Foreword Fraud: A Shelf Indulgence Cozy Mystery by S.E. Babin

Author:S.E. Babin [Babin, S.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-06-22T16:00:00+00:00

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"Harper, what's a Shirley Temple?" I asked my assistant. I was so glad to have her back. Sleeping in for another hour this morning was the best thing to happen to me in weeks.

She snorted and paused in her paperwork. "It's a non-alcoholic drink. Why?"

I laughed out loud. Mac had bamboozled me. "I went to a bar a few nights ago and didn't know what to order. Mac gave me one and told me if anyone asked what it was to say it was a vodka and cranberry."

A dimple peeked out from her cheeked as she grinned at me. "That's honestly wholesome, Dakota. Mac's good people."

"Yeah," I agreed. "He sure is. It tasted good, too." I suspected the drink had no alcohol in it before I'd even left the bar. I couldn't taste anything inside of it and felt no different than when I walked in. Good thing, too. Sid's words had lifted the hair right off the back of my neck and I hadn't been able to sleep since.

She knew something. How much I didn't know, but she was hiding something. Hardy and I hadn't seen each other since he'd helped me put up the tree, and while I planned to go to him as soon as I got out of the bar, Sid's chilling last words gave me pause. I couldn't help but feel like she was watching me. Or someone was. If I went to the police, I'd be a target. Or maybe that's just what she wanted me to think.

Regardless, something was rotten in Denmark. Lindsay showing up with a huge bag of money, Sid and Chloe here looking for something she supposedly hid, and Cole's argument leading up to her death all made me feel like there was something much more sinister at play here.

I knew I needed to go. Not going would mean withholding evidence from an investigation and that was a crime. I couldn't hold off much longer.

Cole had dropped off the face of the planet since his release on bail. I checked my cell daily but there were no calls or texts from him. I wanted to reach out to him but I wasn't sure if he'd welcome it. His last words were a plea for my help and being seen with him could jeopardize him.

I scrubbed a hand over my face and let out a sigh.

Poppy just then came over and hopped up on the register area.

"Hey, Poppy."

She butted me with her head and looked to the romance section. I scratched her behind the ears. She did it again and once again looked over to that section. I stilled and watched her. Poppy and I locked eyes just before she hopped down and walked away. She stopped before she was out of sight and looked back at me, as if asking me to follow.

Harper watched Poppy for a moment. "She's acting strange, isn't she?"

"She is." I walked out from behind the register. Poppy had good instincts. If she was asking me to follow her, I'd entertain her.

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