Kitten Kaboodle (Zoe Donovan Mystery Book 20) by Kathi Daley Read Free Book Online

these?”
    “They’re perfect, thanks.”
    Ernie and I chatted about Zak and the kids while I struggled to find a smooth segue into the topic I really wanted to discuss. Luckily, Ernie brought up Edna’s death, creating the perfect opening.
    “I heard she had an altercation with Wanda Ferguson right here in the store,” I smoothly piggybacked onto Ernie’s comment.
    “You got that right. Talk about a chick fight. I thought I was going to have to call the sheriff when Edna pulled off Wanda’s wig and Wanda went and slapped her.”
    “Do you happen to know what they were arguing about?”
    Ernie looked around before lowering his voice and leaning in toward me. “Seemed Wanda was upset that Edna had been seen with her husband Pete outside the River Ranch Motor Lodge.”
    I frowned. “Wanda suspected Edna and Pete were having a fling?”
    “Based on what I witnessed that seemed to be the case, and based on what I’ve heard from other folk I’ve discussed this with, it seems Wanda was right. I even heard talk that Pete was planning to leave Wanda for Edna. Of course, with Edna out of the way now, I’m guessing Wanda might have a shot at keeping her marriage together.”
    Pete was a fairly unspectacular-looking man who at first glance didn’t seem the type to attract a person like Edna, but I remembered what Silvia had said about Edna’s obsessions. I supposed obsessions were just that and couldn’t always be explained. Wanda seemed like a nice-enough woman; still, it seemed to me a cheating husband and destroyed marriage might make as good a motive for murder as any. I wondered if Salinger knew about Wanda’s feud with Edna. I considered calling him and mentioning it, but, on the other hand, knowing something he didn’t could give me leverage should I need it in the future.
    After the market I stopped by the feed store, which was just down the street, to get a few supplies for our household pets. Charlie began to bark and wag his entire body when we pulled into the parking lot. I’m sure he loved visiting the feed store because they always had a yummy treat for him to try out, and the people there were always nice, so he got lots of hugs and kisses as well.
    “Can I help you?” I was greeted by a young man I’d never seen before. It wasn’t often the feed store had new employees, but I had heard that one of the clerks had moved on.
    “Hi, my name is Zoe. I run the animal rescue and rehabilitation shelter in town.”
    “I’m so happy to meet you,” the young man gushed. “My name is Christian. Chris for short. If you just give me a few minutes, I’ll gather together your regular order. I would have had it ready, but I didn’t realize you’d be by today.”
    “You know what my regular order is?”
    “Yes, ma’am. I just got promoted from handyman and delivery driver to clerk. I want to do a good job, so I made it a point to memorize the regular orders of all of our larger customers. In fact, you’re our largest customer by a lot, so anything I can do for you…”
    “Actually, I’m just here today to buy some food and supplies for the menagerie of animals who share our home. My assistant, Jeremy, will call first if we need to place an order for the Zoo.”
    The boy looked relieved. Getting together a large order like the kind we required for the Zoo would take hours for a single person.
    “So, how many customers’ orders did you memorize?” I asked.
    “Five so far. The Zoo is our biggest client, followed by the Ashton Falls Home for Maine Coons.”
    “I guess they require a lot of cat litter.”
    “Yes, ma’am, and we sold it to her wholesale. We even delivered it, although I heard the woman who owned the place passed away, so I’m not sure what will happen now.”
    I paused as two other customers came in. I realized the new clerk might know something that could at some point provide a clue, but I didn’t want to start asking questions in front of people I didn’t know. Charlie and I