a Laugh-out-loud Cozy Mystery by Kirsten Weiss

Author:Kirsten Weiss [weiss, kirsten]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cozy mystery, funny, amateur detective, female sleuth, woman detective, murder, killing, crime, California, B&B
Publisher: misterio press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The sun beat through the pines, and a rivulet of sweat trickled down my back, dampening my blue peasant top. Thinking hard, I walked Bailey down the looping roads to Wits' End.

I tightened my grip on his leash. It would be easy to write the mystery woman off as a batty old lady. But how had she known I'd spoken with Davin and Cherie? And she'd implied — I thought — that they were somehow connected to Tanner's murder. Otherwise, why shouldn't I have talked with them?

Unless she was using reverse psychology to get me to talk to them again. They’d been partners with Tanner. What did they know? I needed to talk to them again, but next time, I’d be careful. Keep it public.

We turned down Grizzly Court. Above the pines, sunlight glinted, blinding, off the silvery UFO crashed into the gabled roof of Wits’ End. Bailey strained at his leash, and we jogged the last hundred yards home.

I unhooked the beagle’s leash, and he trotted around the corner of the Victorian. I never worried about Bailey running into the street. Gran had trained the dog to stay in the yard.

Inside the B&B, Dixie pushed a vacuum cleaner around the foyer rug. She yawned, face pale.

“I can do that later,” I shouted over the roar.

She turned off the vacuum and planted one fist on the hip of her khaki shorts. Her white tee was oversized with a high V-neck, and looked like it might be a man’s. “What?”

“I said, I can do that later.”

She shrugged. “I'm almost done anyway.”

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

Careful not to meet my gaze, she unplugged the vacuum and wound the cord around its hook. “Fine. In fact, I was wondering if I could pick up some extra hours.”

Huzzah! Now I wouldn’t have to ask her for a favor while I went to the lake with Arsen. But if I looked desperate, she’d just find a way to take advantage later. I rubbed my chin. “I don’t know…”

“You must need me around for something.”

“I suppose you can today,” I said, feigning reluctance. “The next guests aren't supposed to arrive until four, but it would be handy to have you here in case they arrive early.”

“I’ll do it.” She glanced toward the ceiling. “By the way, that FBI agent left.”

“You mean, she checked out?” I asked, holding my breath. Had she already solved the case?

“No, I mean she left for the day. She was wearing hiking clothes.”

Rats. “You don't have to report guests' comings and goings.”

She gave me a look. “Right. Oh, and she's dressed in all black, like she's paramilitary or something.”

“Maybe she's in mourning.”

“This isn't the Victorian era.”

“Mr. Sorenson thought she might be a Man in Black.”

Dixie snorted. “He would.”

“I thought he was nice.”

“Nice but gullible. He told me their last three UFO-hunting trips were near military bases.”

“And?”

She rolled her eyes. “And everyone knows the strange lights over bases are military tests. The whole Men in Black shtick is a misinformation campaign by the government.

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