Read Online Gunpowder Chowder by Lyndsey Cole - Free Book Online

to. It seems that a lot of people with a bone to pick with Vern were either near my cottage or they don’t have an alibi at the time he was shot.”
    “That guy,” she nodded her head in the direction Chase had disappeared. “He said Cal was on the beach yesterday morning. Does he have a motive?”
    “Vern owed Cal a lot of money for renovations to his Inn. Vern refused to pay, but that’s all I know. You should book a room there and see if you can weasel some information from the employees. It’s called the Paradise Inn. As far as I know, his estranged wife, Kelley Mason, will be inheriting the Inn.”
    Ruby stepped back, almost losing her footing and falling into the water before Hannah pulled her back to safety. “You want me to do some spying ?” Ruby’s eyes blinked several times before her lips turned up at the edges into the beginning of a smile.
    Olivia’s fingers slipped out of Hannah’s hand as she dashed down the dock to Cal. He scooped her up and carried her onto his boat as her happy chattering drifted back to Hannah and Ruby.
    Hannah’s hand stopped Ruby from continuing. “Before we join them, I just want to say, let’s keep our spy plan a secret between the two of us.” She raised one eyebrow waiting for Ruby to answer.
    “Don’t you trust Cal?” she whispered.
    Hannah sighed. “I want to, but the fact is, I barely know him and he was on the beach yesterday morning. At this point, let’s trust each other and no one else until we are one hundred percent positive we can.”
    “So we shouldn’t have dinner with him?” Ruby asked.
    “Of course we should. I didn’t say we couldn’t hang out with him, and besides, he can fill us in on the people in town.”
    “Are you sure hanging out with him doesn’t have anything to do with those ocean blue, save me from drowning in them, eyes?” Ruby asked.
    Heat spread across Hannah’s checks. She turned her head away from Ruby so she wouldn’t see that her comment hit a nerve. A nerve Hannah wasn’t ready to admit to herself. Yet.
    “That’s another reason we have to be careful.” Hannah had been hurt by a handsome man before and she didn’t want to make the same mistake twice. Especially if there was a chance that this handsome man might be a killer. “He’s a good resource. Same with Jack. But we shouldn’t blindly trust anyone. We need to be smart and careful.”
    Ruby shivered and bumped her shoulder into Hannah’s. “This could be exciting. I could use some excitement in my life right about now.”
    “It could be dangerous. Don’t forget that for one minute,” Hannah reminded her sister.

Chapter 9
     
    Delicious smells drifted from Cal’s boat as they got closer. Olivia’s giggling made Hannah smile. She was thrilled to have Olivia around even though it meant she would have to work on her relationship with Ruby. But if Ruby did stay in Hooks Harbor at the Inn, the extra pair of eyes and ears could come in handy.
    Hannah helped Ruby step on to the back of the boat. She didn’t want to risk another near miss of Ruby falling off the dock or overboard into the frigid Atlantic. She’d never hear the end of that disaster.
    “Hello ladies,” Cal said as they ducked their heads and entered his tight quarters. “I have an amazing helper tonight.” He waved one hand in Olivia’s direction. She sat on a big blue pillow, dipping corn chips into a bowl of humus, focused on her snack and not on the adult conversation.
    “How did Cal know your favorite snack, Livy?” Ruby asked her daughter.
    “I told him,” she said in that matter of fact way that the young can. She stuffed another chip in her mouth and used her tongue to find the stray humus on her lip.
    “Have a seat and help yourselves to the snacks. Pizza is in the oven, loaded with all kinds of toppings.” He checked the timer. “Another fifteen minutes and we’ll be in business.”
    Hannah set her bags on the table. “Do you have glasses? I brought beer and