Strawberry Shortcake & Murder (The Prairie Crocus Cozy Mystery Series Book 9) by Miranda Brickett

Author:Miranda Brickett [Brickett, Miranda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Miranda Brickett
Published: 2022-02-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

“Turn left at the stop sign up there,” Claudia suddenly instructed.

Madeline gave her a puzzled look. “Why? Even I know that’s not the way to the highway.”

“It isn’t, but I want to make a stop first. It won’t take long,” Claudia promised.

“Fine. Where are we going?”

“Just turn left,” Claudia replied, not wanting to get into it.

They turned off of Main Street, where most of Prairie Crocus’s businesses were located. The area they were in now was clearly residential. It was a cute, quiet neighborhood with tidy, well-maintained, somewhat dated family homes.

“Look at how tall the trees are on this street,” Madeline remarked appreciatively. “Do you have any idea how long it would take to grow trees this size in my neighborhood? All we have are a few pathetic, tiny sticks.”

“I guess that’s one upside of older neighborhoods,” Claudia replied. “They’re established.”

“Yeah. I used to think building new was the only way to go. Everything is modern and up-to-date. And it is,” Madeline said thoughtfully. “But I never really stopped to consider what my neighborhood is missing.”

“Trees?” Claudia guessed.

“Personality. Character. Charm.”

“I’m sure it will get there,” Claudia tried to reassure her. “It just needs time, that’s all.”

“It’s not my concern anymore,” Madeline shrugged. “I won’t be living there anymore.”

Claudia snuck a peek at her sister. She couldn’t tell how Madeline was feeling about the situation. Was she sad? Angry? Scared? It was impossible to get a read on her. Madeline had always been strong and brave, but she could be notoriously difficult to read at times. Come to think of it, that was something Madeline and Scott had in common.

“What are you staring at?” Madeline asked, her eyes still on the road.

“I like you in that t-shirt,” Claudia said.

“Pfft,” Madeline scoffed. “I’m wearing cartoon sloths. I look frumpy.”

“No. You look...you look like Madeline. The Madeline I remember from years ago,” Claudia tried to explain. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you wearing anything other than designer clothes. You look...human. Approachable. I like it.”

Madeline’s expensive clothes had rubbed Claudia the wrong way many times over the years. She had chalked it up to envy, because she could never in a million years afford her sister’s stylish wardrobe. But maybe there was more to it than that.

The designer clothes had served as a shield, Claudia realized. They were Madeline’s armor, along with her pricey handbags, fabulous shoes and perfectly-applied makeup. They were one of the ways in which Madeline kept people at arm’s length. Now, clad in the ridiculous sloth t-shirt, it seemed like Madeine had finally let her guard down.

Or maybe it was all in Claudia’s head. It was hard to say.

“Now where am I going?” Madeline asked as they approached an intersection.

“Keep driving straight. Pull over at the bungalow up there,” Claudia instructed, pointing.

They pulled up in front of a well-kept, modest home with a beautifully landscaped front yard. Claudia felt her breath catch in her throat when she saw that Scott’s truck was parked in the driveway. She stared out the window, unmoving.

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