Guidebook to Murder by Lynn Cahoon Read Free Book Online Page A

lips I thought I’d look for my camera before I woke you up.”
    Amy was evil that way. “You didn’t!” I sat up and wiped my mouth. I’d probably been snoring, too.
    She laughed. “I couldn’t find it. And I’m never sure how to use this stupid cell phone camera, so your secret’s safe with me, I guess.” Amy surveyed the storefront. “Have you thought about closing for a week until you get all this stuff for Miss Emily handled?”
    â€œI’m considering calling in the cavalry. My aunt Jackie ran a coffee shop in San Francisco for years. If I can catch her between jetting off to France or Mexico, maybe she’ll come down and run the shop for a couple weeks.” I hadn’t seen Aunt Jackie for over a year, not since my last visit back to San Fran.
    â€œWell, I think you should at least close for tomorrow. People will understand. Most of them will be at Miss Emily’s funeral on Friday.”
    â€œThat’s a good idea. I’ll pop in and make a sign right now.” Then, I added silently, it’s upstairs and straight to bed. Making the sign tonight gave me freedom to not set my alarm. Maybe I’d sleep past five-thirty. I’d call Aunt Jackie as soon as I woke.
    I pulled myself out of Amy’s truck and waved to my friend, who watched me as I unlocked the store door. You’d think we lived in LA, not a small tourist town more likely to be void of foot traffic than not. Especially at nine on a Monday night, a time known by the local business owners as the dead zone.
    Not exactly a comforting thought at the moment.
    I flipped on the lights and walked back to my office. Scratching out a CLOSED sign, I dug around in my desk to find some tape. I’d gone back and forth about what to put on the sign. Finally, I decided on a sign that said C LOSED FOR THE DAY , SEE YOU W EDNESDAY . I didn’t want to seem drab and dreary, but I also couldn’t be bright and cheery. What would people think?
    I taped the sign in the window, double-checked the locks on the door, and turned off the front lights, heading to my upstairs apartment and bed. All I wanted to do was slip off my clothes and slide in between the sheets. Sleep, I could do, no matter what was happening in my life.
    Â 
    The next morning, the sunlight shining through my bedroom window woke me up. I rolled over to check the alarm: seven o’clock. Amazing. I jumped out of bed and started the coffeepot. Heading to the shower, I made a mental list of what I needed to get done today. First and most important on the list was a call to Aunt Jackie to see if I could con her into coming down to handle the store for a few weeks. As the water ran over my body, I played out the conversation in my mind. I knew it was a big favor to ask. Aunt Jackie had worked hard for years to deserve her happy-go-lucky traveling retirement. But maybe she’d at least hear me out.
    After getting dressed and fortifying myself with a cup of coffee, black, I pulled out my address book and made the call.
    â€œHey, Aunt Jackie, it’s me, Jill.”
    â€œJill, I haven’t heard from you in forever! Did you lose my number?”
    Great, guilt with my coffee, and now I was asking for a favor?
    â€œI’m sorry about that. The shop keeps me pretty busy.” I hoped that would satisfy her. “In fact, I’m calling about the shop. I’ve had a problem come up, and I wondered if you could help?”
    â€œSure, let me grab my coffee and sit down, and then you can tell me what’s going on. I’m positive I’ve probably dealt with something like it over my years.”
    I could hear Aunt Jackie’s slippers slapping the kitchen floor as she went over to pour more coffee. I knew from experience, she wouldn’t hear anything I said until she got herself settled and ready to talk. So I waited. Examining my to-do list for the day, I crossed off Call Aunt Jackie . I just hoped