Read Online Scones, Skulls & Scams by Leighann Dobbs - Free Book Online Page B

Ida and Helen looked up from where they stood in front of the bakery case.
    “Morning Lexy,” they said in unison.
    “Morning ladies. What can I get you?”
    “Do we dare try the scones?” Ida twittered and then blanched at Lexy’s withering look. “Sorry dear, of course we’ll have a scone. Make that two scones each—we’ll take the second one home with us.”
    Lexy dished out the scones while the women helped themselves to coffee from the self-serve station. They settled into their favorite table with a large pile of napkins. Lexy watched in amusement as each of them unfolded one large napkin, placed a scone in the middle, then folded the edges around the scone to wrap it in a tight package they then shoved into their giant patent leather purses.
    Placing the purses on the backs of their chairs, they dug into the scones on the plates in front of them.
    “Lexy, did you remember those newspapers from Jack’s?” Nans asked.
    “Yes, I have them right here.” Lexy picked the stack of yellowed papers from the corner and brought them over to the table.  
    “Oh, there’s quite a lot of them,” Nans said.
    “I think the whole year is here.” Ruth pushed her plate aside and pulled the stack of papers in front of her. She divided the stack into four equal piles, then handed each lady a pile, keeping one for herself.
    Each unfolded her paper carefully and set about looking through it in between nibbles of scone and sips of coffee.
    “Look at these ads for hats!” Nans angled her paper so everyone could see the black and white drawings of 1940s style women’s hats.  
    “Imagine having to wear a fancy hat every day,” Ida twittered.
    “I know!” Helen said. “Back then people did dress much nicer, though.”
    “Yep. Every day clothing back then would be considered formal now. Women in dresses, men in suits. It was the norm back then.” Ruth held up her paper showing an old black and white photograph of downtown Brook Ridge Falls with people dressed in 1940s fashions.
    “Hold on girls.” Ida grabbed onto Nans’ arm. “I think I’ve hit the mother lode.”
    Lexy and the three other ladies turned questioning looks on her. She slid the paper toward them. “This issue is full of articles on the 1948 robbery!”
    “Let me see.” Nans reached over toward the paper. “Are there any photographs of the gangsters?”
    “Yeah. Pictures of the perps would sure liven up our display,” Ruth said.
    “Yes! Here’s one of Midas Mulcahey.” Ida laid the paper flat on the table, tapping her index finger on the faded picture of a man.
    Lexy squinted down at the picture. “That’s pretty faded. You can barely make him out.”
    “Wait a minute.” The tone of Nans’ voice made Lexy’s stomach tighten. “Is that what I think it is?”
    Ida dug a large magnifying glass out of her purse and placed it over the picture. Four gray heads bent down to look through the glass.
    “It is!” Nans said. “Midas Mulcahey had two gold front teeth—just like the skull they dug up from the sewer.”

Chapter Eleven

    Lexy stared wide-eyed at Nans. “You think that skull is the gangster Midas Mulcahey?”  
    “Sure.” Nans nodded. “How many people do you know who have two gold teeth? Says right here those teeth are what gave him the nickname Midas.”
    Ida glanced out the window. “I wonder how long he’s been down there.”
    “According to what we’ve read in the research, he disappeared right after the bank robbery,” Ruth said. “I just assumed he ran off somewhere to spend the money.”
    “Yeah, I bet everyone did.” Lexy followed Ida’s gaze.
    “But he was here in town the whole time,” Helen said.  
    “Do you think he hid the money down in the sewers?” Cassie had come out from the back room just in time to overhear the news about Midas.
    “I can’t think of a better place to hide it,” Nans said.
    “I bet someone killed him for it! Probably one of the other gangsters.” Ida stabbed her finger