Murder By Lime: A Key West Culinary Cozy - Book 4 by Summer Prescott Read Free Book Online

alone?” she stepped up to the supplier, hands on hips.
    “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he replied in a low voice, frowning. “If your daughter is in trouble, it’s because of the company that she keeps, senora. I can assure you of that,” he met her glare dead on, not budging an inch.
    Marilyn was thrown off by his direct manner. “What are you talking about?” her eyes narrowed.
    “Why do you suppose that the beach boy’s boat was sunk in the marina?” he asked, looking at her as though she were clueless.
    “I have no idea,” she shrugged, not getting what he was trying to say. “Maybe there was a leak and it just sank,” she offered lamely.
    “With a dead body on it?” Carlos raised a skeptical eyebrow.
    “Well, obviously, whoever did it wanted the police to think that Drew was guilty,” Marilyn replied, tired of the game.
    “Or…maybe the lazy, drug-dealing yoga teacher actually did it,” he spelled it out finally.
    “Drug dealing? Drew? You must be mistaken,” she shook her head.
    “Oh really? How do you think he got your limes for you? Pedro shipped more drugs into the Keys using produce than any other dealer around, and the yoga man was one of his distributors,” Carlos shook his head in disgust.
    “But that’s impossible…I would’ve known,” she protested. “Tiara would never have been attracted to someone like that,” her denial grew, as did the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
    “He’s the perfect front man. All the ladies love him, he’s healthy and fit, has a respectable job, on the surface, what’s not to like, right? Let me ask you this, senora, was your daughter arrested for something related to cocaine?”
    The color drained from Marilyn’s face and she nodded, eyes wide. It all made sense now. When Tiara had gone diving with Drew, she had complained that he kept going to the same spot over and over again – had it been a drug drop off point? The yoga instructor also had access to Pedro’s phone number and could’ve planted it in the apartment, along with the packet of cocaine.
    “Carlos, forgive me…I have to go do something,” she murmured, quickly getting into the car.
     

Chapter 12
    Marilyn drove immediately to Tiara’s apartment, hoping that one of her roommates was home. Fortunately, one of the girls, whose name escaped her at the moment, opened the door when she rang the bell.
    “Wow, we’re pretty popular this morning,” the roommate yawned, opening the door and leading the way into the small apartment.
    “Really?” she asked, puzzled.
    “Yeah, some detective just came in to ask us about Tiara and stuff,” she said vaguely.
    “Well, that’s why I’m here too,” the anxious mother replied. “Did anyone come by to visit or anything the night before Tiara was arrested? She was spending the night at my house, so I know that she wasn’t here, but did anyone go in her room or drop by?” she asked.
    “Yeah, the guy that she was dating, the yoga instructor came by because she had left her beach bag at his house. He came in and put it in her room for her, then hung out with us for a little bit because we had just ordered pizza and he was hungry. It was weird though, when the pizza came, he didn’t even eat. Must be a health nut or something,” the girl smiled.
    “Must be,” Marilyn agreed, excited but not showing it. “Listen, I’ve gotta run, but thanks, you’ve been very helpful,” she said, heading to the door.
    “That’s what the cop said too,” the roommate yawned again, closing the door after her.
    Marilyn had just gotten into her car and turned over the engine when her cell phone rang. Seeing Bernard Cortland’s number, she picked up.
    “Can you meet me at your house in about ten minutes?” the detective requested.
    “I’ll be there,” she promised, hitting the accelerator and heading for home.
    She arrived at her front door in no time, relieved to see that Bernard was already there.
    “Mom, the