BlueBuried Muffins (Black Cat Cafe Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

those words and a coldness clamped around her spine. “What?”
    “Be careful who you trust. I have reason to believe Max was involved with some dangerous people and they may think he shared information with you.”
    She slid back into the seat. “I don’t know anything. I left because I didn’t feel safe and I thought I could come back here to get away from his mess. Max was a good guy, always trying to help new and promising artists. Everyone liked him.” She glanced back toward the booth where he had been slumped over earlier. “At least everyone he introduced me to.” She dropped her eyes until the wave of sadness passed.
    “Okay, Ms. Fisher. Here’s my card. He tucked it under her hand and his touch lingered. Call if you think of anything else you want to tell me. Anything,” he repeated with emphasis. The dimple in his cheek when he smiled softened his stern look.
    Annie slid from the booth, pulled her camera over her shoulder and searched the café for Leona. She noticed her father staring at her but he averted his gaze as soon as their eyes locked. Leona was talking to Tyler so she walked to the doorway and waited, frowning when Roy approached her.
    “Your mother knows you’re back in town. Are you going to show her some decency and stop by for a visit?”
    “Decency? That’s what I owe her? I’ll visit when I’m ready.”
    “Listen, Annie, I’m sorry you were the first one here this morning to find the body.” She flinched when he put his hand on her shoulder. “Did you see anyone or anything else besides the dead guy?”
    “Like what?” she asked with her guard up. Her father wasn’t nice to her unless he needed something from her.
    “A weapon? Papers? Maybe he dropped something when he came in.”
    Her hand slid into her pocket to find strength from the paper she’d taken from Max’s pocket and to remind herself of his warning. She couldn’t let her guard down, not even with the people she thought loved her. “No. Nothing.”
    Leona took Annie’s arm, rescuing her from Roy. “Let’s go, Red. We need to make the most of today before work gets in the way.”
    Annie couldn’t help but smile at her aunt. No one had called her Red since she left two years ago and she liked the nickname, when Leona said it. It reminded her of the special bond between the two of them. “Where are you taking me, Nani?”
    “You know, your mother was furious when that name popped from your mouth before you said Mama. Don’t forget to grab your camera. I have a special friend I want you to meet.” Leona had a glint in her eye that made Annie suspicious of this adventure.
    Leona drove them in her bright yellow convertible mustang. “You still don’t have a shy bone in your body,” Annie teased.
    As they drove on Main Street through Catfish Cove, Annie willed her body to relax into the car seat. “There’s nothing like coming home to realize how much you missed something,” she said, more to herself than to Leona. “Hey, what’s that shop? A tattoo parlor? Catfish Cove finally entered the twenty first century?”
    Leona inched up the hem of her jeans above her brown leather ankle boots to reveal the top of an intricate tattoo. Annie’s eyes popped. “What’s the design?”
    Leona shook her pants back down. “A mystery for another day. How about you and I get matching tats sometime?” Leona laughed out loud at Annie’s horrified expression. “Still not into piercings or other body modifications?”
    Annie shook her head. “No. I’m not quite there yet. So tell me more about this mystery man you’re taking me to visit.”
    “Who said anything about a man?” Leona said as she swerved into the parking lot of the Second Chance Animal Shelter. “I volunteer here. Grab your camera and let’s go. And close your mouth, Red, don’t act so shocked.”
    As Leona and Annie opened the front door, dogs barked and howled. Cages filled with cats lined the front room, some curled up in soft beds, others