Berry the Evidence by Peg Cochran

Author:Peg Cochran
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cocaine, small town, gambling, blackmail, cats and dogs, bookstore, cranberry farm, lake michigan, food mystery, cooking mystery
Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing

Chapter 12

Monica woke up Friday morning feeling surprisingly energetic. Hercule lifted his head from his dog bed when he heard her feet hit the floor, but when he saw she was headed toward the bathroom, he let it drop back down again.

Mittens was waiting outside the bathroom door when Monica came out wrapped in her terry-cloth robe. She meowed loudly and brushed up against Monica, her tail swishing back and forth, as Monica slipped on a pair of jeans and a warm sweater. A peek outside the window showed her that the day was clear with a bright blue sky. The bare branches of the tree behind the house swayed slightly in what must be a brisk wind.

When Monica got downstairs, there was a note from Greg propped up against the salt and pepper shakers on the kitchen table saying he had already left for the bookstore. With the opening of the second floor and the new café only days away now, he was busier than ever.

Monica made a cup of tea and ate a quick breakfast before leashing up Hercule for his morning walk.

It felt good to stretch her legs, and before she realized it she’d passed the cranberry bogs, the farm kitchen and was nearly to the maintenance shed where Jeff kept the farm equipment. Hercule pulled her toward the open door of the shed and Monica stuck her head in. Jeff was working on one of the water reels, which were affectionately known as egg beaters to cranberry growers. They were used to beat the berries off the vines during the harvest.

Jeff was sitting on the floor. His good hand was covered in grease and he had various bits and pieces of machinery spread out around him.

He smiled when he saw Monica. “Good morning.”

Hercule ran to him, his tail wagging. He put his paws on Jeff’s shoulders and began to vigorously lick his face.

“Okay, boy, okay,” Jeff said, laughing.

“Hercule!” Monica snapped her fingers and he turned to look at her, his head cocked to one side.

Jeff got to his feet and brushed off his overalls. He reached for a folded newspaper that was sitting on his workbench.

“Have you seen this?” He unfolded the paper and thumbed through the pages. He handed it to Monica and pointed to one of the articles.

The article was focused on Jax Johnson’s trial and there was a picture of Jax and his attorney, Kayla Moore, leaving the courthouse.

“That woman.” Jeff tapped the paper with a finger. “I saw her here at the farm one day. I don’t remember when exactly.”

“At the farm store?”

Jeff shook his head. “No.”

“What was she doing here then?”

Jeff shrugged. “I don’t know. It was rather odd. She was coming from the direction of the bogs. I thought perhaps she was lost and was looking for the store. I asked her if she needed help and she said no—she just wanted to see the bogs.” Jeff scratched his forehead, leaving a smudge of grease on it. “That’s not unusual. It’s happened before, but at this time of year there isn’t much to see.

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