Read Online Killing the Carnations (A Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mystery) by Cindy Bell - Free Book Online Page B

gestured towards the door. Henry didn't have to be told again. He headed for the door and glanced sympathetically at Emily as he stepped outside into the garden.
    “ A police matter?” Emily asked as she looked between Vicky and Mitchell. “Have I done something wrong?”
    “ Have you?” Vicky challenged, which drew a reproachful look from Mitchell. Vicky cleared her throat and stepped aside, knowing that she had to let Mitchell perform the interrogation. Instead of questioning Emily though, he picked up a bowl and a spoon from the butcher's block that the ice cream container was resting on.
    “ Do you mind?” he asked as he gestured to the ice cream and met Emily's eyes.
    “ No, it's fine,” Emily replied, though she seemed very confused. Vicky was also confused, she had no idea why Mitchell wanted to eat ice cream instead of talking about the corkscrew she had found.
    “ How are things going, Emily?” he asked as he dished up some ice cream. When he ate a spoonful he grinned and moaned a little, “Oh, that's tasty.”
    “ Things are going okay I guess,” Emily replied. The normally shy girl seemed to be relaxing a little bit.
    “ That's good,” Mitchell nodded as he put the spoon down. “You know, Emily, you've been such a great help over the years to Vicky and Sarah. Vicky's told me so much about you.”
    “ Oh?” Emily blushed a little and glanced at Vicky. Vicky managed a smile in return. The truth was she did often talk about Emily. She had started at the inn when she was only eighteen and was one of the hardest working young women she knew. She always made sure all of her tasks were complete and would often offer to help others that may have fallen behind. She was certainly not someone who would strike her as violent. She seemed to genuinely care about the guests that stayed at the inn and was especially good with the children who stayed there. But, none of that changed what Vicky had found in her closet.
    “ But it seems to me every time I see you, you're alone,” Mitchell suddenly said, drawing Emily's attention sharply back to him.
    “ Well, I am alone a lot,” Emily agreed nervously.
    “ Shy right?” Mitchell's smile spread warmly. “You know when I was in high school I could barely speak to a girl. If one tried to talk to me, I'd drop my books, stumble over my words, or do something else terribly embarrassing. It got to where I would just avoid them.”
    Vicky raised an eyebrow. She didn't know this about Mitchell, and wondered if he was telling the truth or just trying to coax Emily. What she couldn't figure out was what he was trying to coax her into.
    “ I was really shy in school, too,” Emily admitted and then she added in a whisper. “I used to snort every time someone tried to talk to me. I couldn't help it!”
    “ Of course not, some people are just shy,” Mitchell shrugged and encouraged her to take another bite of the ice cream.
    “ But that's changed for me now,” Mitchell added. “Since I met Vicky, I don't think I’ve stuttered over my words once,” he glanced up at Vicky with a smile. Vicky was feeling very out of the loop but she smiled at him in return. She was sure he had a plan, but she felt as if he was wasting time. She was more of a charge in and interrogate kind of woman, and though she respected Mitchell's expertise, she was getting impatient.
    “ Oh me, too,” Emily abruptly squealed. “Isn't it amazing when you finally meet the right person?” she asked with a heavy sigh. “It's like all that shyness, all that nervousness just disappears.”
    “ Mmhm,” Mitchell agreed and then settled his gaze on her. “So you've met someone like that?”
    Suddenly , Vicky knew where Mitchell was going with his line of questioning. So far she hadn't revealed to him that Emily and Jeremy were having an affair. She didn't want to give Jeremy more ammunition for his lawsuit, and she also didn't think it would be relevant. But things had certainly changed.
    “