Read Online Murder of the Cat's Meow: A Scumble River Mystery by Denise Swanson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Denise Swanson
Ads: Link
behavior didn’t bother me one way or the other.”
“You weren’t?” Skye tilted her head. “How about the man you left the bar with after the speed-dating event?”
“He wasn’t my date.” Bunny stared at Skye without blinking. “Just some guy asking me to show him where the bathrooms were at.”
“But…” Skye trailed off. She didn’t believe the older woman’s explanation, but she’d wait until she and Bunny were alone to finesse the truth out of her.
The four of them talked a little more about whom Alexis had upset during the cat show, and as Skye wrote down the last name, she said to Bunny, “By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask you—don’t you usually have bowling leagues here on both Saturday and Sunday?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Did you cancel them?”
“Yeah.”
“Weren’t the bowlers annoyed?”
“A few were.” Bunny shrugged. “It wasn’t a big deal. I told them we’d make it up at the end of the season.”
“Won’t Simon be mad when he hears?”
“Yes.” A male voice behind her made Skye whip her head around. “He will, and he is.”
“Sonny Boy!” Bunny let out a shriek. “Uh, I wasn’t expecting you until later tonight.” She jumped to her feet and backed away from him. “How was your weekend with your new friend?”
Skye blinked. Was Simon’s new friend a woman? Her stomach clenched, but she made herself relax. Simonhaving a girlfriend would be a good thing, right? She wanted him to find someone to love, didn’t she?
“You must be tired from the long drive.” Bunny turned toward the bar. “Let me get you a glass of wine.”
“Mother.” Simon’s tone was firm. “It’s only three in the afternoon. I don’t want a drink. I want to know what the hell is going on around here.”
CHAPTER 7
Let the Cat Out of the Bag
N ot wanting to be present while Bunny attempted to explain the weekend events to her son, Skye jumped to her feet. She glanced at Frannie and Justin, noted their fascinated expressions, and grabbed each of them by the hand. As she hustled the reluctant pair toward the bowling alley door, she enticed them with promises of coffee drinks and yummy pastries at Tales and Treats.
The combination bookstore and café had opened last fall to mixed reviews. While many Scumble Riverites were happy to see a new business in town, an equal number resented the change that the shop represented. After protest marches, petitions, and a tragic murder, now, six months later, the controversy had finally died down. And when Skye walked into the store a few minutes later, it was bustling with customers carrying stacks of paperbacks.
Risé Vaughn, one of the co-owners, stood at the front counter talking to a customer and gesturing to the cage that held the store’s pet chinchillas. Skye waved as she made her way through the main room, which contained the register, gift items associated with reading and writing, and a massive glass-front oak cupboard holding rare and first editions.
Radiating from the central hub was the café and four areas decorated according the genre displayed—mystery, romance, science fiction/fantasy/horror, and literature. Skye was tempted to make a quick stop in the mystery section. She’d heard about a new series set in a small-town dime store, and wanted to grab a copy of the first book before the store sold out. But after a moment’s hesitation, she decided she’d better grab a table instead. Because of the wonderful baked goods, the café was often standing room only.
However, when Skye entered the coffee bar, she saw only a few people lingering over their cups, idly turning the pages of magazines or working on their laptops. She’d forgotten it was Sunday. Tales and Treats would be closing in less than half an hour and the pastry selection looked nearly as barren as a plate of goodies in the teachers’ lounge five minutes after the lunch bell rang.
After selecting a seat in the rear corner where their conversation wouldn’t
“You weren’t?” Skye tilted her head. “How about the man you left the bar with after the speed-dating event?”
“He wasn’t my date.” Bunny stared at Skye without blinking. “Just some guy asking me to show him where the bathrooms were at.”
“But…” Skye trailed off. She didn’t believe the older woman’s explanation, but she’d wait until she and Bunny were alone to finesse the truth out of her.
The four of them talked a little more about whom Alexis had upset during the cat show, and as Skye wrote down the last name, she said to Bunny, “By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask you—don’t you usually have bowling leagues here on both Saturday and Sunday?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Did you cancel them?”
“Yeah.”
“Weren’t the bowlers annoyed?”
“A few were.” Bunny shrugged. “It wasn’t a big deal. I told them we’d make it up at the end of the season.”
“Won’t Simon be mad when he hears?”
“Yes.” A male voice behind her made Skye whip her head around. “He will, and he is.”
“Sonny Boy!” Bunny let out a shriek. “Uh, I wasn’t expecting you until later tonight.” She jumped to her feet and backed away from him. “How was your weekend with your new friend?”
Skye blinked. Was Simon’s new friend a woman? Her stomach clenched, but she made herself relax. Simonhaving a girlfriend would be a good thing, right? She wanted him to find someone to love, didn’t she?
“You must be tired from the long drive.” Bunny turned toward the bar. “Let me get you a glass of wine.”
“Mother.” Simon’s tone was firm. “It’s only three in the afternoon. I don’t want a drink. I want to know what the hell is going on around here.”
CHAPTER 7
Let the Cat Out of the Bag
N ot wanting to be present while Bunny attempted to explain the weekend events to her son, Skye jumped to her feet. She glanced at Frannie and Justin, noted their fascinated expressions, and grabbed each of them by the hand. As she hustled the reluctant pair toward the bowling alley door, she enticed them with promises of coffee drinks and yummy pastries at Tales and Treats.
The combination bookstore and café had opened last fall to mixed reviews. While many Scumble Riverites were happy to see a new business in town, an equal number resented the change that the shop represented. After protest marches, petitions, and a tragic murder, now, six months later, the controversy had finally died down. And when Skye walked into the store a few minutes later, it was bustling with customers carrying stacks of paperbacks.
Risé Vaughn, one of the co-owners, stood at the front counter talking to a customer and gesturing to the cage that held the store’s pet chinchillas. Skye waved as she made her way through the main room, which contained the register, gift items associated with reading and writing, and a massive glass-front oak cupboard holding rare and first editions.
Radiating from the central hub was the café and four areas decorated according the genre displayed—mystery, romance, science fiction/fantasy/horror, and literature. Skye was tempted to make a quick stop in the mystery section. She’d heard about a new series set in a small-town dime store, and wanted to grab a copy of the first book before the store sold out. But after a moment’s hesitation, she decided she’d better grab a table instead. Because of the wonderful baked goods, the café was often standing room only.
However, when Skye entered the coffee bar, she saw only a few people lingering over their cups, idly turning the pages of magazines or working on their laptops. She’d forgotten it was Sunday. Tales and Treats would be closing in less than half an hour and the pastry selection looked nearly as barren as a plate of goodies in the teachers’ lounge five minutes after the lunch bell rang.
After selecting a seat in the rear corner where their conversation wouldn’t
Similar Books
