Death among the Roses: a Melanie Hart Mystery (Melanie Hart Cozy Mysteries Book 1) by Anna Drake Read Free Book Online Page B

He’s also, by the way, one very nice guy.”
    Larkin gazed at me steadily. “That's my problem, then. I have bad timing. I’m never around when you need me.”
    I swallowed. “Whatever.”
    I sometimes suspected Larkin would like us to be much closer than we were. But as far as I was concerned, it was a suggestion doomed to failure. A news reporter and a sheriff’s deputy were like fire and ice — an impossible mix. Besides, Larkin had always been something of a bad boy when it came to women. And if rumors were true, he still was one.
    A slow smile spread across Larkin’s face. “Come on.” He motioned to his car. “Let’s get ourselves in out of this wind.”
    I didn’t argue. Last night's storm had ushered in a cold front. The temperature difference between yesterday and today had to be at least thirty degrees.
    Larkin swung the car door open. I scurried onto the passenger seat. After he’d closed the door, he crossed in front to the driver’s side. Finally, he slid behind the steering wheel and asked, “So what can I do for you this time?”
    I shrugged. “I’m chasing rumors.”
    “Not about the murder, I hope. ’Cause I got to tell you, I’m not in the loop. The Cloverton Police are handling the case. They’re not likely to share what they know with any of us on the sheriff’s payroll. Besides even if I possessed facts from their investigation, you’d get nothing out of me. It’s police business.”
    “I’m not after information on the murder. At least not directly. I can see how you’d be protective of information like that. I’ve just heard this odd comment. I thought maybe you’d caught a reference or two on the subject around town.”
    As a reporter I'd quickly learned that cops were better at scooping up and passing along stray stories than little old ladies armed with knitting needles.
    Larkin blinked. “Odd comment?”
    “Yeah. It was something Bella Gravits said.”
    Larkin folded his arms and looked at me expectantly. He didn’t like Bella much, although I had no idea why she was in disfavor with him.
    “So what rumor are you pursuing?"
    “I had dinner at her restaurant last night, and she made a point of teasing a fellow about his behavior at Gary's bachelor party.”
    “Which guy?"
    "His name is Tony Stepich. He was Gary's best man."
    “So why were you having dinner with him?”
    “It was Devon’s idea.”
    “He’s the fellow who wrapped himself around you in the parking lot, right?”
    “Yes.”
    Larkin frowned. “So what were you three up to?”
    What was with this guy? He sounded just like Dad. “Nothing much. We were just being neighborly. I wanted to thank Devon for his good deed in the parking lot and the two of us thought Stepich, being on his own here also, might like to tag along.”
    “So you were only being thoughtful? I got that right?”
    “Listen, what we were doing there doesn’t matter. What matters is that Bella took one look at Stepich and remembered him from Gary’s bachelor party.”
    “So?”
    “So don’t you think he must have done something rather spectacular to be remembered by Bella like that?”
    “And you think his behavior might tie in with why Gary was murdered?”
    I squirmed under the weight of Larkin’s penetrating stare. “I don’t know, maybe. But that doesn’t mean I’m looking for information on Gary’s death. I just wondered what had happened and if you knew. I thought I might be able to help Cordelia if something ever surfaced about the event. That’s all. She’s been through enough, If I can shield her from anymore trauma, I feel duty bound to try.”
    Larkin sighed. “As much as I might dislike the woman, the fact is Bella’s excellent at what she does. Remembering customers is part of her job description. Trust me, if something is important to the health of her restaurant, you can bet she’s going to remember it. You’ve gotta understand. Bella would sell her soul for a nickel. And that son of hers is worse