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

interrupted Bob creating a hiding place for his stolen money? She couldn't believe how naive she had been to think that he was really just looking for a job. She had been rubbing elbows with a violent criminal without even realizing it. He was looking for a place to lay low until he was sure it was safe to spend his fortune.
    "Where?" Aunt Ida pressed and grinned eagerly as she snapped her fingers. "I'll get the shovel!"
    "By the deck," Vicky nodded slowly, trying to recall the exact spot where he had dug. "If it's going to be anywhere, it's going to be buried beside that deck!" she said with confidence.
    It felt a bit like a wild goose chase. What were the chances that they were right? But what harm would it do to dig a little hole beside the deck? It would do a lot of good if it turned out to be true. They stopped at the garden shed on the way to the employee's quarters to grab a shovel. All of the tools had been inspected and evaluated, but none had shown any evidence of being involved in the crime. When they reached the area beside the deck, Vicky carefully looked over the dirt and grass. She was replaying the memory so that she could find the exact right spot. Aunt Ida couldn't stop talking.
    "Oh I bet there are jewels," she said gleefully, her eyes wide and shimmering. "How I love jewels. Just think of all that booty!"
    "Aunt Ida," Vicky actually managed a laugh as she began digging where she thought the right spot was. "Bob wasn't a pirate,” she pointed out as patiently as she could.
    "A pirate, or a thief, what's the difference?" she shrugged mildly with a smile. "Who cares as long as there are diamonds in that treasure chest!" she was practically drooling at the thought.
    Vicky thought Aunt Ida's wild ideas were getting a little out of control, but again, she didn't think they would do any harm. As she pushed the shovel deep into the dirt, she hoped there really would be a treasure chest. If there was, she could turn it over to the police, and all of this would be put to rest. Vicky tossed quite a few shovels of dirt to the side.  It was hard work on an unusually warm spring day, and she was getting covered in sweat. The physical labor was also aggravating the bump on the back of her head, but she kept digging. Aunt Ida kept prattling on.
    "Maybe Bob really did steal it from pirates," Ida pointed out dreamily. "We don't know what he might have stolen. So there really could be diamonds in there. If there is, it wouldn't do any harm to keep just one, now would it Vicky?" she asked with a quiet giggle.
    When Vicky didn't answer she looked over at her niece. "Vicky?" she asked again.
    Vicky 's shovel had struck something hard and large. Too large to be a pipe. Something was down there under the dirt.
    "I think I found it," she murmured back, her brow covered in sweat. She crouched down and began to brush the dirt away with her bare hands. It wasn't long before she uncovered a large box. It was metal, and didn't exactly look like a treasure chest, but it did have a lock on the front that looked like it would fit the small key. Vicky picked it up out of the hole and was about to turn around to show it to Aunt Ida, when they heard a booming voice call out to both of them.
    "Put the box down!" Timothy commanded. He was positioned right behind them and must have sneaked up on them while they were busy staring at the box. When Vicky looked up at him she looked down the barrel of a gun that was pointed in her direction. She was terrified, she had never had a real gun pointed at her before. Slowly, with trembling hands, she lowered the box to the ground in front of her.
    "Well, I can't tell you both how much I appreciate the two of you doing my dirty work for me," he laughed, and his gratitude actually seemed genuine. Vicky knew why, since the hot day was causing sweat to trickle down her back, and her arms were aching from digging.
    “Why don't you just mind your own business?” Aunt Ida snapped, causing Vicky's eyes to go