Strangled and Snails: an Animal Cozy Mystery (Dusty Paws Mysteries Book 3) by Verena DeLuca

Author:Verena DeLuca [DeLuca, Verena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aconite Cafe
Published: 2024-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Thursday, July 21st

THE SUN DIPPED low on the horizon, casting a golden sheen over Raton as I parked my car outside the Trailhead Diner. The day had been a whirlwind of revelations and suspicions, leaving my mind tangled like the wild vines back at Lydia's house. I needed this—dinner with friends, a moment to step back from the case and just breathe.

As I walked up to the diner, the familiar jingle of the doorbell greeted me like an old friend. Inside, the warm scent of baking pies and sizzling burgers enveloped me. It was comfort in a nutshell, and I found myself smiling despite the weight of Howard's unsolved mystery on my shoulders.

Kathryn spotted me first, her fiery red hair a beacon at our usual corner booth. “Natalie!” she called out, waving me over with a grin that could outshine the neon sign above us.

Sandi was there too, looking more relaxed than she had all morning at Dusty Paws. She scooted over to make room for me as I slid into the booth. “You look like you've been through the wringer,” she teased, nudging me gently with her elbow.

“Feels like it too,” I admitted, letting out a chuckle as Liz—our waitress and my best friend—came over with menus in hand.

“What can I get you ladies started with?” Liz asked, her tone laced with the kind of warmth that only comes from years of friendship.

“Coffee for me,” Kathryn said quickly. “And whatever pie you've got fresh out of the oven.”

“I'll have an iced tea,” Sandi chimed in. “And maybe some of those cheese fries to share?”

Liz scribbled down our orders before turning to me with raised eyebrows. “The usual?”

“You know it,” I replied with a grateful smile. “And Liz? Add a slice of that apple pie to my order.”

As Liz sauntered off to place our orders, I leaned back against the cushioned seat and exhaled deeply. The murmur of conversation around us was a soothing backdrop—the ebb and flow of life continuing around us even as we took this momentary pause.

“So,” Kathryn began, stirring her coffee as soon as Liz set it down in front of her. “How did things go with Lydia?”

I sipped my own coffee before answering. “She was . . . surprisingly open. Gave me some insight into her relationship with Howard.”

“And?” Sandi pressed, her curiosity evident in her wide eyes.

“And it turns out Howard might have been exploiting her research for his own gain.” The words felt heavy on my tongue as I recounted Lydia's sense of betrayal.

Kathryn shook her head in disbelief while Sandi reached for a fry, dunking it into ketchup thoughtfully. “That's low,” Sandi muttered before taking a bite.

“Yeah,” I agreed, feeling a pang of sympathy for Lydia despite our rocky start. “But she gave me this.” I pulled out the pressed flower from Howard's journal and laid it on the table for them to see.

Kathryn leaned in closer, her eyes tracing the delicate petals. “It's beautiful,” she said softly. “Do you think it's connected to his murder?”

I shrugged, tucking the flower back into the journal safely.

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