Leighann Dobbs - Mystic Notch 01 - Ghostly Paws by Leighann Dobbs Read Free Book Online

golden green eyes.  
    I stood and pointed my finger at her. “Don’t do that again.”  
    She gave me a bored look and started washing her face.
    “Is everything okay?” Cordelia yelled.
    “Yep. Pandora just knocked some books down.” I walked back to the front, picking my coffee up from the counter where I’d left it.
    “So, anyway, we were saying that Lavinia’s unfortunate accident was just that.” Bing slid his eyes over to me. “That’s what Augusta says, right?”
    “That’s what she thought when we were in the library, but you know how she is … she won’t say a word about an ongoing case to me.” I crossed my fingers behind my back. It wasn’t exactly a lie. She really didn’t like to talk about cases. I was sure she wouldn’t want me repeating her doubts to everyone in town.
    “All this talk is making me depressed,” Hattie said. “I think I need to visit the chocolate store.”
    “Me, too!” Cordelia jumped up from her seat.
    Josiah drained his coffee cup. “Yep, guess I better get going and let you do your work.”
    The four of them made their way out the door. Bing was last and he held back for a second, half-closing the door, then turning to look at me.  
    I’d busied myself with some work behind the counter, but sensed him looking and glanced over at him, my brows creeping up my forehead.
    “Willa … it might be best if you didn’t dig into this whole thing with Lavinia. It could be dangerous,” Bing said, ducking out the door before I had a chance to answer him.  
    I stared at the door. Was that a warning … or a threat? I couldn’t tell by his tone or the look on his face and I didn’t have much time to think about it because just then I heard another crash and Pandora’s wail.
    I ran to the back of the store. Pandora sat amidst a pile of books … again. The same darn books.  
    “Really?” I bent down to put the books back. “What is wrong with you?”
    Nothing. I’m trying to give you a clue. Her meows almost sounded like words as I put the books back in their place.
    “Now, no messing with these books again.” I tapped my finger on her pink nose.  
    She looked at me defiantly, reached out her paw and pulled a book off the shelf.
    I rolled my eyes. “Cut that out!” I picked up the book and shoved it back into its spot.
    “Mew!” She pulled it out again.
    I felt my temper starting to rise. What was up with her? I glanced at the title as I picked up the book to put it back, yet again. Murder Weapon Mayhem . How appropriate, given what was going on with Lavinia.
    I slid the book back in place.  
    “Wait a minute … murder … weapon.” I looked at Pandora, who stared at me expectantly.
    “Of course!” I snapped my fingers and stood up. “Why didn’t I think of that before? Lavinia said she was whacked on the back of the head, which means that somewhere out there is a murder weapon that might have a clue to the murderer … all we have to do is find it.”

    ***

    The rest of the day was uneventful. I spent most of it trying to decide where to search for the murder weapon. As the day drew on, doubt bloomed in my gut. The warnings I’d had from three people—well, two people and a ghost—echoed in my head.  
    It could be dangerous to look for the murder weapon on my own, but I couldn’t very well tell Augusta I knew someone had clonked Lavinia on the back of the head.  
    It was up to me to find the murder weapon. I wasn’t sure how I’d explain finding it to Augusta, but I was sure I would come up with something.
    Of course, if I knew what I was looking for, it would make it a lot easier to find. Something heavy that one could easily use to whack someone else on the back of the head with.  
    I figured the best place to start was the library, so I closed up shop at five and headed down the street with Pandora following me … well, I should say in front of me. The cat had the strangest way of following me by walking ahead of me. I had no idea how