Trouble and Treats (A Chocolate Centered Cozy Mystery Book 6) by Cindy Bell Read Free Book Online Page A

were just as suspicious of Gary as I was.”
    “And I still am. But I don’t want to upset Jack any more than he already is. We need to be careful how much we say. What if we’re wrong? What if it was an accident? Or maybe it wasn’t, but Gary had nothing to do with it?”
    “I never really thought that far ahead. I was hoping that Jack would give us some information that would help us figure things out,” Ally said as they reached the door to Charlotte’s apartment.
    “So was I, but we may have to wait until he has a chance to adjust to the news.” Charlotte reached into her purse to get her keys.
    “Good idea. I’ll get the door.” Ally used the spare keys she had on her keyring to open the door to the apartment.
    “Here are the cookies.” Charlotte took a small container of cookies off the counter and handed them to Ally.
    “Yum,” Ally smiled as she took them from her.  She gave her grandmother a warm hug. “I’ll see you in the morning at the shop. Love you.”
    “Love you, too.” Charlotte closed the apartment door.
    When Ally got into the car she took out a cookie and took a bite. She immediately relaxed as she tasted the cookie. The rich chocolate was enough to sooth her nerves.
    Ally started the car, then began to head back to the cottage. During the drive she noticed that everyone in town seemed to be somber. The news spread fast, and there wasn’t the usual weekend cheer of children playing, yard work, or dog walking.
    Ally parked at the cottage and was greeted by a cacophony of animal sounds. After she settled Arnold and Peaches down she collapsed onto the couch. As exhausted as she was there was no way she could close her eyes. She kept thinking of Emma. As much as she believed that it wasn’t an accident, she still had no way to prove that. Her cell phone rang, disrupting her thoughts.
    “Hello?”
    “Ally, it’s Mrs. White.”
    “Hi Mrs. White, how are you?”
    “Oh, just devastated. I don’t know what to think about poor Emma. So young, and now she’s gone.”
    “Yes, it is terrible.”
    “Are you all right, sweetie? We didn’t get much of a chance to talk at the shop today with those two bitties gossiping.” Ally smiled to herself as it was more like three bitties gossiping.
    “Thank you for asking. I’m okay.”
    “All I can think about is her poor husband. He was gone so much, and now she’s gone. He barely had the chance to know her.”
    “It is very sad, Mrs. White. I’m sure he’ll appreciate your support at the funeral.”
    “I will be there. Good night, Ally.”
    “Good night, Mrs. White.” Ally hung up the phone and closed her eyes.
    As soon as they opened the shop the next morning she knew that Mrs. White, Mrs. Bing, and Mrs. Cale would be there to greet them. She knew that they would have many more questions about Emma that she had no answers to.
    “Come here, Peaches, it’s been a long day.” Ally patted her knee. The cat jumped right up into her lap. Peaches yawned and then rested her head on Ally’s knee. “So, what do you think? Can a woman with the grace of a cat end up at the bottom of a flight of stairs?” She sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “I know it’s possible, I just don’t think that’s what happened. Emma would have fought. She would have reached for the banister, or grabbed at the steps. She would have done something to try to save her own life. I really think that the only way she fell down those stairs was if someone surprised her and pushed her or as the paramedic seemed to believe someone hit her over the head.”
    Peaches flicked her tail up high enough to swat Ally on the nose. She purred when Ally ran her hand along the fur on her back.
    “You’re right, I’m not thinking clearly. I’m too emotional because I knew Emma.” Peaches purred and stretched out in her lap. “I know, I know, I can’t settle down either.” She glanced at her watch. It was still early enough to take Arnold for a walk. “Arnold, are you