Gunpowder Chowder by Lyndsey Cole Read Free Book Online Page B

Olivia. Olivia had other things on her mind though, like chasing Nellie or pushing sand around into big piles once Nellie flopped down for a snooze.
    Hannah brought out a tray with glasses and a pitcher of water. “This is all I’ve got at the moment. I haven’t had a chance to stock up my kitchen yet. And, since Cal will be gutting it to do the upgrades, I’ll probably just eat out until all the work is done.”
    “You’ve only been here for, what, a day and a half? Are you moving forward too quickly?” Ruby asked after she gulped down half a glass of water.
    “I want to be open for business as soon as possible.”
    “I can’t believe Great Aunt Caroline disrupted your life like this. Hannah, what about your plans for graduate school? A real career, instead of—” she waved her hand around, “instead of this, this, these rundown shacks in a pile of sand.”
    Hannah laughed. “Don’t mince any words. You sound just like Dad.” She turned to face Ruby straight on and her face turned serious. “What’s wrong with having my own business? Look out at the view. You can’t tell me looking out and listening to the ocean isn’t almost magical. We were never allowed to get to know Great Aunt Caroline, but since I’ve been here for this day and a half, I’ve been thanking her for every minute.” Hannah sat back in her chair. Every minute except for the dead body part, but she wasn’t going to admit that to her sister.
    Ruby sighed again. “I wonder if you’ll be singing this same song once reality hits you and you actually have to make money here and deal with renters and make all those pots of clam chowder and crab rolls and lobster whatever it was that Caroline sold in her snack bar.” Ruby snorted with disdain. “Great Aunt Caroline didn’t leave you enough money to live in your dream world forever.”
    Hannah decided not to respond. There was no point egging Ruby on since Ruby always had the last word. Instead, she came up with a different strategy. “Why are you here? How could you up and leave your job so easily?”
    Ruby looked down at the empty glass in her hand. “I got fired. Two weeks ago. I didn’t want to worry you.”
    Hannah’s hand flew over to stroke her sister’s arm. “Fired?” What Hannah didn’t say out loud was that she knew her sister could be difficult and this wasn’t the first time she had been fired. A pattern was emerging but Ruby always said it was someone else’s fault. She shook her head, realizing her sister was talking to her.
    “. . . so I can stay here and help you.” Ruby looked at Hannah. “Were you listening to me?”
    “Yeah, yeah. Stay here and help me, you said.” Hannah scratched her forehead, trying to figure out how to let her down gently.
    Cal leaned forward. “How about your sister stays in cabin number four. Once all the blood gets cleaned up.”
    The color drained from Ruby’s face. “Blood? What are you talking about? You know I hate the thought of blood.”
    Hannah patted her hand. “The murder you heard about? What exactly did the news say?”
    “Just the guy’s name, owner of some Inn, was murdered in Hooks Harbor. Why?” She looked first at Hannah, then at Cal.
    “Well, he was murdered in the cottage over there.” Hannah pointed to the last cottage—cottage number four.
    Ruby stood up. “You can’t stay here. It’s not safe. What if the murderer comes back?”
    “I have a gun. Well, I did have a gun but the police officer took it. It’s the murder weapon.” Hannah was starting to enjoy this side benefit of Vern’s death right under her nose. There was no way her sister would be staying here and bothering her.
    “A gun? Since when do you carry guns?” Ruby was standing with her arms flailing around. “What has happened to you? I don’t talk to you for a couple of weeks and you’ve become someone I don’t even know anymore.”
    “Please. Stop the hysteria. I don’t ‘carry guns’ as you put it. It’s Caroline’s