A Bookshop to Die For (A Wonderland Books Cozy Mystery Book 1) by M.P. Black

Author:M.P. Black [Black, M.P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9788794457064
Publisher: MP Black Media
Published: 2023-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 31

“If Vince dumped Andrea,” Alice was explaining to Becca as the owner of the diner poured her another glass of ice tea at the counter, “then that might give her a motive for murder. But what about Sally and Harriet, his previous lovers?”

“Sally was a graduate student who stayed in Blithedale for a summer,” Becca said. “Harriet moved across country with her husband. Both are long gone.”

“What if one of them came back?”

Becca shrugged. “No one’s seen either since they left. Why come back and take revenge on Vince now?”

“Good point. Andrea seems the most likely suspect.” Alice sighed. “Then why did I come away from talking to Susan with the feeling that she was the guilty one?”

“Grief makes people say and do strange things.”

“No, it was more than that, Becca. It was a sore point.”

The walk back to Main Street had given Alice plenty of time to think it over. Once she got over the shock of being expelled, she shoved aside her fear that she’d offended Susan. She didn’t believe it. Susan had been frank and unflappable before that. There must be a big reason for her touchiness.

The dinner crowd had kept Becca busy, and Alice had helped her serve customers. Now things were quieting down and Alice felt her own hunger gnaw at her. She’d messaged Ona, asking if she wanted to join her for dinner at the What the Dickens, and every now and then she checked her phone to see if her new friend had responded. Sometimes making a new friend was as nerve-racking as dating.

Meanwhile, she sat at the end of the diner counter, chatting with Becca about her visit to Susan’s.

“The sports car, espresso machine, hot tub,” Alice said, counting off the items on her fingers. “If Vince and Susan had saved their money and paid for them—or they’d taken out bad loans to do it—then Susan wouldn’t have gotten so defensive. But she was acting as if I’d accused her of doing something wrong.”

Becca looked thoughtful. “I did always wonder where Vince got the money to buy those things.”

“Unless Susan bought them.”

Becca shook her head. “No. Susan doesn’t have the money—or the interest.”

Alice remembered what Susan had said about the espresso machine and preferring instant coffee. “She’d be happy with less, wouldn’t she?”

“That’s right. But Vince was the kind of guy who always had big plans. Big dreams.”

“Did he do well as a contractor?”

“He did all right. It’s not like we have a lot to choose from here in Blithedale. So he never lacked work. Though he did go through a rough patch some years ago—after an accident.”

“What accident?”

“A cabin he worked on collapsed. It was in the local news. There were accusations of shoddy work, and it put some people off hiring Vince for a while. But time passed, and people forgot.”

“What did people forget?” someone said behind Alice, and she turned on her stool and saw Ona come to the counter. Alice beamed. She was thrilled to see Ona—a giddy tickle rose from her stomach into her chest, like champagne bubbles.

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