Read Cloudy with a Chance of Ghosts (Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries Book 4) for Free Online Page B

being stolen?”
    “Oh sure. Hotels usually have a safe or someplace where people can put valuables.” She gave a quick chortle. “You want to go back and try your desk clerk again?”
    “Hmm.” I glanced out into the lobby and groaned. “Too late. The professionals have arrived. I don’t think we can beat them to this one.”
    I saw Lieutenant Roy, but only seconds before he saw me. He came walking into the lounge and headed straight for our table. I got goose bumps. Something about the swaggering way he walked toward us reminded me of a gunslinger walking out to face the bad guy.  
    Only—I wasn’t a villain. Was I?
    But the real question was—did he think of me that way? Sometimes it felt like it. Strange thoughts like that were swirling in my mind as he stopped and looked down at me.  
    “Mele Keahi. We meet again.” He sighed and glanced toward heaven. “Why did I have a feeling I would find you here?”
    I took a deep breath and met his skeptical gaze. “That isn’t so hard, you know. You must be aware that Jill’s new friend Jagger has been implicated, though we hope not too seriously. And if you knew that, you would know we’d have to be looking into things.” I hated how defensive I sounded.  
    His eyes widened with alarm. “Just exactly what have you been doing?” he asked.  
    That was always the question—it was a balancing act. How much could I tell him? How much could I get him to tell me? We were both walking on egg shells here.  
    “We’ve been gathering information,” I said, chin up. “Trying to find out who the murder victim really is and why she was here.”
    He looked astounded. “Okay. That sounds like you. So what have you found out?”
    I began to gather my things.  
    “She lives in Boston,” I said quickly. “She was here working on a story, probably for a magazine. The story might or might not have been on Carlton Hart.” I looked up into his gorgeous eyes. “And you might want to take a look in the hotel safe to see if she kept any notes on her work there, because we couldn’t find it anywhere else.” I met his gaze a bit defiantly. “I suppose you’ve already checked out her rental car.”
    He tried to hold it back but a grin would not be denied and it twisted his wide mouth anyway. His eyes were shining with something—laughter? Disdain? Outrage? I couldn’t tell which.  
    “How did I ever solve crimes without you two?” he said.
    Jill gave a gurgling laugh. She’d been gathering her things too, and we were about to make a getaway. “Think of us as the Little Helpers of the North Destiny Bay Police. When murder’s in the air, we’ll be there.”
    “Ugh!” I said, giving her a disgusted look as we rose to go. I glanced at Roy. “Don’t worry, we’ll be thinking up a better motto.” I smiled. “See you.”
    He raised one dark eyebrow as he took in how I looked in the slinky jumpsuit. “Lookin’ good, girl,” he said softly. “And hey—that’s a nice bracelet you have there.”
    I held out my arm so he could see it better. “Yup,” I said, flirting with my eyes. “Someone very special gave this to me.” I made a face as I prepared to sashay past him. “No one you would know.”
    He grinned, catching my hand for just a moment. “I’ll call you later,” he said softly as he let me slip past.  
    I glanced up into his face and felt a little sizzle. “Good.”
    He watched us go with a bemused smile on his face and I tried to decide if I felt humbled or challenged by his attitude. At least he hadn’t ordered me to stay away from the investigation. Not yet, anyway.

Chapter Four

    I had a restless night. The only good part was when Roy called and we had a long, long talk, me under my covers, in the dark and feeling like sharing—he, in his car, waiting to go into his condo after a long day at work. We didn’t talk about the murder. We had other things to share. And it was definitely one of the best talks we’d ever had.  
    Still, it