better angel finally kicked in. “I’d be happy to show you around, and I wouldn’t dream of taking money for it. This week is packed because of the Memory Festival. How about one day next week?”
“That would be wonderful,” she said, obviously relieved. We both turned to look at Nadine bringing my plate of chicken and dumplings. “I’ll leave you to enjoy your supper. Looks delicious.”
“First nugget of San Celina insider information,” I said when Nadine slid the platter in front of me. “This place has the best food in town.”
Nadine pulled a bottle of Tabasco sauce from her apron pocket. “Your water’s on its way.” She glanced over at Lin. “Hey there, Miz Lin Snider. There’s lemon chess pie on the menu tomorrow. Come for lunch’cause there’s a good chance it’ll be gone by supper.” Nadine gave me the eye. “Lin loves her lemon chess pie.”
Lin laughed, touching Nadine’s forearm. “You know me already. My grandmother Lois made the best lemon pie. It’s always been my favorite.”
“Then see you tomorrow,” Nadine said. “I’ll put that on your tab, Benni. Tell that good-lookin’ husband of yours that I’m getting a little miffed. He hasn’t been here for lunch in four days.” She pulled a white paper bag from her apron pocket. “Here’s a couple of snickerdoodles for him.”
“Hey, what about me?” I called to her retreating back.
“You need to cut back on your sugar,” she said over her shoulder. “You’re starting to get some thighs on you. Ain’t that attractive.”
I turned back to Lin and smiled, holding up a palm. “There’s a small town for you. Everyone’s your mother.”
“I think it’s kind of nice. Reminds me of a time in my life—” She stopped and gave her head a little shake. “One more question, and I’ll get out of your hair. Where’s a good place to get a car repaired?”
“Depends on the car.”
“I have a Ford Taurus. It’s only a small problem. I backed into a tree stump, actually. I need a taillight and the cover for it.”
“Ouch,” I said, sprinkling Tabasco sauce on my chicken and dumplings.
“Depending on how much time you have, the best bet is to go to the Ford dealer over by the Madonna Inn. It’s right off Interstate 101. There are other shops where you could go, but they’d most likely have to order the part. If your car is new enough, the dealer may have any part you need right there. It’s more expensive, but quicker.”
“Thanks. Maybe I’ll see you Wednesday at the museum when I’m using the wheel.”
“Good chance I’ll be there.”
“Enjoy your supper.” With that, she turned and walked out of Liddie’s.
It took about thirty seconds before it clicked. I threw down my napkin and hurried for the door in time to see her pull out of Liddie’s parking lot. Only one taillight glowed when she put on the brakes on her Ford Taurus sedan. Her dark gray Ford Taurus sedan.
CHAPTER 4
I WENT BACK TO MY MEAL, FEELING A LITTLE FOOLISH. A GRAY sedan with a burned-out taillight. It was odd that the gray sedan I spotted leaving the Harper Ranch this morning had the same problem, but there were hundreds of cars similar to Lin Snider’s. Probably a few of them had broken taillights. Why was I looking for something suspicious in a perfectly believable coincidence?
My reputation as the police chief’s wife who seemed to constantly stumble into crime scenes was already carved in granite. My name was probably right at the top of the ballot for town eccentric. Much to Gabe’s relief, I had managed to maintain a crime-free profile for the last six months, and I was determined to keep it that way. Even if it had been Lin Snider out at the ranch, she said she’d been driving around the county. She found the old Harper Ranch accidentally, discovered an open door and decided to investigate. That’s all.
I was finishing my meal, idly contemplating my busy day tomorrow, the Mexican hot chocolate I’d make for Gabe
“That would be wonderful,” she said, obviously relieved. We both turned to look at Nadine bringing my plate of chicken and dumplings. “I’ll leave you to enjoy your supper. Looks delicious.”
“First nugget of San Celina insider information,” I said when Nadine slid the platter in front of me. “This place has the best food in town.”
Nadine pulled a bottle of Tabasco sauce from her apron pocket. “Your water’s on its way.” She glanced over at Lin. “Hey there, Miz Lin Snider. There’s lemon chess pie on the menu tomorrow. Come for lunch’cause there’s a good chance it’ll be gone by supper.” Nadine gave me the eye. “Lin loves her lemon chess pie.”
Lin laughed, touching Nadine’s forearm. “You know me already. My grandmother Lois made the best lemon pie. It’s always been my favorite.”
“Then see you tomorrow,” Nadine said. “I’ll put that on your tab, Benni. Tell that good-lookin’ husband of yours that I’m getting a little miffed. He hasn’t been here for lunch in four days.” She pulled a white paper bag from her apron pocket. “Here’s a couple of snickerdoodles for him.”
“Hey, what about me?” I called to her retreating back.
“You need to cut back on your sugar,” she said over her shoulder. “You’re starting to get some thighs on you. Ain’t that attractive.”
I turned back to Lin and smiled, holding up a palm. “There’s a small town for you. Everyone’s your mother.”
“I think it’s kind of nice. Reminds me of a time in my life—” She stopped and gave her head a little shake. “One more question, and I’ll get out of your hair. Where’s a good place to get a car repaired?”
“Depends on the car.”
“I have a Ford Taurus. It’s only a small problem. I backed into a tree stump, actually. I need a taillight and the cover for it.”
“Ouch,” I said, sprinkling Tabasco sauce on my chicken and dumplings.
“Depending on how much time you have, the best bet is to go to the Ford dealer over by the Madonna Inn. It’s right off Interstate 101. There are other shops where you could go, but they’d most likely have to order the part. If your car is new enough, the dealer may have any part you need right there. It’s more expensive, but quicker.”
“Thanks. Maybe I’ll see you Wednesday at the museum when I’m using the wheel.”
“Good chance I’ll be there.”
“Enjoy your supper.” With that, she turned and walked out of Liddie’s.
It took about thirty seconds before it clicked. I threw down my napkin and hurried for the door in time to see her pull out of Liddie’s parking lot. Only one taillight glowed when she put on the brakes on her Ford Taurus sedan. Her dark gray Ford Taurus sedan.
CHAPTER 4
I WENT BACK TO MY MEAL, FEELING A LITTLE FOOLISH. A GRAY sedan with a burned-out taillight. It was odd that the gray sedan I spotted leaving the Harper Ranch this morning had the same problem, but there were hundreds of cars similar to Lin Snider’s. Probably a few of them had broken taillights. Why was I looking for something suspicious in a perfectly believable coincidence?
My reputation as the police chief’s wife who seemed to constantly stumble into crime scenes was already carved in granite. My name was probably right at the top of the ballot for town eccentric. Much to Gabe’s relief, I had managed to maintain a crime-free profile for the last six months, and I was determined to keep it that way. Even if it had been Lin Snider out at the ranch, she said she’d been driving around the county. She found the old Harper Ranch accidentally, discovered an open door and decided to investigate. That’s all.
I was finishing my meal, idly contemplating my busy day tomorrow, the Mexican hot chocolate I’d make for Gabe
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