Read When Magic Is Murder (Sky High Pies Cozy Mysteries Book 4) for Free Online Page B

gorgeous
appearance. But then I snapped out of it and told them both that I was
exhausted and would take a look at the proposal soon as a courtesy.
    “Soon?” Edgerly smiled. “As
in…tonight?”
    I shrugged. “It will probably be
tomorrow, actually. I’ve had a long day. And I’m meeting someone for dinner in
a few minutes.”
    “Very well,” said Francine Tobin.
“In that case, I’ll plan on calling you the day after tomorrow. Mr. Edgerly and
I will be conducting business in Crescent Creek for the rest of the week, but
we’ll clear our calendar the moment you’re ready to sign the papers.”
    As they walked away toward the
hotel’s front entrance, I got into my car and started the engine. Then I leaned
my head on the steering wheel, took a deep breath and counted to ten.
    I know what you’re thinking ,
my inner voice whispered. And I know it rhymes with rich!

CHAPTER 8
     
     
    Since the shortest route to Luigi’s
Ristorante went by Uncommon Grounds, I decided to make a quick stop and satisfy
my curiosity about something. If Dean Oxford was behind the counter, I could
ask him confidentially about Bitsy Sanger. He was the owner of the popular java
joint and one of my favorite fellow entrepreneurs; trading tips on new
suppliers and vendors had become a monthly tradition since I took over Sky High
earlier in the year.
    “Hey, Katie,” he said as I
navigated the crowded coffee shop. “How’s it going?”
    “Pretty good, thanks. How are you?”
    He raised both hands and imitated
the oscillating motion of a teeter-totter. “Jeremiah quit without notice,” he
mumbled. “And somebody put an entire roll of paper towels into the toilet in
the men’s room.”
    I winced. “So sorry to hear the
news,” I said. “Especially about the clogged-up toilet.”
    “It’s clear now!” Dean grinned
triumphantly. “Thanks to Homer Dratch!”
    “Ah, the best plumber in the
world!”
    “And the richest,” Dean joked.
“From what he charges. But I’m not really complaining. I was grateful he could
swing by so quickly and help me out.”
    I nodded. “You feel like fixing me
a decaf cappuccino?”
    “Sure thing. Regular or flavored?”
    “I’ll go with regular, please. And
make it a small. I drank about a gallon of coffee when I was over at the Lodge
this afternoon.”
    “Yeah?” Dean started to work on my
drink, grinding beans and tamping the results into the portafilter. “How’s
Connie doing?”
    I didn’t like being the bearer of
bad news, but I wanted to be honest. I told Dean about the body. I told him that
the police were conducting the official investigation. And then I mentioned
that there was a cup from his place at the scene. When he heard that final
detail, his cheerful grin went flat.
    “Wow! Do you think…”
    I shrugged. “It could be a
coincidence.”
    “Was it marked?” asked Dean. “Or
was it blank?”
    “It had today’s date,” I told him.
“Along with the name Bitsy.”
    I saw the flash of recognition in
his eyes. “I’ve been here since we opened,” he said. And I remember that order.
It was the only soy latte so far today.”
    “Was it Bitsy Sanger?”
    Dean shook his head. “No, it was a
redhead that I’ve never seen before. When she ordered a skinny soy latte and
told me her name, I did a huge double take.” He chuckled softly. “I mean, it’s
a small town. And as far as I knew, there’s only one Bitsy living in Crescent
Creek. It just seemed like an interesting coincidence for someone with the very
same first name to order a skinny soy latte.”
    “Because that’s Bitsy Sanger’s
favorite?”
    “Yep. It’s actually the only thing she orders.”
    “And she wasn’t in today?”
    Dean shrugged. “Like I said, the
skinny soy latte earlier was ordered by a redhead. She was wearing some of
those stretchy yoga pants, running shoes and a parka.”
    “Sounds comfortable,” I said,
smiling.
    “Suppose so.”
    “Did you talk to her at all?”
    He answered by