Read A Caffeinated Crunch: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 2) for Free Online

minutes, and then got down to the heavy duty agenda. Mildred and her worrisome behavior.
     
    “Jules filled me in,” Hildie said.
     
    “Lily just told me out in the parking lot. How in the world does the poor old girl get into these situations?”
     
    Hildie shrugged. “I don’t know. She’s here this evening with Gladys and a few of their friends.” Hildie motioned over to a table where the women were sitting.
     
    “She seems to be having a good time,” I said.
     
    “She is now,” Jules replied. “Carl the creep came in earlier and you could tell it was getting to Mildred. She ran to the ladies room and Gladys followed her. After a few minutes Gladys came out and walked over to Carl who was standing watching the crowd. She pointed her finger in his face and they got into a heated argument. He finally turned and left. By that time Mildred emerged from the ladies room and they went back to the table. Gladys got her something to drink and I think she may have poured a bit of vodka in it.”
     
    Essie’s eyes almost popped out of her head. “Huh? How do you know this Jules?”
     
    Jules looked surprised. “I thought everyone knew that Gladys carries a flask of vodka around in her purse. She says it’s for medicinal purposes.”
     
    “First I’ve heard about it,” Essie exclaimed, as she looked at Hildie. “Did you know about this?”
     
    Hildie waved her hand. “I’ve known for years.”
     
    Essie’s eyes grew large. “And nobody filled me in on this little tidbit?”
     
    Hildie shrugged. “I thought you knew. Everybody knows.”
     
    “Well I didn’t!” Essie was not pleased. She liked to have her pulse on the goings on in the community, and the fact she never knew of Gladys and her pet flask…well, there would be heck to pay for that little oversight. However, Hildie was having none of it.
     
    “Oh Essie, it’s not a big deal. So what? Gladys totes a flask full of booze in her purse. Jeanette over there packs a .22 handgun in hers.”
     
    Essie’s head almost spun off her neck. “She what?!”
     
    Hildie nodded. “Yep, ever since her husband died her son took her to one of those conceal and carry classes so she could take a gun with her wherever she goes. I heard she’s pretty good with it since he took her a few times to the shootin range.”
     
    Essie put her hands on her hips. “Well, aren’t you the gal with all the news.”
     
    “Maybe if you listened once in a while you’d know what’s going on in town,” Hildie remarked.
     
    “Don’t you start with me sister!”
     
    “Okay you two break it up,” I said getting between them. I’m sorry to say their quarrels happened quite frequently, but no one seemed perturbed. Most of the town was use to my aunts and their squabbles. Jules excused herself and went to sit with the girls she came with. The rest of us headed over to our designated table for dinner. My aunts and I along with our escorts sat at the same table, where we feasted on grilled chicken or steak, green beans, and mashed potatoes. Dessert was ice cream sundaes or devil’s food cake.
     
    During dinner we noticed Carl Jefferies had returned with his wife. She was a lovely lady with short grey hair and a cute little figure. I didn’t understand why he caroused around on her. I also saw Lucille who was sitting with a different group of ladies across the aisle from Mildred and Gladys’ table. Guess they didn’t run in the same circles. 
     
    After the dinner, while everyone drank coffee or other beverages, (note Gladys and her flask) the emcee for the night stood on stage to read off the list of companies contributing to the police fundraiser. I noticed Mildred left her table when dessert was served and never came back. Not long after, Essie elbowed me and pointed. Carl Jefferies had excused himself from his table as well.
     
    I put my hand over my mouth and whispered, “Do you think he’s following Mildred?”
     
    “I wouldn’t put it past him.