It might be important.” Adelaide Morris usually thought so, anyway. She often asked about what the suspects were doing and when they were doing it during her investigations. “Is it possible Luna helped Martin with his…”

“The theft? Absolutely not.” She shook her head for emphasis. “I’m sure Luna was completely in the dark.”

“Doesn’t it seem odd that Martin wanted you to hire her when he did? He must have been planning the theft already.”

She sank back in her chair. “Yes, I see what you mean. It is odd timing. But you should know Luna wasn’t interested in rekindling anything with him. I don’t know all the details, but I got the impression she was troubled by something. I thought it was just her focus on pursuing her education. He, on the other hand, had completely given up on his. He had worked on an archeology degree for a couple years at Richland, but then abandoned it.

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