Mercy & Mayhem: A Mercy Mares Cozy Mystery Read Online Free Page B

I could think of to say. In my panic, I completely forgot to mention that I wondered whether or not he'd been ill lately. His color seemed a little off when I met him.
     
    The Sheriff's mouth hung open every time he stopped to think. I wondered how many flies found their way in between his narrow little lips when that happened. After a second, he opened the door and motioned for me to go.
     
    "Thank you. I'll be in touch. Write down your phone number and address for me, please. And, how long are you in town for, Miss Mares?" He asked, before motioning for the maintenance man to come into the room.
     
    I swallowed hard, answering, "Three months. I don't have an address here. The agency put me up at the hotel on M Street by the Civic Center."
     
    "I know the place. Write down your room number and your employer's number for me." The Sheriff closed the door and shook the maintenance worker's hand. I hadn't noticed before, but Sheriff Wagner had a nice smile. He was speaking animatedly with the maintenance man, stopping to pat his back a few times.
     
    What gives , I wondered. Why am I the bad guy?
     
    I quickly jotted down the information he requested and slipped it under the door.
     
    All eyes were on me in the dining room. Residents were eating breakfast. I'd only been here a little less than two hours and I'd managed to alienate a whole slew of my temporary coworkers, find a body, and end up as suspect numero uno in a case that by all accounts looked like death by natural causes.
     
    I tried to act like I wasn't the least bit thrown by this morning's events and jumped in to help with the dining room activities, but the room hushed as I entered it. I'd somehow managed to lose trust that I hadn't even had a chance to build yet. If I kept this up, I'd be the most feared person in the county lock up soon.
     
    "What can I help with?" I asked Kathy, who turned her back on me as soon as I was escorted out of the office.
     
    She didn't budge. I'm sure she heard me. I could see her reflection in the window, she sat facing. She was looking my way.
     
    "Kathy? I know you can hear me. Tell me what you would like me to do. I could go help with Mrs. Knott, if you want me to or I can get the paperwork started for you." I begged her to let me do something, but she never turned back to face me.
     
    Defeated, I turned and looked at the aides. They all averted their eyes as soon as I looked at them. My only saving grace was the good old curmudgeon himself, Nubbin. He yelled across the dining room for me to "pop a squat" at his table. I was so relieved, I nearly cried.
     
    "Here, sit down." He said, motioning for me to sit in the empty chair at his table.
     
    I sat, emotion bubbling in my belly. I wanted nothing more than to start the day all over again.
     
    "Why the long face? People die around here all the time, Mazarati." He said.
     
    I had to chuckle. No one had ever called me that before. I replied, choosing not to correct him. "I know. Thank you."
     
    I sat, rubbing my brow, trying to ease some of the tension I felt. Under the table, one of the gentlemen seated there decided this was as good a time as any to play footsie with me and started running his foot up my pant leg. It startled me and I let out a yelp, before jerking myself away from the table.
     
    "Whoa! Who did that?" I looked at each of the men. Nubbin was busily chomping on his toast and apple butter. One man was fast asleep in his wheelchair and the other had his nose in that morning's newspaper. I assumed it was him, but didn't want to embarrass him, so I let it go and sat down, positioning my chair so it was pointed slightly outward. Then, I felt it again. Immediately, I dove my head under the table, hoping everyone would still be alive and breathing when I looked back up. Staring at me with big brown eyes was a chubby dog.
     
    "That's the dog. He's locked up here too." Nubbin informed me. "He's fat, lazy, and good for nothing, but heck, so am I, so I like