Read Online Bed & Breakfast Bedlam (A Logan Dickerson Cozy Mystery Book 1) by Abby L. Vandiver - Free Book Online Page B

I
don’t think she ran on the weekend. Leastways I can’t say I remember her doing
it.”
    “How’d she look when she passed?”
    “How’d she look?” Viola Rose seemed
puzzled.
    “I mean was she coughing. Did she look
like she was in any pain?”
    “I can’t say.” She cocked her head to the
side. “But I guess if she was coughing or sickly I would have taken notice of
it.” She looked down at Miss Vivee. “So. Nope. I’d have to say she wasn’t. She
looked like she did any other day.”
    “Wasn’t she staying in Gunner Hadley’s old
house?” Miss Vivee asked.
    “Yeah, she was renting it. You know she’d
sold her parents’ house when she left.”
    “Where did she go when she left here?”
    “I don’t rightly know.” Viola tapped her
chin with her finger. “She said ‘big city,’ I’m sure it was Augusta. You know I
don’t like to pry into people business.”
    “Yes. Viola Rose, I know,” Miss Vivee
said, obviously being sarcastic.
    “She’s got a girl staying up there at the
house with her, though,” Viola Rose added. “Brought her back with her when she came
ahome.”
    “Really? I don’t remember seeing any new
faces around here?” Miss Vivee said.
    “Sweetie, you ain’t left the house in
twenty years, probably a lot of things around here you ain’t seen.” She stuck
her hands down in the pockets of her apron. “She’s come in here to eat plenty
of times. She’s a real bump on a log. Mousey. Quiet. I always wondered what her
and Gemma did together because they wouldn’t say two words to each other when
they’d come in here to eat. But Gemma was real nice to her. Gemma would always
pay for the food for the both of them.”
    “What’s the girl’s name?” Miss Vivee
asked.
    “Hmmm. Can’t say I know.” Viola Rose used
one of the pens stuck in her hair to scratch her head. “Don’t know if Gemma
ever said it.”
    “Why was she staying with Gemma?” Miss
Vivee asked.
     “Well ain’t you full of questions?”
    “It happens when you don’t get out much,”
Miss Vivee said matter-of-factly. “You just become overflowing with questions
almost to the point where you feel like you’re gonna pop if you don’t get them
answered. Plus,” Miss Vivee said and leaned forward to whisper to Viola Rose,
“I want to help Renmar and the Maypop keep their good reputation.” She touched
her on her arm. “Like you said, it ain’t good for her or our establishment if
people are dying.”
     “Don’t I know it. I just shudder at the
thought of that happening here. Someone dying right in one of my booths.” She
shook her shoulders.
    “That’s why I came down here to talk to
you Viola Rose, I knew you could help me clear Renmar’s good name.”
    “Miss Vivee. You know I’d do anything for
you or your family.” She bit down on her bottom lip. “No. I can’t say that I
ever heard either one of them say her name. But if something comes to mind,
I’ll let you know.” Viola Rose crossed her arms in front of her. “And I don’t
know why that girl is living with her either.” Viola Rose lowered her voice.  “Can’t
say that either one of them ever told me the reason. But I was figuring she was
broke, she seemed as useless as a screen door on a submarine.”
     “Has she been in here today?” Miss Vivee asked.
    “No. She ain’t been in here today.” The door
to the diner opened with a jingle. “I’ll be right with you,” Viola Rose called
out to the couple that came in. “But I know she’ll be here later,” she said and
reached down and picked up Miss Vivee’s coffee cup. It’s Saturday. I serve
Shepard’s Pie every Saturday and she never misses it.”
    The bell on the door jingled again. “Good
Lord. Look like lunchtime rush done started.” She patted Miss Vivee’s hand.
“I’ll be back.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Fourteen
     
    Miss Vivee pushed her plate, which was
completely devoid of even one morsel of egg salad, back and leaned