The Man In Seat 13B: Cozy Mystery Short Story 3 by Kathryn Mykel & P.C. James

Author:Kathryn Mykel & P.C. James [Mykel, Kathryn & James, P.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-26T16:00:00+00:00

“So, what’s the plan? I do love the hunt!” Nona said to Pauline, thirty minutes later, as they waited in line for the coach to pick them up again.

“Well, we can check the bus on the off chance the bags are stashed on board somewhere,” Pauline replied.

“Doubtful.” Nona frowned.

“Okay, we should split up. I will take the guide and you take the driver,” Pauline suggested.

“I always get the smelly ones,” Nona grumbled.

“Ladies.”

At the greeting, Nona and Pauline both looked up toward the familiar voice. To their surprise, it was the officer and detective from earlier who greeted them as they made their way onto the bus for the second time that day.

“The officer is in plain clothes . . .” Nona sneezed. “Undercover?” She whispered her question to Pauline as they made their way to the back of the coach, abandoning the initial plan.

“They must be in on it,” Pauline deduced and handed Nona a fresh handkerchief.

“But we still don’t know what ‘it’ is. I say we lie low until we get into the museum. If he’s in on it, he’s probably on to us too!” Nona blew her nose. “I’ll keep this one,” she said, holding up the hankie.

The two sleuths made their way in, blending into the middle of the pack of passengers. Inside, they had the perfect vantage point, huddled around a grouping of ancient relics on pedestal displays near the security detectors. Their position was strategic, so they would have a quick escape if things went sideways. The two women watched the police officer work the crowd with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

“The detective is nowhere to be seen,” Nona said, swiveling her head around, looking for him.

“He is up to something,” Pauline said. “Oh, do not look, he is coming this way.”

“Is that the bus driver, too?” Nona asked and then turned to Pauline, red-faced and with bulging eyes. “and what’s in the cop’s pocket?”

“Quick, do something,” Pauline snapped.

The museum’s alarms blared obnoxiously overhead. The crowd of museum patrons began murmuring and pointing. All eyes were on Nona, who was standing there with the ancient pre-Columbian relic in her hand.

“Well, that was something,” Pauline yelled with her hands behind her back.

From out of nowhere, the detective said, “Ladies, are you trying to steal this from the museum?” He plucked the ornate statue out of Nona’s hand and passed it to the security guard who approached.

The plainclothes officer and bus driver flanked Nona on both sides. “You’re going to have to come with me, ma’am” the officer said, grabbing her arm and ushering Nona towards the security detectors at the main entrance, followed by the bus driver, the detective and Pauline.

Just as the overhead alarm subsided, another volley of alarms rang out from behind them. Nona stopped and turned. Pauline stood behind them all with one of the ancient statues in her hands. She smiled and shrugged.

With his attention now diverted to Pauline, Nona grabbed at the police officer’s pocket and pulled out a large black velvet bag.

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