Creamed at the Coffee Cabana: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Constance Barker Read Free Book Online

brought up the issue of bail for Mike.
     
    “Have the police said how much the bail might be? Maybe we could pitch in and help get him out.”
     
    Meghan took a small bite of mashed potatoes. “We won’t know until he sees a judge tomorrow morning. However, I don’t want you ladies handing over your hard-earned money. I appreciate the offer though.”
     
    Meghan was subdued and who would blame her. But what caught my attention was her lack of defending Mike. I would have thought she’d want to talk about how crazy the situation was. That there was no way her husband could kill or harm anyone. But she didn’t. I was beginning to wonder if she believed her husband had killed Fannie.
     
    I was hesitant to ask, but I finally did. “Meghan, do you have any clue what kind of evidence they have against Mike?”
     
    Hildie shot me a disapproving look, Essie sat stuffing her face full of green beans, and Jules kicked me ever so lightly under the table.
     
    Meghan looked up from her plate. “I suppose it has something to do with that phone call.”
     
    “Do you know who Mike was calling?”
    Jules hit me a little harder in my shin, Hildie looked as though she might fly across the table, and Essie continued to shovel it in.
     
    Meghan dabbed her mouth with her napkin and laid it on the table. “He said he was making a call to someone over in Sabina about lawn mower parts.”
     
    That didn’t make sense. Harvey said Mike was vague about his answers to police. Why would he be vague about lawn mower parts? Unless….duh! He was lying to Meghan.
     
    I was about to open my mouth and ask another question but the look on Hildie’s face meant certain death if I did, so I shut it. We ate the rest of the meal in silence. Afterwards Jules and I washed the dishes for Meghan as she, Hildie and Essie sat outside on the porch with their iced tea.
     
    “I’m going to have yellow and purple bruises on my leg tomorrow, thank you very much.”
     
    Jules handed me a wet plate to dry. “You’re being dramatic. I didn’t hit you that hard. Besides we came here to comfort Meghan not quiz her about her husband.”
     
    I knew she was right. “I know, I just can’t help myself. I want to know who killed Fannie in our shop and why. I have a feeling it has to do with that last edition of her paper she was putting out.”
     
    “I agree with you on that. Too bad we can’t see what was in it.”
     
    “Wait…Mildred knew her story would be in the paper. Maybe she knew some of the other stories as well.”
     
    “Wouldn’t hurt to ask,” Jules said as she emptied the dirty water in the sink.
     
    We said our goodbyes with hugs to Meghan and told her to please stay in touch and let us know if there was anything she needed. She nodded, her eyes still red from all the tears she must have shed earlier in the day.
     
    When we got in Essie’s golf cart, she announced we were headed to the ice cream shop in town. She had a hankering for a dip of chocolate chip cookie dough. I swear that woman could eat like a lumberjack, yet never gain a pound on her slender build.
     
    We all sat down at a table with our various dips of ice cream pleasure, discussing how we thought the evening went with Meghan.
     
    “I thought it went well except for the inquisition,” Hildie said.
     
    I took a bite of my mocha caramel. “I wasn’t that bad.”
     
    “We were there to support her Lily,” Hildie replied.
     
    I licked my spoon. “I’ve already gotten my licks from Jules. And a few are going to show yellow and blue in the morning.”
     
    My aunts looked at me as if I was nuts but I decided not to pursue that line of questioning. We heard the bell tinkle as another customer made his or her way into the shop. It was Eli. He was off duty so was wearing a nice pair of blue jeans along with a dark blue polo shirt that made his dark hair stand out. He waved at us as he made his way to the counter to place his order. When he was done and heading to