Death of a Dapper Snowman by Angela Pepper Read Free Book Online

paperwork. It looked like a stack of waybills and invoices, which made me think of financial matters.
    “Oh,” I said with a sympathetic note. “Is everything okay with the business?”
    “Of course,” he snapped. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
    “No reason.” I picked up my shopping bag and tucked it into my purse along with my wallet. “See you around,” I said with a cheery smile.
    He forced his thin lips into a smile. “Good to see you again, Stormy.”
    “You, too,” I said as I backed away.
    He gave me a pleasant-enough wave, and turned to busy himself with something on the computer.
    I walked past the racks of costumes and formalwear toward the door, still thinking about the shop owner’s empty ring finger. A top hat was nothing to kill someone over. Stealing away someone’s wife, however, was another story. I made a mental note to ask around about this restructuring Mr. Jenkins was having shoved down his throat .
    Outside on the sidewalk, it was almost bright enough for sunglasses, with the sun turning the recent snowfall into sparkling diamonds.
    Diamonds?
    That gave me an idea.

Chapter 8
 
    For the next hour , I walked up and down the main shopping avenues of Misty Falls.
    Word would soon spread about the strange discovery of the body in the snowman, so I only had that afternoon to gather information about Mr. Michaels before people became more guarded. Whatever I found out, I planned to pass along to the police. Both Tony and Peggy seemed like they could use the help.
    I told myself I was just being a good citizen, doing my duty to help dispense justice. But as I went from shop to shop, I got more and more energized.
    While I didn’t miss the long hours and stress of my former life, I did miss the excitement, and the challenge of the puzzle. Mr. Michaels had been shoplifting at a number of places, for years. I felt like I was onto something.
    I was practically beaming as I entered the jewelry store on the corner, Ruby’s Treasure Trove.
    There were two people in there, behind the counter. A young woman who looked like she ought to be in high school was polishing the glass display cabinets. She glanced up at me shyly then scurried away, into the back room.
    “Don’t mind the new girl,” said the other woman, the store’s owner. “She’s as skittish as a newborn colt born on a frosty day.”
    “Ruby Sparkes!” I exclaimed.
    “You remember me!”
    “Of course I do. Who could forget the most fun lady in all of Misty Falls?”
    Ruby Sparkes tipped back her head and let out a big laugh, not denying my compliment. Ruby was an energetic woman of sixty-something, with curly hair colored a purple-red shade between auburn and grape soda. She had a friendly voice, a warm smile, and the kind of bosom you wanted to have your face crushed into as a kid if you were feeling blue. She always wore purple, unless she wore leopard print. It was leopard print today—a blouse paired with purple slacks.
    Ruby came out from behind the counter with her arms held wide. “Little Stormy! You’ve become such an elegant young woman.”
    I looked down at my boring ski jacket, casual jeans, and old boots.
    “Me? Elegant? Oh, Ruby, you’re such a charmer. I have so much to learn from— oof .”
    She grabbed me in a hug and pulled my face down to the top of her bosom. Her hug felt every bit as good as it had when I was a kid. It was a shame my father had no interest in older women, or Ruby might have had a bigger role in my life.
    “I like your short hair. It’s so spunky. Let me look at you.”
    From her bosom, I said, “You’ll have to let me go first.”
    With a burst of laughter that would fill any room with joy, she released me and took a good look at me, from head to toe.
    “I haven’t seen you since your grand re-opening. I popped in and out before we got to talk. I hope you got to slow down and eat some of those mini cupcakes I brought. You’re too thin, honey.”
    “Yes, I ate a few,” I said, which