Read Online Arsenic and Old Cake by Jacklyn Brady - Free Book Online

door. I’ll try really hard not to step on your head if I get up in the middle of the night.”
    “Gee thanks. I can feel the love.” He came back inside, leaving the doors open behind him. “Don’t worry, Rita. We agreed to keep this thing platonic, and I won’t go back on my promise . . . unless you change your mind.”
    Yeah. That was the problem.
    “All we have to do is find the man who wrote that letter to Old Dog Leg and look for the birthmark. Once we do that, we can get out of here if you want,” Gabriel said. “In the meantime, let’s keep those sweet old ladies happy. They could be serving the guy to us on a silver platter—or in a champagne glass—at this little get-together they’ve planned.”
    He had a point, which I acknowledged grudgingly. “Let’s hope he’s actually there tonight.”
    “Even if he’s not, we’re still ahead. We’ll have met some of the other guests, and maybe one of them can help us get a foot in Monroe’s door.”
    Just then, a knock sounded on the door. My breath caught, and I wondered if our voices had carried out into the hall. Gabriel crossed the room in three long strides and opened it on Primrose, who held a silver tray loaded with a bottle of cheap champagne and two glasses.
    She surged through the door, brushing past Gabriel and heading toward the dresser in the corner. “I brought you that bottle of champagne to start off the celebration!” She shoved a couple of candlesticks to one side and put the tray down.
    I watched her closely, trying to determine whether she’d overheard our conversation.
    Clasping her hands together over her chest, she turned back to face us. “Look at you two! Aren’t you the cutest couple ever?”
    I let out the breath I’d been holding and tried to look pleased. “That’s very sweet of you,” I said, mentally calculating how much champagne I’d need to get through this weekend without losing my nerve.
    Her hands fluttered in front of her. “I’m more than happy to do it. Seeing a young couple so happy and in love does my heart good.”
    Gabriel slid a couple of bills into her hand. “You must see couples of all ages here. Newlyweds. People celebrating anniversaries. My grandparents might like this place, but they’d probably have trouble negotiating the stairs. Do you have any honeymoon suites on the first floor?”
    Primrose slipped the money into her pocket and shook her head. “No suites, I’m afraid. Most of our clientele is young. Like the two of you.”
    Which reinforced my guess that Monroe wasn’t here on his honeymoon. “This seems like a big operation for you and your sister,” I said. “Do you have help?”
    Primrose nodded. “Oh lawd, yes. More than we need, really.” She motioned toward the outside doors and continued the tour she’d started downstairs. “I see you’ve found the balcony. This time of year, the weather is wonderful and cool in the evenings. And there’s a lock on the front gate, so you’ll be safe to leave the windows and doors open for a while. Let the fresh air inside.” She broke off with a little laugh and covered her mouth with one hand. “Listen to me! You’re on your honeymoon! You don’t want any of those old fools across the way knowing your business.”
    I glanced at the window, but the only building I could see was one of the additions to the inn I’d noticed earlier. “Isn’t that part of the Love Nest?”
    “Oh, yes. That’s where our regulars stay. If you can call those old coots regular .” She laughed at her own joke, then turned serious. “We have a couple of rooms over there, but they’re quite small and not at all romantic. Still, if your grandparents are interested in staying here, we might be able to work something out.”
    “The residents over there . . . will they be joining us for cocktail hour?” Gabriel asked.
    “If there’s alcohol involved, just you try to keep them away. Some of them can be a bit prickly, but don’t you worry.