Witch Hits the Beach_A Paranormal Witch Cozy Mystery by Ani Gonzalez

Author:Ani Gonzalez [Gonzalez, Ani]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ani Gonzalez
Published: 2019-08-11T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"SUICIDE CHOWDER," Mary-Louise said as they watched the paramedics drive away. "That's a first one for me."

They were standing by the hotel's side door. They day was sunny and bright, but the group's mood was somber.

"Are you sure it was intentional?" Sean asked.

Not that he didn't trust the Mystic Bay sheriff, but something about Leslie's misadventure made him suspicious.

Mary-Louise nodded. "We'll check the bloodwork and the chowder itself, but that's our current theory. She knew she was allergic, she was given a plain potato soup, but she reached for her table companion's chowder and ate the whole thing."

Sean remembered Leslie's sightless gaze during the speeches. Her nervous movements. The way her eyes had been riveted on Morgana's face as she stirred the soup.

Had she taken the soup, or had it been given to her?

"It would have been on her mind," Mary-Louise continued. "Apparently, she'd been calling the hotel, asking them to change the menu because some catastrophe or other was imminent."

Yes, he remembered Morgana mentioning that. Leslie had gone to see if they could change the crab to chicken.

"Viola sat next to her at the table," Sean noted. "Was it her chowder?"

"Unclear at this point."

But it seemed likely. Most attendees had finished the soup appetizer and were being served the crab cake entree, but a late arrival like Viola would have likely gotten a fresh soup.

Maybe their fragile-looking Ophelia wasn't so innocent after all.

Mary-Louise sighed. "Good thing Samira had an epinephrine injection handy."

"Yes, very lucky."

But luck may have had little to do with it. Samira had been suspiciously well-prepared. The old fortune-teller would probably say she'd seen it happen on her crystal ball or star chart or, something like that, but it still made one wonder.

"Well, we have to talk to the group," Mary-Louise said. "But, first, let's go back to the room so you can tell me what you saw."

They headed back to the conference room where the association had hosted its lunch. The yellow chairs and gingham tablecloths were incongruously cheerful, as the association members had left and the room was now occupied by stone-faced police officers, most belonging to neighboring counties. Mary-Louise had sent for reinforcements.

A few association members milled outside the back doors. One of them was Luanne, and he thought he saw Morgana standing behind her.

He couldn't blame them for being concerned. Leslie would probably recover, but this was the second mishap to strike the convention. Those ominous readings the fortune-tellers had gotten had been one-hundred percent correct.

"The association secretary did the introductions," he said. "They were very long."

He should ask Luanne if that was normal. The long introduction would have been a perfect way to distract the group.

"That's when the soup was served?" Mary-Louise asked.

"The waiters came from behind us and placed the soup on the table. It was clearly labeled as crab soup on the menu on Leslie's table."

He'd checked as soon as the paramedics took Leslie away. She had a menu next to her seat, stating "crab and corn chowder appetizer."

"And you said Leslie had tried to get the shellfish dishes changed?" Mary-Louise asked.

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