Read Online Cupid's Corpse: A Cozy Mystery (Gemma Stone Cozy Mystery Book 3) by Willow Monroe - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Willow Monroe
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grabbed her purse. Surely, she would be able to find a way to get into town, maybe locate Nick.
Back at the lodge, Gemma saw that Natasha and Joel had pretty much abandoned their project, leaving the photo albums and journals stacked haphazardly on the table. The letters were actually lying on the floor. She knew she should take a closer look at them, but then reminded herself that the police had already done that.
She entered the restaurant looking for Missy and found her right where she had left her, talking and laughing with a table full of guests.
“Missy, can I ask a favor?” Gemma asked when she caught the woman’s attention.
“Of course,” Missy said. “What can I do for you?”
“I need to go into town. Ni...my husband left earlier and took our vehicle so I was wondering if someone would drive me or...”
Missy motioned for Gemma to follow her and led the way out to the front desk. There she snagged a set of car keys off of a nail by the office door. “Parked over to the right side of the lodge is a red SUV. I’m sure it’s not what you’re used to, but it’ll get you to town and back.”
“You’re loaning me your car?” Gemma stared at the key in amazement.
“It’s not mine. It belongs to the lodge. We use it for picking up supplies, taking guests on day trips close by and stuff like that,” Missy explained.
“And you’re just going to let me drive it?”
“Honey, you’re not going that far and besides, we don’t have enough people on staff to drive you, so....” Missy shrugged.
“Okay, well, thank you. I promise not to be gone long,” Gemma said, thinking that Missy was acting for all the world like she had already taken ownership of Cozy Valley Lodge.
The SUV started right away and Gemma sat there for a moment letting the engine warm up. It had a full tank of gas and she wondered if Joel and Natasha had planned on using it to make their escape after the weekend was over. She put it in reverse, backed out of the spot and started down the narrow winding road into Valentine. The streets were nearly deserted and Gemma knew the Escalade would be easy to spot if it was in the area. She drove down the narrow street where they had shopped the day before, circled the area several times, each time going further and further out.
No Escalade. No Nick.
Finally, she found a parking spot and climbed out. She stood there for a moment and then headed to the boutique where she’d spoken with Madge the day before. She was right behind the counter, her gray head bent over a magazine.
“Good morning,” Madge said when the little bell over the door tinkled.
“Good morning.” Gemma smiled easily at her. “Just thought I’d check in on you this morning.”
“Oh, I’m fine. Poor Mr. Muzak, on the other hand...” she finished the sentence with a shudder.
“I know. Everyone is just devastated,” Gemma told her. “Half of the employees couldn’t even make it to work today.”
“Oh, I’ll bet not everyone is unhappy about this turn of events,” she said. “In fact, rumor has it that Joel and Natasha planned it all along.”
“I heard they were going to run away but...”
“But if she can collect some life insurance money, that would just be an extra little boost to her wallet wouldn’t it?”
“I suppose,” Gemma said. “Hey, have you seen my, um, my husband this morning?”
Madge thought for a moment. “No, can’t say as I have. Maybe he snuck off to buy you something special.”
“Maybe,” Gemma said, forcing a small smile. “Thanks anyway.” As she walked away from the shop, she turned to see Madge watching her from the doorway.
She walked around the block, not really sure where she was going but constantly looking for that black Escalade. She spotted a sporting goods store down a side street. The sign said Valentine Sports. Maybe someone there could give her some insight into who else in the area might be skilled enough to set up that crossbow in the balcony
Back at the lodge, Gemma saw that Natasha and Joel had pretty much abandoned their project, leaving the photo albums and journals stacked haphazardly on the table. The letters were actually lying on the floor. She knew she should take a closer look at them, but then reminded herself that the police had already done that.
She entered the restaurant looking for Missy and found her right where she had left her, talking and laughing with a table full of guests.
“Missy, can I ask a favor?” Gemma asked when she caught the woman’s attention.
“Of course,” Missy said. “What can I do for you?”
“I need to go into town. Ni...my husband left earlier and took our vehicle so I was wondering if someone would drive me or...”
Missy motioned for Gemma to follow her and led the way out to the front desk. There she snagged a set of car keys off of a nail by the office door. “Parked over to the right side of the lodge is a red SUV. I’m sure it’s not what you’re used to, but it’ll get you to town and back.”
“You’re loaning me your car?” Gemma stared at the key in amazement.
“It’s not mine. It belongs to the lodge. We use it for picking up supplies, taking guests on day trips close by and stuff like that,” Missy explained.
“And you’re just going to let me drive it?”
“Honey, you’re not going that far and besides, we don’t have enough people on staff to drive you, so....” Missy shrugged.
“Okay, well, thank you. I promise not to be gone long,” Gemma said, thinking that Missy was acting for all the world like she had already taken ownership of Cozy Valley Lodge.
The SUV started right away and Gemma sat there for a moment letting the engine warm up. It had a full tank of gas and she wondered if Joel and Natasha had planned on using it to make their escape after the weekend was over. She put it in reverse, backed out of the spot and started down the narrow winding road into Valentine. The streets were nearly deserted and Gemma knew the Escalade would be easy to spot if it was in the area. She drove down the narrow street where they had shopped the day before, circled the area several times, each time going further and further out.
No Escalade. No Nick.
Finally, she found a parking spot and climbed out. She stood there for a moment and then headed to the boutique where she’d spoken with Madge the day before. She was right behind the counter, her gray head bent over a magazine.
“Good morning,” Madge said when the little bell over the door tinkled.
“Good morning.” Gemma smiled easily at her. “Just thought I’d check in on you this morning.”
“Oh, I’m fine. Poor Mr. Muzak, on the other hand...” she finished the sentence with a shudder.
“I know. Everyone is just devastated,” Gemma told her. “Half of the employees couldn’t even make it to work today.”
“Oh, I’ll bet not everyone is unhappy about this turn of events,” she said. “In fact, rumor has it that Joel and Natasha planned it all along.”
“I heard they were going to run away but...”
“But if she can collect some life insurance money, that would just be an extra little boost to her wallet wouldn’t it?”
“I suppose,” Gemma said. “Hey, have you seen my, um, my husband this morning?”
Madge thought for a moment. “No, can’t say as I have. Maybe he snuck off to buy you something special.”
“Maybe,” Gemma said, forcing a small smile. “Thanks anyway.” As she walked away from the shop, she turned to see Madge watching her from the doorway.
She walked around the block, not really sure where she was going but constantly looking for that black Escalade. She spotted a sporting goods store down a side street. The sign said Valentine Sports. Maybe someone there could give her some insight into who else in the area might be skilled enough to set up that crossbow in the balcony
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