Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse by Maddie Day

Author:Maddie Day [Day, Maddie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2019-08-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

We still weren’t as swamped today as yesterday. Maybe people were starting to travel elsewhere for the holidays. Or maybe they were avoiding a place that might have been selling very bad chocolate.

Three local businessmen lingered talking over their meals. I refilled their coffees for the third time and had turned my back when my ears perked up.

“Howard O’Neill?” one said. “He was thick as thieves with the dead guy. I heard O’Neill’s trying to pick up a new investment property.”

“I wouldn’t do business with him. Greenberg was a crook and so isn’t O’Neill,” one of his breakfast companions said.

I casually turned back and slowly headed for the table beyond them.

The third man made a tsking noise. “It’s a crying shame. A teacher, of all people.” He wagged his head.

The crying shame was that kind of malicious gossip, that kind of guilt by association. Poor Howard. We had to clear his name, and fast. Fuming in silence, I headed back to make another pot of coffee.

Buck consumed his gargantuan breakfast and departed. Our omelet special was popular with those who did come in. There was more buzz about Jed’s death, but since it hadn’t publicly been deemed murder, it was a quiet buzz. I didn’t pick up any more slurs on Howard’s character, thank goodness.

Danna headed into my apartment to let Cocoa out at around eight. She said she was going to spend a few minutes playing with him after he did his business.

“That’s fine,” I said. “And thanks.”

While she was on puppy duty, Abe came in, holding a folded newspaper. He made a beeline for the grill and gave me a quick hug. I was working, so I had to tamp down the rush I always got from touching him, but I did hang on slightly longer than I should have.

He smiled down at me and tucked a stray curl behind my ear. “Thanks for taking Cocoa. Dad texted me from the concert last night.”

“It’s working out okay. Birdy’s a little freaked, but it’s only for another day. Danna’s with Cocoa right now.”

“You can spare her?” He glanced around the restaurant.

“We’re not overly busy, as you can see.” The gossiping men had finally left, too. I decided not to mention to Abe what they’d said. He had enough on his plate.

“I’d offer to help, but I have to be at work by nine. At least it’s my last day until next week. I managed to stay off the emergency call list for once.”

“Good.” I smiled at him. Nobody should have to work on Christmas, but obviously a lot of people did, and electrical line workers were among them. “We’re fine, at least so far.”

“So you know Dad’s lawyer got him sprung.”

“Yes, he told me last night. And Buck told me they’re doing the autopsy on Jed this morning.” I flipped three pancakes and turned a couple of sausages.

“Paper declares it an accidental death.” Abe unfolded the paper to show me the headline on the Brown County Democrat.

I peered at it.

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