The Harmony Inn Homicide by Rachel Beattie

Author:Rachel Beattie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cozy mystery, small town murder mystery, whodunnit, cozy romance, amateur sleuth
Publisher: Rachel Beattie
Published: 2024-06-25T00:00:00+00:00

“HI, JIM. GOOD TO SEE you.”

Chris strolls into the room already on first-name terms with Chief Trainor and I fight the urge to stare.

“Christine! I thought that was you.” Chief Trainor straightens and sucks in his gut a little, forcing his features into the kind of smile he’s never bothered using around me. I sour and Rob notices, shooting me a questioning look, but I wave him off.

“Chief Trainor is taking statements,” I say. “He wanted to start with you two, as you found - you were...”

“I gather you were both first on the scene.” Chief Trainor lays a comforting hand on Hannah’s shoulder. “And Ms. Kincaid has told me everything she remembers.”

“Do you want to stay here, Hannah?” I ask, thinking that I’ve never seen her look so frail before. “Why don’t you come down to the kitchen with me and we’ll see if we can persuade Anton to fix us something to eat.”

“Can’t let you do that, I’m afraid!” Chief Trainor booms. He taps his notebook with the nib of his pen. “Haven’t questioned him yet.” His eyes narrow as he looks at me. “Or you.”

“We’ll stay here, then.” I fold my arms and meet Trainor’s gaze. I know he’s not my biggest fan, and after the stories I’ve heard from Kate about what he’s like to work with - not to mention witnessing his approach to crime-solving the last few times we’ve been forced to interact - I can say the feeling is mutual.

“Not so fast.” Trainor looks like he’s doing a particularly complicated math problem in his head. “You stay.” He points me to a chair next to Hannah, then turns to Rob and Chris. “We’ll go back to the - uh - other room.” He raises his eyebrows and I guess that it’s taken all of his energy not to call Hannah Kincaid’s bedroom a crime scene. “I need to make some observations, anyway.”

I stifle a laugh, turning it vaguely into a cough, and sit down next to Hannah, who looks so pale and frail, so unlike her usual self, that I reach for her hand. We sit in silence until the other three leave us, closing the door behind them with a sharp click.

“Don’t worry,” I promise her, with more confidence than I feel. “Chief Trainor will get to the bottom of this.”

“I hope so.” Hannah sighs, tiredly, then reaches into the pocket of her robe for her handkerchief. Pulling it out brings something else along with it and something sparkling and silver drops onto the floor. I instinctively reach for it.

“Oh, is that yours, dear?” Hannah blows her nose, then reaches back into her pocket. “Here’s the other one.” She hands me the second of my two missing earrings. “I found them on the floor in my room of all places!” She shakes her head. “Can’t imagine what they were doing there. Anyway, I thought I recognized them. I’m glad to be able to return them.” Her voice wobbles and I sense another wave of tears coming.

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