Death by Tea by Alex Erickson Read Free Book Online

isn’t my fault!”
    He glanced at me, tried on a smile that failed miserably, and then started the car.
    We rode in silence yet again, which wasn’t all that bad of a thing. It gave me time to think. I wasn’t sure how I could prove my innocence sitting at home, doing nothing. My fingerprints were on the murder weapon and I’d been caught sneaking out of my house like an idiot, thanks to my nosy neighbor. Even if I told the police why I went to Death by Coffee, I had a feeling they wouldn’t believe me. My reasoning sounded lame, even to me.
    I had an intense desire to solve the case, to prove my own innocence. I knew the police would do their best to make sure the right person was apprehended—or at least, most of them would. Buchannan had it in for me, meaning he would do everything in his power to make sure I ended up arrested for the murder. It would mean he’d be looking in all of the wrong places while a murderer was running loose.
    I glanced at Paul, saw his contemplative frown, and realized that telling him my plan to poke around in the case would only end up with me behind bars or handcuffed to my bed.
    I cleared my throat, suddenly embarrassed at where that thought had led me, and looked out the window as we pulled into my driveway. Paul stopped the cruiser beside my car but made no move to shut off the engine. He didn’t even look my way, outside a quick glance. He bit his lip and then pointedly looked away. I could only imagine how we looked to Eleanor, who was inevitably watching, even now.
    â€œDo you want to come in?” I asked. Maybe if I could talk to him alone, I could convince him I had nothing to do with this. I could show him Cardboard Dad and make him understand.
    Then again, with the way my luck was going, he was just as likely to arrest me for stealing the darn thing. It might have been in my store, but it belonged to Rita.
    â€œNo,” Paul said after a moment. “I best not.”
    â€œWhat about later? If there’s a killer out there, I could use the company, just in case he has it in for me.” I winced at how pathetic that sounded.
    Paul shook his head. “I need to focus on the job. There’s still a lot to do. You’ll be fine.”
    My heart sank. “Okay.” There was no talking my way out of this one, not as long as everyone assumed I knew more than I was letting on. “Then I’ll see you sometime soon?”
    â€œSure.”
    I opened the car door and started to slide out. Paul’s hand landed on my wrist and I just about threw myself into his arms. The worried look on his face was the only thing that stopped me.
    â€œBe careful,” he said before letting me go. “I really hope you had nothing to do with this.”
    That last bit stung. Where was the loyalty? Where was the innocent until proven guilty? It felt as if he’d punched me in the gut.
    I got the rest of the way out of his car and then slammed the door a little harder than necessary. I caught Paul’s wince before he turned and backed out of my driveway. I felt betrayed, horribly so. I mean, we’d gone on a date! Sure, it had been one measly date that hadn’t yet developed into anything more than a few sweaty dreams, but that didn’t mean he had the right to turn on me so easily. I really thought we could have had something.
    As Paul’s car vanished down the street, I turned away, determined to get to the bottom of this murder and prove my innocence, not only to Paul but to everyone who even considered for an instant that I might have killed David Smith. I would leave no stone unturned, wouldn’t sleep until I found the true killer!
    And I would start, just as soon as I showered.

5
    Smelling of flowery soap and shampoo, and with legs that didn’t feel like sandpaper as they rubbed against each other, I headed for Death by Coffee. I felt rejuvenated, alive, but the feeling was quickly dashed when I saw my poor