Read Online Mission to Murder by Lynn Cahoon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lynn Cahoon
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that display, probably because the tourists wanted a taste of the local culture.
I was pouring two large coffees and boxing a pie to go from the back when Brenda finally returned to the store, her eyes red like she’d been crying. “Hey, I’ll be done in a second.”
She shook her head. “I’ve got to go. It was nice seeing you.”
I took a step toward her. “Hold on, are you okay?”
“Not really.” She forced a smile, then almost sprinted out of the shop. The couple glanced at her and then back to me.
“Looks like she’s just been told her dog died,” the man joked.
Since I knew that wasn’t true, I wondered who, besides her dead husband, could have Brenda that upset.
CHAPTER 6
C ounting down the minutes, I was almost at the end of my shift when Esmeralda swept in the door. Thirty more and I would have been on my way home. My luck always ran bad. At least this time she’d left her cat at home.
She sauntered up to the counter, her multicolored skirt swishing due to the honest-to-God petticoat she wore underneath. Chains circled her neck and hung loosely on her white peasant blouse. She wore her salt-and-pepper hair long and loose over her shoulders. And, even I had to admit, the woman rocked the gypsy look. Since her “profession” was the town psychic when she wasn’t answering phones over at the police station, she knew how to stay in character.
And the tourists loved it.
“Double-shot vanilla latte? Or is it a chai tea day?” I asked, trying not to make eye contact. After Amy’s warning, I knew this could be more than a social call.
Esmeralda waved her hand and the diamond rings on all four fingers and her thumb glittered in the bright lights. “Whatever. I’ll play your game. I’m here to talk to you, but you already knew that.”
I made the double shot latte, making sure to use skim milk and sugar-free flavorings. The woman was constantly counting calories even though she probably wore a size six. Maybe her vision showed her what could be if she let herself gain weight?
Handing her the cup, I called over to Toby, who had already arrived for his shift. “I’m taking a break. Yell if you need something.”
Esmeralda held out money for the drink. I poured myself a cup of black and waved her money aside. “On the house.” I pulled off my apron and stepped around the counter, my inside screaming, urging me to run. Instead I nodded to the empty couch over near the mystery section. “Let’s sit.”
She followed me and I cringed with each step but pasted on a happy face by the time we’d settled on the old leather couch. I took a sip of the black gold to steady my nerves, then asked, “What’s up?”
Esmeralda set her untouched drink on a coaster on the coffee table. When she leaned closer, I could see the worry on her face. “The spirits are trying to contact you.”
“I haven’t missed any calls,” I quipped.
“This isn’t a joking matter. I’ve been woken three nights in a row by a woman who says you’re blocking her.” Esmeralda’s eyes narrowed. “Has anything weird happened lately?”
“Besides Craig Morgan being killed?” My mind flashed on Emma and her sudden fascination with the back of the yard the last two nights. And that puff of white. I pushed the questions away. If some spirit was trying to reach me, they needed to be more up front in their communication style. I didn’t have time for guessing games.
Esmeralda frowned. “Maybe it’s about that. Although I don’t think so.” She leaned closer. “You have seen some things recently, I can tell by your denial.”
“If that’s true, you should work full-time at the police station. I’m sure Greg could use a human lie detector.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt bad. “Look, I don’t mean to upset you, but really . . .”
She leaned even closer and took my hand. “Really, you’re scared. There’s no reason not to open yourself up to the other world. They are there to guide us,
I was pouring two large coffees and boxing a pie to go from the back when Brenda finally returned to the store, her eyes red like she’d been crying. “Hey, I’ll be done in a second.”
She shook her head. “I’ve got to go. It was nice seeing you.”
I took a step toward her. “Hold on, are you okay?”
“Not really.” She forced a smile, then almost sprinted out of the shop. The couple glanced at her and then back to me.
“Looks like she’s just been told her dog died,” the man joked.
Since I knew that wasn’t true, I wondered who, besides her dead husband, could have Brenda that upset.
CHAPTER 6
C ounting down the minutes, I was almost at the end of my shift when Esmeralda swept in the door. Thirty more and I would have been on my way home. My luck always ran bad. At least this time she’d left her cat at home.
She sauntered up to the counter, her multicolored skirt swishing due to the honest-to-God petticoat she wore underneath. Chains circled her neck and hung loosely on her white peasant blouse. She wore her salt-and-pepper hair long and loose over her shoulders. And, even I had to admit, the woman rocked the gypsy look. Since her “profession” was the town psychic when she wasn’t answering phones over at the police station, she knew how to stay in character.
And the tourists loved it.
“Double-shot vanilla latte? Or is it a chai tea day?” I asked, trying not to make eye contact. After Amy’s warning, I knew this could be more than a social call.
Esmeralda waved her hand and the diamond rings on all four fingers and her thumb glittered in the bright lights. “Whatever. I’ll play your game. I’m here to talk to you, but you already knew that.”
I made the double shot latte, making sure to use skim milk and sugar-free flavorings. The woman was constantly counting calories even though she probably wore a size six. Maybe her vision showed her what could be if she let herself gain weight?
Handing her the cup, I called over to Toby, who had already arrived for his shift. “I’m taking a break. Yell if you need something.”
Esmeralda held out money for the drink. I poured myself a cup of black and waved her money aside. “On the house.” I pulled off my apron and stepped around the counter, my inside screaming, urging me to run. Instead I nodded to the empty couch over near the mystery section. “Let’s sit.”
She followed me and I cringed with each step but pasted on a happy face by the time we’d settled on the old leather couch. I took a sip of the black gold to steady my nerves, then asked, “What’s up?”
Esmeralda set her untouched drink on a coaster on the coffee table. When she leaned closer, I could see the worry on her face. “The spirits are trying to contact you.”
“I haven’t missed any calls,” I quipped.
“This isn’t a joking matter. I’ve been woken three nights in a row by a woman who says you’re blocking her.” Esmeralda’s eyes narrowed. “Has anything weird happened lately?”
“Besides Craig Morgan being killed?” My mind flashed on Emma and her sudden fascination with the back of the yard the last two nights. And that puff of white. I pushed the questions away. If some spirit was trying to reach me, they needed to be more up front in their communication style. I didn’t have time for guessing games.
Esmeralda frowned. “Maybe it’s about that. Although I don’t think so.” She leaned closer. “You have seen some things recently, I can tell by your denial.”
“If that’s true, you should work full-time at the police station. I’m sure Greg could use a human lie detector.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt bad. “Look, I don’t mean to upset you, but really . . .”
She leaned even closer and took my hand. “Really, you’re scared. There’s no reason not to open yourself up to the other world. They are there to guide us,
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