A Frothy Fiasco: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 3) by Constance Barker Read Free Book Online Page A

talk to you when I get home tonight.”
    “Okay, Eli. Don’t forget to eat something.”
    Trevor was waiting patiently at the counter with Brad, slurping the remains of the smoothie through his straw.
    “What’s up, chief?” I asked him with a smile. I knew he was going through a lot, trying to reconnect with his friends after his mother was sent to prison for murder.
    Trevor looked around sheepishly, like he didn’t want anyone else to hear what he had to say.
    “Hildie, keep an eye on Brad for us, will ya? Give him a cookie. Trevor, let’s go in the back.”
    We walked just inside the doorway to the back room. I leaned on the big refrigerator on one side, and the 16-year-old boy leaned on the shelves of coffee boxes on the other side. I folded my arms and waited.
    “Miss Parker…” It took a moment and all of his courage for him to look me in the eye. “I…I know that all of you grownups think that us kids are stealing all of this stuff, and…” He swallowed hard and his eyes got a bit misty. “…and I saw all the red lines around my picture on Miss Essie’s board, so I guess I’m the biggest suspect of all. The older kids all say I’m a criminal like my mom…”
    He fought bravely to hold back a tear, and so did I. I waited for him to take a couple of breaths and resisted the urge to put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
    “…but the younger kids and the kids my age know better because we’re always together when everything happens. Anyway, I want you to know that it’s not me or any of the kids. At least, not the ones I know. My dad is having a really hard time since his phone was taken cuz all of his contacts and landscaping appointments were on it. And it’s been really hard for him with mom gone anyway, so I wouldn’t do anything to make it even harder.”
    I put my hand on his shoulder and rubbed the back of his neck. “Thank you for telling me this, Trevor. I know it couldn’t have been easy.”
    “And Miss Parker,” he said with a smile returning to his face, “we want to find out who’s doing it just as much as everybody else, so we’ve formed a posse.”
    “A posse!”
    “Yes, ma’am. All of the kids have little note pads, and we’re keeping track of times and places and license plates when we see people coming and going. Brad saw Mr. Georgetti coming out of Miss Jules’ house, and I’m keeping and eye on…” He paused.
    “Toe,” I said. “That’s fine. If he’s doing it, we need to know. Just remember, a good detective always tries to prove that his main suspect is not guilty, because that’s the only way to do a full and fair investigation. And don’t let any of the kids get close to any possible crimes. Just observe from a distance, and then collect all the data and report to me every day or two. So…there are a lot of adults around here. Why did you decide to talk to me, Trevor?”
    “Well, because you were always nice to us. You saved a place for us to watch the parade in front of your shop, and you brought us dinner when the police arrested dad by mistake when everybody else was avoiding us. Besides, everybody knows that you’re the nicest lady in town, Miss Parker.”
    Flattery will get you everywhere, Trevor. He had always been a sweet, well-behaved kid. I knew a hug would embarrass the young man, who was almost as big as me, so I patted his back and went back behind the counter. Trevor went back to sit by Brad. I really hoped he was telling the truth.
    Two kids, breathing hard from their bike ride and still in outdoor mode, strode through the front door and up to the counter. It was Brad’s older siblings. Corey was 15, a year younger than Trevor, and Josie just turned 12, that magical age when you become a “grown up kid” who can rent a bike.
    “Did you hear what happened?” Josie said in an outdoor voice that everyone in the place could hear. Every head turned toward her. “Junie Thatcher was waiting in line for an ice cream cone in front of the