A Special Delivery To Die For (A Rockcrest Cove Cozy Mystery Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

really liked to put on the dog!”
     
    “You think this is special, you should see her house,” Maddie added.
     
    “No!” Bailey looked at her grandmother. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
     
    “No. Not at all.” Maddie said. “Her home is far more elaborate than this.”
     
    Bailey looked nonplussed. “Gran, I think we’re in the wrong business.”
     
    Maddie gave her granddaughter a slight little chuckle, but said nothing in return.
     
    ~~~
     
    Thomas entered the room with a cacophony of noise. He was definitely not what either of the ladies expected to see. He wore a pair of pinstriped jeans that were just a tad too tight and a sports jacket that looked like it was left over from the 80s. His hair was slicked back with enough oil to lubricate his car and he walked with a slight swagger that made people wonder about him.
     
    “Yes, ladies. My name is Thomas. I understand you’re looking to see Ana today.”
     
    “Yes, that’s right,” Maddie said.
     
    “Well, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news,” he said with his hand waving at nothing, “but Ana met with an unfortunate accident yesterday.” He made a pretense of being disheartened. “She’s no longer with us.”
     
    “What happened?” Bailey asked, trying to appear interested.
     
    “Apparently, she had a slip and fall and hit her head on the stairs.” He made a rather insincere attempt at a sigh. “The police said she’d probably been drinking and lost her balance.” He gestured towards two chairs sitting across from the desk that seemed far too large for the space that held it. You could tell that he wanted to say more, but he pulled himself in check and reined in whatever thought he was about to reveal.
     
    “I’m sorry,” Maddie said. “I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting her in person, so I don’t know her at all.”
     
    “Oh my goodness!” Thomas exclaimed. “I didn’t realize…I just assumed that you knew her.”
     
    “No. I was to meet her yesterday when I went to her home. She had placed a large order from my bakery for a special event she was planning that was supposed to have happened yesterday.”
     
    A look of confusion spread across Thomas’ face and he stood just staring at the two women for a minute. “I’m sorry,” he asked perplexed, “why are you here?” The confusion quickly was evolving into a look of suspicion.
     
    “No, Thomas,” Maddie said, “it is we who should apologize.” She looked across the big desk at what she saw was a confused little boy. “Let me explain. You see, I was the one that found Ana’s body yesterday when I went to make the delivery at her house.”
     
    Thomas’ hand went up to his throat. “Oh my God! You poor dear!” Then he leaned his chest across the desk. “Was it awful? Horrible? I just don’t know what I would have done if it had been me .”
     
    Maddie gave him a puzzling look and eyed the young man suspiciously. He certainly didn’t seem like he was distraught in the least.
     
    “Well, yes, it was quite horrible to say the least,” Maddie ventured. “I just didn’t know what to do. Of course, I phoned the police right away, but I was just hoping that I could find out more about Ana if I came into the office.”
     
    “My goodness, I can just imagine what a shock it was for you. Would you like me to order you some tea or anything?” Thomas offered.
     
    “No, I’m fine,” Maddie assured him. “I was just wondering how everything was getting along, you know, notifying the family that sort of thing.”
     
    “Well, Ana didn’t have much family to speak of. She was divorced and alone as far as I knew.”
     
    “Really? That must have been so sad. I thought I could send my condolences to the family.”
     
    “Well, I’m sorry to tell you, but Ana didn’t have any family that we knew about, but she had quite a few friends that may be saddened by the loss.”
     
    Maddie looked appraisingly at the young man. She couldn’t