Read Online Thai Coconut Murder: Book 6 in The Darling Deli Series by Patti Benning - Free Book Online Page B

would have called by now.
    She woke up too hot, and threw the blankets off herself. It seemed the motel either didn’t have air conditioning or it was broken. Feeling gross from the too-warm morning and the long day of traveling the day before, she opted to take a quick shower before checking in on things back home.
    The water pressure was good, and there seemed to be an infinite supply of warm water, so she ended up staying under the spray for longer than she had meant to. When she got out and finally checked her phone, she saw that she had missed a call from Candice.
    “Hey Mom, it’s me,” the message began. “I hope you’re having fun up north. Everything is going super well here. Maverick seems to miss you, but he liked his walk last night. The deli was really busy yesterday, but everything went smoothly. I’ve got some exciting news, though. Call me back! Drive safe… bye.”
    She called her daughter back right away, but only got her voice mail. She glanced at the clock and saw that her daughter would already be at the deli, and was probably just starting her shift. It would be hours before she checked her phone again. Moira left a quick message, letting her daughter know that her trip was going well, and asking her to call her back when she got the chance. She hung up, thankful that things back home seemed to be going smoothly. After quickly getting dressed and tying her wet hair back, she went to find David and see what their plans were for the day.
    “There it is,” the private investigator said as they approached a driveway a mile down the road from Henry’s cabin. “The neighbor’s name is Beth. I’ve only met her once, so she may not be willing to help us, but we can at least give it a try.”
    They parked next to a dilapidated Oldsmobile. David left the car running as he strode toward the porch. Moira hung a few steps back, feeling outside her comfort zone. She wasn’t used to walking so boldly up to a stranger’s house, and felt oddly like she was trespassing. She supposed David must be used to it. He had to talk to a lot of people, not all of them pleasant, in his line of work.
    “Yes?” said the elderly woman who opened the door at his knock. “Can I help you?”
    “My name is David Morris,” he told her. “I don’t know if you remember, but we met once before, a few years ago…”
    “Oh, yes, I remember, dearie. Come on in. How are you?”
    They followed the old woman inside, Moira introducing herself quickly, hoping the invitation inside had been meant for both of them. Beth just smiled and shook her hand.
    “It’s such a pleasure to meet you,” she said. The deli owner realized with a start that chances were this woman didn’t know that Henry had passed away. She had probably known him for years , she thought. Suddenly she wished that she had stayed in the car.
    “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?” David asked, professional now that the introductions were out of the way.
    “Of course, go right ahead. And here, take a seat.” She ushered them to the kitchen, where she pulled out an antique stool for herself. Moira and David joined her at the table, David taking the cup of tea she offered him. Moira refused politely, unwilling to make any more work for the woman.
    “Do you know if Henry came up here at all this winter?” he asked once she was settled.
    “No… no, I don’t think he did. I felt bad because I couldn’t bring his mail in as often as I usually do. This is a seasonal road you know, so we have to plow it ourselves. Anyway, whenever I did stop by to check up on the cabin, there was never any sign of anyone else. The mail pile just kept growing, too.” She took a small sip of her tea, then set it down. “I don’t blame him for not wanting to make the drive this year; we’re both getting old, you know, and the cold weather just makes your joints ache when you get to be our age.”
    “How did he seem the last time you spoke to him? Was he worried about