The Bargain Blackmail: A Thrift Shop Cozy Mystery (Secondhand Sleuth Mysteries Book 7) by Mel Morgan

Author:Mel Morgan [Morgan, Mel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stonefire Press
Published: 2022-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

“NO,” I SAID to the three fuzzy faces in front of me.

Six ears twitched impatiently, and six beady eyes watched my wrapping paper.

I wasn’t about to let them get the best of me. This situation ended here. I clasped three rolls of red and green stuff under one arm and made my way back to the staircase down from the attic.

They followed me. It’s not like I could close myself in the attic, and them on the second floor. The collapsible stairs just didn’t work that way.

Somewhere else to hide then. I looked at the three doors in the upstairs hallway. A coil of ribbon trailed out from the bundle I carried, and I knew before it happened that I was in trouble.

One paw, then two, then what felt like fifty came after the loose ends I held.

I ran for it. Guests occupied these three rooms this week, and none were available for fleeing into. So I kept going to the downstairs hall, and around to Aunt Daphne’s old bedroom. I could be alone there. I’d still left it empty—well, full of old stuff, but no one slept in there. Not since my aunt had passed. It was too personal. And just too soon, for me at least. I was in no hurry. I liked the attic. But for now, I could use the bed.

I shut the door tightly behind me and turned on the light switch. Then I set about getting my gifts ready. I rolled out the paper, measured what I needed…

“Crap,” I said. “Christmas cookie crap.”

I’d forgotten the scissors.

And the tape, too, now that I thought about it. That meant slipping back out the door, keeping all three furry pests outside, and making my way back in again.

They were quicker than me. The second I opened it, two darted in, while the third created a diversion. That’s what it seemed like at least. “I’m glad you’re working together,” I told Rex as he strutted last through the doorway. In a flash, twelve feet were on top of the paper, shredding it and bouncing with joy.

I sighed. “I think I’ll get gift bags,” I said. “You can have it.” and I left them two there festivities at least someone was having a good time for Christmas.

I was trying to be festive, but it was getting difficult. I was becoming increasingly worried about my uncle. I needed to get back to it. Time to work more on who in the world killed Al Anderson, and how to prove it wasn’t my uncle.

I called up Freddie. “Hey. I finished the cookies.” That was a bit of a stretch, but not too big. They were done, it just hadn’t been me to do most of it.

“It’s cool,” she said. “Thanks, Jess. I knew I could count on you. My mom’s just so busy.”

“I know. And that’s part of why I wanted to call you. I want to make sure you both will come for Christmas.”

“What, like to dinner? Of course,” Freddie answered.

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.