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

said. “I couldn’t very well abandon them after that, now could I?”
    The dogs, somehow sensing that they were the topic of the conversation, looked up at her and David and started wagging their tales. The private investigator crouched down to scratch their ears.
    “Oh, I haven’t heard any more mice,” she said, remembering the last time David had been at her house.
    “Huh?” he said distractedly. Keeva had rolled over, and he was rubbing her belly.
    “Remember, last time you were here you said that Maverick heard mice in the attic?”
    “I don’t—oh, right, I remember.” He stood up, brushing his hands off. “Funny, huh? They must have left. Or maybe it was just the wind.”
    “Yeah,” she said. “I guess.” David really was acting strange lately.
     

CHAPTER TWELVE
    The next day at the deli was unusually slow, which for once was a good thing. Moira took the time to update the deli’s website while Darrin organized the fridge. They had a catering event early next week, and they had to make sure that they had enough space to store the extra food that would be coming in the next delivery.
    Martha stopped in after she got off work, a little bit after five. Seeing her friend was a nice change of pace for the deli owner, who had spent the last few hours coming up with the daily specials for the next two weeks.
    “Slow day?” she asked, looking around at the empty dining area.
    “I blame the weather,” Moira said. It was an unusually warm, clear day, and most of her customers were probably at the beach for a last swim before the water got too cold. She was sure that Candice would find her way over to Lake Michigan after the candy shop closed—she would have been tempted to go herself if she hadn’t already scheduled herself to work until close.
    “Ugh, I didn’t even notice,” Martha said, glancing out the window. “I’ve been absolutely slammed at work. Speaking of, do you think you could watch Diamond for me this weekend? I can drop her off before your date with David.”
    Diamond was Martha’s little black-and-white mixed-breed dog. The little pup had a wonderfully happy personality, and loved to play with Moira’s two bigger dogs. She was small, but she was agile enough to run circles around them.
    “Sure… wait, how do you know about our date?”
    “Denise told me,” her friend said.
    “Oh…” Moira frowned, wondering if she was losing her mind. She hadn’t called to make the reservation yet, had she? David must have done it , she realized. That was nice of him.
    “You know what, I can find someone else to watch her this weekend,” her friend said.
    “No, no, it’s really no trouble.”
    “You might be too busy…”
    “I don’t have any plans that weekend, other than work,” the deli owner said. “I love having Diamond over, and so do my dogs. It’ll be fun.”
    “If you’re sure,” her friend said anxiously.
    “I am,” Moira said firmly. She had no idea why her friend was being so weird about it. She usually watched Diamond a couple of times a month, when Martha traveled for her job. It was easier than putting Diamond in a kennel every time her owner had to go away, and the little dog enjoyed staying with Moira and two giant companions much more than sleeping alone in a kennel.
    “Well, thank you. I really appreciate it.” The other woman smiled at her and changed the subject. “I’m starved. What’s the special today?”
    “Asiago beef soup and a cheese and beef rye sandwich.”
    “That sounds perfect. Can I have a cup of soup and a sandwich, and one of these carbonated waters?”
    “Sure thing. Coming right up.”
    She poked her head into the kitchen to tell Darrin the order and ask him to bring out a second serving for her, then joined her friend at a table. They chatted about their jobs while they waited for the food, then fell silent as they both dug in. Moira was about halfway through her soup when she heard her phone, still in her purse behind the