Trifle and Trouble (No-Bake Cozy Mysteries Book 2)
Page 7
Nessa hadn’t known about the lack of evidence. “I’m sorry you’ve been feeling so stressed out about things. That must be hard to get your job done.”
“Definitely. I’ve been short with Daniel all week. He probably can’t wait for me to end my shift today. The new chef is really good, but he’s kind of annoying, so everything he says makes me crazy.”
Nessa frowned. Great, her potential new employee was annoying.
“I’m sure Daniel is fine. He’s pretty patient,” Nessa said.
“Totally. Then there’s Crystal. She won’t shut up about money or her boyfriend or some apartment she needs a security deposit for. She keeps going on and on about how Daniel cut Randy’s hours, and she’s driving me nuts.”
“Is Randy her boyfriend?” Nessa asked.
“Yes, but please don’t tell Daniel. Although, I guess if he’s not going to stay working here, then it really doesn’t matter. He doesn’t like dating in the workplace,” she added.
“I won’t say a word,” Nessa promised.
“Thanks, and thanks for listening. I couldn’t very well complain to any of them about how badly they’re annoying me.” Mallory laughed.
As they finished talking, two women passed their table, one loudly saying how ‘it was probably the daughter-in-law’. She said it so loudly that Nessa knew it was for Mallory to hear.
Mallory closed her eyes and clenched her fists. “See what I mean? I didn’t do it!”
Nessa nodded. “I know you didn’t, but I think I know who did.”
Nessa told Mallory what she knew, and Mallory had additional proof that set it all in stone.
She pulled out her phone and called Chief Rafferty’s direct line, thankful that he’d been a friend of her family’s for years. She explained what she thought and he asked her to stay where she was until he arrived.
Before Nessa called Raff, she’d instructed Mallory to go inside and tell Daniel what was going on. The police needed to be able to do their jobs, but she didn’t want The Shack to be in an uproar. Nessa sat alone, playing on her phone, until Raff and another officer showed up.
“Listen. I want you to explain to me one more time what you know. I’m going to send Officer Bishop inside to keep an eye on things.”
Nessa nodded and began her lengthy story. “You determined that it wasn’t Kyle, and while I had my suspicions that either Susie or Quinn or even Quinn’s son Brice was responsible, I just wasn’t positive. It wasn’t until I started talking with Mallory that it all made sense. You see, Randy needed a job to help get funds for the apartment he and Crystal wanted. Crystal sees an opportunity with Ellen because she and Kyle argued so much, so she kills Ellen in hopes that Kyle will be blamed. Which, at first, he was. Now that he was cleared, she’s upset because Daniel has to cut his hours already so Kyle can return. She killed Ellen to get her boyfriend a job.”
“And your proof?” Raff asked, his arms crossed.
“Aside from the fact that Crystal was the one who got Randy the job, and they were both here the day Kyle and Ellen were fighting, which could have given her the idea, there’s also the fact that Mallory said that Crystal took her break early the day Ellen was killed. She said she had a phone call she had to make that was important.”
“So, you think she took her break to go off and kill Ellen.”
“I do, and Mallory went to tell Daniel everything, and he’s pulling the time cards and cameras. That way, you can match it with the time Ellen was killed.”
Raff nodded, patted her on the back, and marched off toward the restaurant, his right hand on his handcuffs.
Chapter Seventeen
“I’d like to make an offer,” Nessa said, standing by the island in the center of what she hoped to be her new kitchen.
“Now?” her realtor asked.
“Right now.”
The house was perfect for her despite all the work it needed. She’d take one day at a time and not worry about rushing to get things finished. She had a perfectly good place to stay at her grandfather’s, so if she did decide to do any major renovations, she didn’t have to worry about being uncomfortable in her own home.
“I’ll make a call,” the realtor said, sneaking outside.
Nessa pulled out her phone and sent Daniel a text. Before she knew it, he was at the front door.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I knew you were coming today, so I’ve been at Bizzie’s waiting for your call.”
“That’s really sweet,” Nessa told him.
“You love it, don’t you?” he asked.
“I really do. I just told her to put in an offer for me. I want this place.”
“Even with the work it needs?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Even though you’ll be neighbors with Bizzie?”
Nessa laughed. “I mean, it’s certainly not why I put in an offer, but yeah, even though.”
“It’s a beautiful home,” Daniel said.
“Think of all the parties I could host. I’ve got a pool and a big backyard. I’ve got three extra bedrooms. I mean, the place is massive and way too big for just me, but I have a lot of stuff, and I don’t like to feel cramped.”
“Are you leaving to go get your things soon?” Daniel asked.
“I’m having a neighbor help pack up, but yeah, I need to go home sometime,” Nessa explained, still in awe that the house might soon be hers.
“Nessa,” Daniel said. “It sounds like Lake Wilawalo is your home now.”
She smiled and leaned into him. He was right. Granger was home for a long time, but life changes, and unexpected things happened. She was making a life somewhere new and was eager to do so.
“You’re completely right. Thanks for the reminder.”
“Thanks for solving another murder,” he said. “Ranger told me you were getting an invite to his meeting.”
“Lucky me.”
“He must have decided that little Nessa Pierce could fend for herself.”
“Again, lucky me.”
“Hey, you did a good thing. I had no idea Crystal was even on your radar.”
“She wasn’t. But looking back to when you told me she found you the employee, then how upset she was you were cutting his hours, plus what Mallory told me about the apartment and the money, it all just made sense.”
“Well, either way. You did good. Except now, I need another waitress,” Daniel said.
“I guess we’re in the same boat. Somehow, I don’t think it’s right to hire Randy because I’m betting he knew all along what Crystal did. The police are going to deal with them while we deal with finding new workers.”
“It could be worse,” Daniel said, looking up when a door slammed shut.
“The only thing I can think of that’s worse is Nessa Pierce living next door to me!” Bizzie stood in front of them with her hands on her hips.
Nessa and Daniel shared a look and burst into laughter.
Also by Ramona Ransom
Check out all the books in Ramona Ransom’s catalog!
Ramona Ransom Book Catalog
Author’s Note
I’d love to hear your thoughts on my books, the storylines, and anything else that you’d like to comment on—reader feedback is very important to me. My contact information, along with some other helpful links, is listed on the next page. If you’d like to be on my list of “folks to contact” with updates, release and sales notifications, etc.… just shoot me an email and let me know. Thanks for reading!
Also…
… if you’re looking for more great reads, Summer Prescott Books publishes several popular series by outstanding Cozy Mystery authors.
Contact Summer Prescott Books Publishing
Twitter: @summerprescott1
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/summer-prescott
Blog and Book Catalog: http://summerprescottbooks.com
Email: summer.prescott.cozies@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.yout
ube.com/channel/UCngKNUkDdWuQ5k7-Vkfrp6A
And…be sure to check out the Summer Prescott Cozy Mysteries fan page and Summer Prescott Books Publishing Page on Facebook – let’s be friends!
To download a free book, and sign up for our fun and exciting newsletter, which will give you opportunities to win prizes and swag, enter contests, and be the first to know about New Releases, click here: http://summerprescottbooks.com