Read Online Creamy Casserole Murder: Book 15 in The Darling Deli Series by Patti Benning - Free Book Online

it dangerous?” Reggie asked, seating himself in the chair that she pulled out for him. “I don’t want a killer coming into my room again. There’s nothing dangerous about that.”
    “But what if you fall or have a stroke, and the nurses can’t get in in time to help you?” she asked.
    “If it’s my time, it’s my time,” he said nonchalantly. “Now, this smells delicious. Let’s eat.”
    I’m going to have to tell Eli about that doorstop , she thought as she sat down across from him. David took the seat next to her and squeezed her hand before putting his napkin into his lap.
    “This does look amazing, Moira,” he told her. “Have you served this soup at the deli before?”
    “A couple of times last year,” she said. “I may bring it back again this winter.”
    “Mmm, restaurant-quality food.” Reggie rubbed his hands together expectantly. “It’s been too long.”
    “Well, dig in,” she told him. “It’s all healthy, so I don’t think I’ll get in trouble with any of your nurses. I’ve got dessert too, but you’ll have to wait to find out what that is.”
    The dinner was a success. She doubted that it had been necessary to get Reggie to forgive her for not believing him—he seemed to have done that already—but it was nice to see him enjoy the meal so much. For a moment she was half-tempted to take up the director’s offer of working as the chef at Misty Pines. It would be nice to have this much appreciation for her cooking every day. It’s not like my regular customers don’t appreciate it , she told herself. They’re just used to it.
    About halfway through the meal, David got a call on his cellphone. He glanced down at it, then stood up.
    “Sorry,” he said, “but I’ve got to take this.”
    A moment later he returned, sliding the phone back into his pocket. “I’ve got news.”
    “What?” said Moira and Reggie at almost exactly the same time.
    “They got the autopsy report on Delilah back. Normally it takes longer, but they rushed it. Apparently Danny bought a one-way ticket to South America, and Detective Jefferson worried that he was getting ready to leave the country for good.” David paused. “I’m not really supposed to be telling you this. Can you both keep it mum?”
    “Of course,” Moira said. Reggie nodded.
    “According to the autopsy, Delilah suffocated. They think she was smothered by a pillow or a blanket—they found fibers in her lungs. Her death has officially been labeled a homicide.”
    “That’s great,” Reggie said enthusiastically. Then he cleared his throat and added, “I don’t mean that she was killed, but that they’re finally investigating it.”
    “I understand,” Moira told him. “It is good. Hopefully they can arrest Danny soon, before he gets on that plane.”
    She felt relieved at the news. Her part in all of this was done. The police would handle it now, and if they moved quickly, then hopefully no one else would get killed.
    “Dessert time,” she announced, feeling like a weight had been taken off her shoulders. “I hope you both like apple crumble.”
     

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    After they had each downed a couple of servings of warm apple crumble and low-fat ice cream, David left to drive Reggie back to Misty Pines. Moira started on the dishes, and was about halfway through when the private investigator returned.
    “Dinner was nice,” he said, coming up behind her and kissing her on the cheek before reaching into the sink to help her wash the remaining dishes. “I think it meant a lot to Reggie.”
    “Thanks for driving him,” she said. “I still feel bad that you had to go out of your way. You don’t even know him that well.”
    “I know him about as well as you do,” he pointed out. “He seems like a good guy. He has interesting stories to tell—he’s lived quite the life.”
    She had spent so much time doing everything alone that it felt odd, but nice, having a partner to hand bowls to for drying. I want this all