Read Online Halloween Hiccups: A Mercy Mares Cozy Mystery Novella by Ava Mallory - Free Book Online
Authors: Ava Mallory
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Hank. He shrugged.
Nubbin exhaled loudly. “Broke down Honda, do what the lady tells you. I think she means business.”
I swung around, shocked by what he said about my precious Gertrude – my highly unreliable, yet undeniably paid for twenty something year old Honda. No one spoke badly of Gertrude, except for me and the mechanic who had built his career and could have paid for his home a hundred times over based on the amount of repairs I've had to have done.
“Look at that. She lives!” Nubbin exclaimed, pointing to the scowl on my face.
While everyone enjoyed a laugh at my expense, I quietly walked away and threw myself onto the sofa to catch up on what was happening in the world before Margie came looking for me again.
I turned the television on and raised the volume to cancel out the chatter and cackling on the other side of the wall in the kitchen.
I heard her voice before the picture came into full view. Charlene was being interviewed by Tawny Jacobs, our local blonde bombshell news reporter.
“Look! Look!” I tried to yell loud enough for everyone to hear me. “Charlene is on the news.”
I raised the volume even louder so they could hear from the kitchen.
Charlene said, “Yes, I filmed the whole kit and caboodle. I saw it all. She was standing over him, towering like a giant, and yelling all sorts of hateful things at that poor man. When the police arrived, both of them, Ruby and Mercy, were standing over his body, just looking at their handiwork.”
Those were the last words I remembered until I felt the sensation of drowning. I shot up into a sitting position with Nubbin and Hank standing over me, calling my name.
“What happened? Why are you trying to drown me in my sleep?” I asked.
“You fainted!” Nubbin yelled. “We're not doing this for our health, Ferrari.”
Ruby did the standard testing: name, address, who's the president of the United States.
“I know where I am.” I said, trying to sit up, but my head felt like it was spinning, so I laid back down and let Ruby elevate my feet with one of my sofa cushions.
Hank was seated on the floor next to me. “Don't worry about going on your run. I already let Margie know that it probably wouldn't be a good idea.”
“You think?” I said, holding my hand to my forehead.
“Can you believe that woman?” Ruby asked, referring to Charlene.
I groaned. “Oh, I was hoping that was a dream. She really told the world that she saw us kill Stanley?”
Hank corrected me. “Well, not exactly the whole world, she only mentioned it to local viewers.”
“Way to give her the benefit of the doubt.” Ruby said sarcastically. “It's not like she accused your wife of murder or anything.”
Uh oh, someone was in trouble now.
The phone rang, saving Hank from Ruby's wrath.
“I'll get it.” Nubbin answered the phone before the second ring.
“Schmeckpepper here.” He answered.
I waited for him to hand me the phone, but he didn't. Instead, he took the phone with him to the other room.
I figured, whoever it was would learn not to call back with Nubbin in town. He wasn't the best conversationalist.
Hank patted my leg. “Feeling better yet?”
“Why does she need to feel better right away?” Ruby asked. “I think we're all safer if Mercy is down for the count.”
“What did I do?” I asked, offended by her remarks.
Hank and Ruby exchanged glances. It didn't matter how upset one was with the other, one shared glance would make it all fade away. I'd witnessed it hundreds of times over the years. Soon, Ruby would be mesmerized by Hank's warm blue eyes and he'd be drooling over her big green eyes and their little tiff would be long forgotten.
Nubbin returned and took the seat nearest Barney to pet him. It was such a kind gesture, I could have cried just watching them. Barney enjoyed it too, snuggling up to
Nubbin exhaled loudly. “Broke down Honda, do what the lady tells you. I think she means business.”
I swung around, shocked by what he said about my precious Gertrude – my highly unreliable, yet undeniably paid for twenty something year old Honda. No one spoke badly of Gertrude, except for me and the mechanic who had built his career and could have paid for his home a hundred times over based on the amount of repairs I've had to have done.
“Look at that. She lives!” Nubbin exclaimed, pointing to the scowl on my face.
While everyone enjoyed a laugh at my expense, I quietly walked away and threw myself onto the sofa to catch up on what was happening in the world before Margie came looking for me again.
I turned the television on and raised the volume to cancel out the chatter and cackling on the other side of the wall in the kitchen.
I heard her voice before the picture came into full view. Charlene was being interviewed by Tawny Jacobs, our local blonde bombshell news reporter.
“Look! Look!” I tried to yell loud enough for everyone to hear me. “Charlene is on the news.”
I raised the volume even louder so they could hear from the kitchen.
Charlene said, “Yes, I filmed the whole kit and caboodle. I saw it all. She was standing over him, towering like a giant, and yelling all sorts of hateful things at that poor man. When the police arrived, both of them, Ruby and Mercy, were standing over his body, just looking at their handiwork.”
Those were the last words I remembered until I felt the sensation of drowning. I shot up into a sitting position with Nubbin and Hank standing over me, calling my name.
“What happened? Why are you trying to drown me in my sleep?” I asked.
“You fainted!” Nubbin yelled. “We're not doing this for our health, Ferrari.”
Ruby did the standard testing: name, address, who's the president of the United States.
“I know where I am.” I said, trying to sit up, but my head felt like it was spinning, so I laid back down and let Ruby elevate my feet with one of my sofa cushions.
Hank was seated on the floor next to me. “Don't worry about going on your run. I already let Margie know that it probably wouldn't be a good idea.”
“You think?” I said, holding my hand to my forehead.
“Can you believe that woman?” Ruby asked, referring to Charlene.
I groaned. “Oh, I was hoping that was a dream. She really told the world that she saw us kill Stanley?”
Hank corrected me. “Well, not exactly the whole world, she only mentioned it to local viewers.”
“Way to give her the benefit of the doubt.” Ruby said sarcastically. “It's not like she accused your wife of murder or anything.”
Uh oh, someone was in trouble now.
The phone rang, saving Hank from Ruby's wrath.
“I'll get it.” Nubbin answered the phone before the second ring.
“Schmeckpepper here.” He answered.
I waited for him to hand me the phone, but he didn't. Instead, he took the phone with him to the other room.
I figured, whoever it was would learn not to call back with Nubbin in town. He wasn't the best conversationalist.
Hank patted my leg. “Feeling better yet?”
“Why does she need to feel better right away?” Ruby asked. “I think we're all safer if Mercy is down for the count.”
“What did I do?” I asked, offended by her remarks.
Hank and Ruby exchanged glances. It didn't matter how upset one was with the other, one shared glance would make it all fade away. I'd witnessed it hundreds of times over the years. Soon, Ruby would be mesmerized by Hank's warm blue eyes and he'd be drooling over her big green eyes and their little tiff would be long forgotten.
Nubbin returned and took the seat nearest Barney to pet him. It was such a kind gesture, I could have cried just watching them. Barney enjoyed it too, snuggling up to
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