Mobsters and Lobsters (A Hooked & Cooked Cozy Mystery Series Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

up the paper. It was a crudely drawn map. She’d seen something like it right after she moved in. A treasure map that Jack was keeping safe and sound as far as she knew.
    Pearl continued. “To tell you the truth, the map is what really intrigued me. Caroline and I had a falling out years ago so I was actually a bit worried about seeing her again.” Pearl placed Petunia on the floor and she stood up. “Where am I staying?”
    For some reason Hannah couldn’t turn Pearl away. Was it the connection to Caroline and the possibility to find out more about her great aunt? Or was it the treasure map? Or was it Pearl’s quirkiness and Petunia’s endearing cuteness? Whatever it was, Hannah didn’t have time to do any deep analysis. Instead she said, “Follow me.”
    Hannah led Pearl and Petunia to Cottage Two. She had no idea what she would do if Lenny showed up but she’d cross that problem when she had to. Plus the issue of his camera bag. She unlocked the door, holding it open for her guests to enter. “You can stay here for as long as you like.”
    “I don’t expect I’ll stay for longer than a week. Petunia and I have reservations for a cruise.”
    The door closed just as Hannah heard Cal call her name. As she turned, her flip flop skidded on the sandy wood and she found herself sprawled at the bottom of the deck steps. Her knees and the palms of her hands burned from the slide. She groaned. Bad karma for letting Pearl stay in Lenny’s cottage?
    “Hannah, what happened?” Cal crouched down in front of her.
    She kicked off her flip flops and dusted the sand off her hands as best she could. “I slipped.” She pushed herself to her knees and Cal helped her to her feet. “You called me. What’s the problem now?” She heard the annoyance in her voice and felt bad to take it out on Cal. He was only trying to help.
    “I just heard that a body has been sighted,” he answered as they walked toward the office.
    She froze. “I have to go into town to find out more.”

Chapter 4
     
    Hannah drove straight to Ruby’s house in town. She pulled up in time to join Ruby as she walked Olivia to school. The short walk and Olivia’s calming chatter gave Hannah time to sort her thoughts and make a plan. Olivia hugged her mom and aunt before running off to her kindergarten line.
    “I wasn’t expecting to see you this early, don’t you have a million things to take care of before your snack bar opens on Saturday?” Ruby asked as they walked side by side.
    “This visit wasn’t on my agenda until about twenty minutes ago when Cal informed me that a body was sighted. We need to find out if it’s Lenny. He never returned to his cottage so my guess is he won’t be bothering you anymore.”
    Ruby opened her front door. Hannah inhaled the scent of coffee. “Have anything to go with that coffee?”
    “Blueberry muffins? How does that sound?”
    “Perfect.” Hannah found two mugs and poured coffee while Ruby put the muffins on a plate. They sat opposite each other at the small round table in Ruby’s kitchen.
    “Here’s what I’m thinking,” Hannah said. “We’ll head over to the Bayside Marina and find out what Chase Fuller knows. He rented the boat to Lenny that capsized, so with some luck, he may be able to fill us in with some details we don’t already know. I can use the excuse that Lenny was renting a cottage from me and I’m concerned about his whereabouts, blah, blah, blah. Chase likes to talk about himself so you can stroke his ego about how great his Bayside Marina looks or what a flattering haircut he has or whatever you think of. Just figure out how to flatter him so he wants to share information with us.”
    “So if the body is Lenny, we wipe our hands and walk away like we know nothing about him?” Ruby asked.
    “Exactly.”
    “And if the body isn’t Lenny?” Ruby asked with a fearful look in her eyes.
    “Who else could it be? Was anyone else at that house when you visited him?”
    “I didn’t