A Special Delivery To Die For (A Rockcrest Cove Cozy Mystery Book 2) Read Online Free Page A
Author: Emily Page
irritated, “what is it?” To Bailey and Eleanor she apologetically stated, “She’s not usually like this. I don’t know what’s gotten into her today.”
“I do,” Eleanor said pointing at Maddie’s shoe, “there’s something stuck to the bottom of your shoe.”
Maddie stopped what she was doing and slipped off her shoe. She flipped it over to examine the bottom and found a small earring stuck to it. She pulled it out to examine it more closely.
“I think that’s the thing we saw in the photo,” Bailey said reaching for it. “Yes, I’m sure of it.” She grabbed the printed photo and put them next to one another. “Look!” She laid the earring down on top of the photo so that they could all see.
“You must have stepped on it when you were at the Stevens’ house.”
“Yeah. I guess so.”
“This is definitely our first clue,” Eleanor said. “At least we’ve confirmed that someone was with Ana the night she died and it must’ve been a woman.”
“NO!” shouted Bailey. “Men wear earrings, too!”
Chapter Three
At first glance, the Stevens Travel Agency seemed no different than any other. As you entered the front door, the typical wide-open reception room was similar to other agencies; four desks, one in each corner where the travel agents worked booking typical airline flights, cruises, and other travel packages for the average traveler and big posters on the walls boasting getaways to tropical resorts and fantasy packages for the most popular destinations around the world. It was exactly what you’d expect from a travel service.
Maddie and Bailey made a point to stand out from the typical traveler. Maddie had put on her one and only charcoal black designer dress and her most expensive pair of shoes, hoping they didn’t recognize that she was five years out-of-date. Bailey wore designer jeans with stylish camel-colored stilettos, a navy blue silk polka-dotted blouse, and camel-colored sweater layered on top; she pulled her long hair back taut into a ponytail. Whether they were able to pull off their “woman of substance” appearance they were unsure, but soon after they entered the office, a woman appeared through a side door greeting them with an extended hand.
“Hello,” she said, giving Maddie a soft handshake. “My name is Jessica, how can I be of assistance?”
“My name is Madeline McDougal and this is my granddaughter, Bailey. We were looking for a European tour package, but we just couldn’t bear one of those traditional package tours with a bunch of people from who-knows-where traveling with us. But we’ve often heard that Stevens has some awesome travel deals that would be worth looking into.”
“Why, of course,” Jessica replied. “I’d be happy to assist you with anything you need.”
“Well, we were hoping to see Ana. That’s who we were told to ask for.”
Jessica looked a little taken aback for only a half a beat. “Well, I’m afraid that’s not possible,” she finally said. “Perhaps you would like to speak with her assistant, Thomas. He’ll be stepping in and filling Ana’s shoes now.”
“Yes, we’d like that,” Maddie said.
Jessica quickly ushered the two women through the two elaborate side doors into a much more stylish office. Cherry wood paneling lined the walls with vast windows that overlooked the park across the street. They were seated in front of a massive wooden desk that Maddie thought would be much better suited for a corporate affair than for a travel agency. It appeared that Ms. Ana Stevens loved to live well beyond her means.
“Thomas will be with you shortly.”
“Thank you,” The two women said and Jessica politely excused herself.
As soon as she had left the room, Maddie and Bailey looked at each other in amazement.
“Wow! This was a travel agency?” Bailey exclaimed. “Oh-my-God!” she said, stressing every word. “This lady
“I do,” Eleanor said pointing at Maddie’s shoe, “there’s something stuck to the bottom of your shoe.”
Maddie stopped what she was doing and slipped off her shoe. She flipped it over to examine the bottom and found a small earring stuck to it. She pulled it out to examine it more closely.
“I think that’s the thing we saw in the photo,” Bailey said reaching for it. “Yes, I’m sure of it.” She grabbed the printed photo and put them next to one another. “Look!” She laid the earring down on top of the photo so that they could all see.
“You must have stepped on it when you were at the Stevens’ house.”
“Yeah. I guess so.”
“This is definitely our first clue,” Eleanor said. “At least we’ve confirmed that someone was with Ana the night she died and it must’ve been a woman.”
“NO!” shouted Bailey. “Men wear earrings, too!”
Chapter Three
At first glance, the Stevens Travel Agency seemed no different than any other. As you entered the front door, the typical wide-open reception room was similar to other agencies; four desks, one in each corner where the travel agents worked booking typical airline flights, cruises, and other travel packages for the average traveler and big posters on the walls boasting getaways to tropical resorts and fantasy packages for the most popular destinations around the world. It was exactly what you’d expect from a travel service.
Maddie and Bailey made a point to stand out from the typical traveler. Maddie had put on her one and only charcoal black designer dress and her most expensive pair of shoes, hoping they didn’t recognize that she was five years out-of-date. Bailey wore designer jeans with stylish camel-colored stilettos, a navy blue silk polka-dotted blouse, and camel-colored sweater layered on top; she pulled her long hair back taut into a ponytail. Whether they were able to pull off their “woman of substance” appearance they were unsure, but soon after they entered the office, a woman appeared through a side door greeting them with an extended hand.
“Hello,” she said, giving Maddie a soft handshake. “My name is Jessica, how can I be of assistance?”
“My name is Madeline McDougal and this is my granddaughter, Bailey. We were looking for a European tour package, but we just couldn’t bear one of those traditional package tours with a bunch of people from who-knows-where traveling with us. But we’ve often heard that Stevens has some awesome travel deals that would be worth looking into.”
“Why, of course,” Jessica replied. “I’d be happy to assist you with anything you need.”
“Well, we were hoping to see Ana. That’s who we were told to ask for.”
Jessica looked a little taken aback for only a half a beat. “Well, I’m afraid that’s not possible,” she finally said. “Perhaps you would like to speak with her assistant, Thomas. He’ll be stepping in and filling Ana’s shoes now.”
“Yes, we’d like that,” Maddie said.
Jessica quickly ushered the two women through the two elaborate side doors into a much more stylish office. Cherry wood paneling lined the walls with vast windows that overlooked the park across the street. They were seated in front of a massive wooden desk that Maddie thought would be much better suited for a corporate affair than for a travel agency. It appeared that Ms. Ana Stevens loved to live well beyond her means.
“Thomas will be with you shortly.”
“Thank you,” The two women said and Jessica politely excused herself.
As soon as she had left the room, Maddie and Bailey looked at each other in amazement.
“Wow! This was a travel agency?” Bailey exclaimed. “Oh-my-God!” she said, stressing every word. “This lady
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