Read Online Mission to Murder by Lynn Cahoon - Free Book Online Page A

waiting.”
    “We need to talk,” Josh called after me as I scurried away.
    Pulling my keys out of my purse, I called back, “I’ll stop in this afternoon, after my shift.”
    The woman stood as I approached.
    “Sorry, I’m late. Busy morning already. No one ever talks to me on the walk in to work and today, I see three people. Must be some kind of record.” I realized I was chattering. But the woman didn’t seem to mind.
    “You’re not that late, besides I wanted to stop in and see you before I left anyway.”
    I swung open the door and flipped on the light switches. Stuffing my purse under the counter, her words sunk in. She stood across from me, a year older, but her eyes were still a brilliant blue. Her eye color was the only thing that hadn’t changed over the year. Instead of mousy brown hair, now she was a shiny blonde. More importantly, the woman had lost at least a hundred pounds. “Brenda?”
    “In the flesh. Of course there’s a lot less flesh of me now.” Brenda Morgan spun around, her figure trim in jeans and a cool flowy shirt. “You didn’t recognize me, did you?”
    “Not at all. Not being married to Craig agrees with you.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. I slapped a hand over my offending lips and could feel my face heat. “Oh Brenda, I’m such an idiot. I’m sorry for your loss.”
    She patted my arm. “No worries. We both know my ex was a miserable son of a biscuit and he probably deserved what he got. I’m sad Fifi got hurt in the process.”
    “How is she?” I pulled on an apron and put coffee filters in both the coffee brewers. Turning on the machines, I’d have hot coffee in minutes.
    Brenda slipped onto one of the bar stools by the counter. “The vet says I can take her home at the end of the week. Although I’m going to have to get a new place. No way would she be happy living in my tiny apartment.”
    “I know Emma would have the walls chewed by the time I returned from my shift. I’m glad I spent the extra money to fence the entire backyard. Although I suspect she spends most of her time on the porch sleeping.” Finished with the must-dos, I stopped in front of Craig’s ex-wife and smiled. “So what can I tempt you with today? A slice of banana bread? Or a slice of one of Sadie’s pies? My treat.”
    Brenda laughed. “Neither. I’d have to do a second run on the beach to burn the calories off. How about a cup of that hazelnut coffee I smell brewing?”
    “As soon as it’s done. You sure you don’t want some food? I’ve got a fruit cup Aunt Jackie added to the menu. She’s always pushing it to our customers.”
    “Sounds good.” Brenda set her phone on the countertop.
    As I grabbed the fruit from a fridge behind the bar, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the display, then stood.
    “Sorry, I’ll be right back. Work.” She stepped outside the shop and as she talked, I finished the rest of my morning prep. I didn’t want to pour her coffee until she returned, not knowing how long the conversation would last. When I glanced out the window to check on her, she appeared agitated at the person on the other end of the line. What would get her so worked up on a work call? When she lived here, she was working part-time for the English department at a college over in Bakerstown. Maybe a student upset at a grade?
    The bell over the door chimed and a couple walked in. They weren’t locals so I put on my best customer service smile and called out a greeting. The two stopped at a carousel near the door where I kept local author books. Local being from the entire California central coast. We did have one author in town. Bill not only ran a bed and breakfast and served as the chair of the business council, he also wrote historical California gold rush romance novels. But the rest of my books ranged from cozy mysteries to real crime, a few craft books, and the ever-popular New Age self-help books. And the damn things sold. I was always refilling