Diner Impossible (A Rose Strickland Mystery) by Terri L. Austin Read Free Book Online Page B

knocked Delia up and then killed her. But if that were true, surely he’d have known she wasn’t pregnant at the time of her death.
    I pulled the memory stick from the computer and laid it on the table.
    “What do you think?” Roxy asked. “Police Chief or other?”
    I chewed my lower lip, lost in thought. “If he did it, why not make it look like an accident? Surely he’s smart enough to figure that out.”
    She stood and stretched. “Doesn’t sound like a crime of passion. She was killed in bed, no signs of a struggle, no sign of a break in, and nothing appeared to be missing. So what do we do next, Nancy Drew?”
    I took our cups to the sink and gave them a quick wash. “We need to figure out who hated Delia enough to kill her. Do you think one of Martin’s enemies could have done this?”
    “Possible. And that Randa Atherton skank didn’t have any love for Delia. Maybe we need to make an enemies list.”
    I faced her, wiping my hands on a red plaid dishtowel. “Have they had the funeral yet?”
    “Let me look.” She took my chair and tapped away on the computer while I dried the mugs. “Visitation’s Sunday afternoon.”
    “We should go.”
    With a yawn, she stood and retrieved her coat. “Sounds good. Maybe Sullivan can help you out with this. Since he’s one of Mathers’ main enemies.”
    I followed her to the door. “The police chief is Sullivan’s guy on the inside. They’re not enemies.”
    “They’re not exactly friends though, are they?” She waved and trotted down the stairs.
    I closed the door and pulled back the curtain, watching from the window until she started her car and drove away.
    I got ready for bed and while I was drifting off to sleep, Sullivan called.
    “Sorry it’s so late. My night’s been crazy.” His voice was warm and deep and sexy.
    “S’okay. Hey,” I said, stifling a yawn, “do you know David Ashby or Judge Keeler?”
    He paused so long, I nodded off.
    “They always gamble with Mathers,” he finally said. “I believe Delia and Ashby were fucking each other behind Martin’s back.”
    That made my eyes pop open. “Why didn’t you tell me this last night?”
    “I was hoping you’d come to your senses. I should have known better.”
    “About this affair,” I said, “how sure are you?”
    “Fairly certain. She looked at him like she knew him intimately.”
    “Is that the way I look at you?” I didn’t have much of a filter at the best of times. But after midnight, it all came tumbling out. “Forget I said that.”
    “No, I don’t think I will. Goodnight, Rose.”

Chapter 7

    Saturdays were always busy at the diner, but not this one. We would have been slammed if not for the torrential storm. And on top of the bad weather, Ma was MIA. By six-thirty, she still hadn’t shown up and only two regulars wandered in.
    Roxy sat at the counter, shaking her foot in agitation. “Guess what I saw this morning? Tariq posted pics of himself with not one, but two hoes hanging all over him. At a club. At three a.m.”
    I patted her shoulder as I walked by. “No more cyber stalking Tariq. You’re moving on, remember?”
    Nodding, she crossed her arms. “Right. I’m over it. He’s lucky I ever looked his way. Do you know he likes to watch himself in the mirror during sex? And don’t even get me started about oral.”
    I cringed. “Wasn’t going to. Ever. And you’re better than this, Rox. You’re going to find someone amazing.” I wished I had a magic wand to mend her broken heart. But this was something she was going to have to go through. Didn’t mean I had to like it. If I ever got within striking distance of Tariq, his nuts were in danger of some serious rackage.
    I wandered around the near empty diner, peering out at the sheets of rain lashing against the picture window. “Where’s Ma? I’m starting to get worried.”
    “Maybe we should have gone with her to the KAWs versus SPERMs thing yesterday.”
    “SPuRTs,” I said.
    Roxy tried