Read Online Death Vetoes The Chairman (Lizzie Crenshaw Mysteries Book 7) by Teresa Watson - Free Book Online Page A

take out bags.
    He started getting silverware and napkins out. “What is Jake up to?”
    “I have no idea. He’s been working on something since we were at the café.”
    “You went to the café?” he said, sounding surprised. “How did that go?”
    “Fine.”
    “Uh huh. Was Gladys there?”
    “You brought queso and guacamole, great!” I said, pointedly ignoring his question.
    “So that’s a yes. Do I even want to know?”
    “Hm, chicken fajita nachos! You’re spoiling me here.”
    “That bad, huh? Well, since you’re still wearing the clothes you had on when I left the office, I’m guessing she was the one that had to go home and change.” I mumbled an answer with my mouth full of nachos. “You want to try that again after you finish chewing?”
    Swallowing, I said, “There might have been a glass of tea involved.”
    “Just a glass?”
    “The glass might have been a pitcher.” He laughed. “What did you find out this afternoon?”
    “Well, several women have filed charges against Winthrop, but a couple of days later, they’ve withdrawn them.”
    “Is he paying them off?” I said, spooning some guacamole onto a nacho.
    “Beats me,” he replied. There was a scratching sound at the back door. “Do you want me to let them in?”
    “Not until we’re done eating. Mittens doesn’t need any Mexican food. She had a stomachache for two days after she ate that cheesecake during the county fair.”
    We moved the bags over to the counters and sat down at the table. “So, what else is new?” he asked as he started eating.
    “I bought the newspaper from Dale,” I said, quickly eating another nacho.
    T.J. started choking on his enchiladas. I realized we forgot to get something to drink, so I jumped up and grabbed some water from the fridge. After taking a drink, he cleared his throat and said, “You what?”
    I took a Dr Pepper out of the fridge for myself and sat back down. “I bought the newspaper from Dale.”
    “You used the reward money for it? Wow, I didn’t think you were ever…”
    “No, I didn’t use it. It’s still sitting in my savings account in the bank.”
    “I’m confused.”
    I went into the other room to get Debra’s will. “Here, read this,” I said when I returned.
    He didn’t say anything as he took the papers. I continued eating while he read. By the time he was through reading, I had finished my nachos, and was dipping chips in the queso. “This is a joke, right?” he said. I shook my head. “And Dale knew about this the whole time?”
    “Well, he’s known for a while apparently.”
    “So you used some of the money to buy the paper?”
    “And an ambulance.”
    “Excuse me? An ambulance?!”
    Whoops, this was one of those “I shouldn’t have said that, now how do I get out of it” moments. “I decided to do something good with some of the money. I heard about a small town that needed a new ambulance, so I made a donation.”
    “You’re joking.”
    “No, I’m not. Why would I joke about donating $140,000?”
    His mouth fell open. “$140,000? Have you lost your mind?”
    I glared at him. “No, I don’t think so. Considering where the money came from, and how she got it, I think using it for something good is a great idea. Do you have a problem with that?”
    “Well, no…”
    “Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it you who encouraged me to take the reward money from the FBI after I shot her to death to save you and Hopkins?”
    “Well, yes…”
    “Then you don’t have any right to tell me how to spend what I’ve inherited. I don’t like it any more than you do, but I’m going to make the best of the situation. And if I decide to give it all away, there’s not a damn thing you can do about it!” I stood up from the table, grabbed two helpings of dog food and treats, and went out the back door, slamming it shut behind me.
    Babe was in her usual spot by the shade tree, but when Mittens saw me come out, she came running over to me. I gave