Chilled in Chattanooga (A Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Book 4) by Deborah Malone Read Free Book Online Page B

sign my cast?”
    “Sure.” She handed me a Sharpie the nurses had provided. Nana’s doctor came in and explained her care. Keeping her arm elevated was going to be a challenge. She possessed more energy than Dee Dee and me together. I eyed her laughing and joking with the nurses, but I wondered how she’d feel after the pain medicine wore off.
    “She’s eating up the attention isn’t she?” Dee Dee pulled out a pack of peanut butter crackers and offered them to me.
    “Yep, she’s a ham for sure. I’m just concerned when the drugs wear off she’s going to be in for a rude awakening.” I grasped the offered snack and quickly ate one of the crackers.
    “Yeah, we need to keep her on a four hour schedule so that won’t happen. I guess we’d better get her back to the hotel and elevate that arm. The doc says it’ll keep the swelling down.” She grabbed the crackers from my hand and stuffed one in her mouth.
    “Hey, get your own. Don’t you have something else you can eat in that suitcase of yours?”
    She rummaged around and brought out a package of pretzels. “Here, you can have these. And don’t make fun of my purse. How many times have I come to the rescue when you needed something?”
    I feigned contrition. “Touché. Sorry for making fun of it.” My phone rang, jarring my nerves. Dee Dee said she’d get Nana ready to go while I talked on the phone. I didn’t recognize the number.
    “Hello.”
    “Ms. Beaumont? Trixie?” The familiar voice came through loud and clear.
    “Hello, Detective Sams. Is there something I can do for you?” My stomach churned like an old timey washing machine.
    “Yes, I need to talk with you tonight. Some things have turned up changing the direction of this case quite a bit. Could you come down to the precinct now?”
    I told her about Nana’s fall. “Let me take her back to the hotel first.” Once again, I was glad Dee Dee had tagged along to help with Nana. Lord knows I needed all the help I could get. I offered a quick prayer. Thank you, God, for good friends.

CHAPTER TWELVE

    I left Nana in Dee Dee’s care while I went to see what Detective Sams wanted. During the drive downtown my thoughts swirled like the leaves in a whirlwind. Being unfamiliar with the streets, I circled around twice before I turned on the right road. The station was located at the bottom of The Bluff, so it didn’t take but a few minutes to arrive.
    The station was small with sparse furnishings. I assumed it was a satellite to a bigger facility. A young lady in uniform sat behind a battered desk talking on a two-way radio giving instructions to someone on the other end. She offered me a genuine smile.
    “Hi, I’m Trixie Beaumont, and I’m here to see Detective Sams,” I said when she was finished.
    A look of sympathy quickly replaced her smile.
    “Detective Sams is expecting you.” She jumped up from her chair and opened the office door, stuck her head in and announced my arrival. The detective indicated for me to enter. My heart rate quickened as I entered her sanctuary.
    “What did you call me in for, Detective?” I noticed Sergeant Gary Sargent sitting in front of a desk that took up most of the room.
    “I’m afraid it’s not good news.” Detective Sams pointed toward a chair. “Would you take a seat please?”
    Grateful for the offer, I sat down before I fell down. The air crackled with tension while I waited for her to tell me the fateful news.
    “Please tell me why I’m here.”
    “Annie’s death is officially a murder.”
    Duh, that was a no-brainer. She didn’t jump into the freezer herself .
    She placed her arms on the desk-top and leaned in. “We know Annie was poisoned and we know it was in her tea, we just haven’t narrowed it down to the particular poison. But that will come out in due time.”
    “Why are you telling me all of this?”
    “It seems she had a liking for a very unusual tea. One she special ordered.” The detective gave another pregnant pause.