Murdering the Roses (A Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mystery) Read Online Free

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    When she finished with all she could do that day for the wedding she went off in search of Sarah. They always said goodbye to each other each night before Sarah would head home to the house she shared with her husband and two sons. The boys would sometimes come to the inn to play. When they did it reminded Vicky so much of growing up together with Sarah in the inn. It could really be a fun and interesting place to spend your childhood. As she walked up the stairs to the second floor in search of her sister she noticed Timothy standing in the hallway. He didn't seem to be heading in any particular direction, he was just wandering.
    “Hello there,” Vicky smiled at him in a friendly manner. “Is there anything I can help you with?'
    When his eyes settled on Vicky there was nothing friendly about them. In fact they were extremely cold to the point that it made Vicky's skin crawl.
    “No thanks, just checking the place out,” he finally said, his tone as cold as his eyes.
    “All right, well if you need anything at all please feel free to ask,” she smiled again, hoping to gain some kind of warmth in response from him. But he only nodded and continued to walk past her. Vicky turned and watched him walk away, still feeling a little puzzled about his behavior. Didn't he have anything better to do than wander around the inn?
    Vicky found Sarah speaking to one of the maids at the end of the second floor.
    “I just want to make sure that all the rooms are prepared for our guests this weekend, so if we need to give the week night maids some overtime to get that done, then just let me know,” Sarah was explaining to Martha. Martha was white-haired and in her seventies. She was in charge of the maids and had just about as much say about what happened in the inn as Vicky and Sarah did. She wasn't an owner, but she had been there longer than the two of them had been alive, so they gave her respect where respect was due.
    “I think the day staff should be able to handle it,” Martha said thoughtfully. “But I'll let you know.”
    “Thanks Martha,” Sarah said with a smile. Vicky smiled at her too as she walked up behind Sarah.
    “Just wanted to say goodnight,” she said to her sister as she paused beside her.
    “I can't believe how fast the day has gone by,” Sarah shook her head and glanced at her watch. “Guess it is wedding season!”
    “It sure is,” Vicky sighed with a laugh. Wedding season was solidly booked with guests, weddings, parties and receptions. It was their busiest time of year. “Get home safe, okay?” Vicky gave her sister a quick hug.
    “Do you want to come for dinner?” Sarah suggested. Vicky considered the idea of being splattered with spinach by Rory, the two year old with fantastic aim, and then shook her head slightly.
    “Not tonight, I need to do a little extra work on the wedding,” she mumbled. She loved her nephews dearly but did not relish the idea of sharing the dinner table with them tonight.
    ***
    That night as she settled into her apartment on the first floor of the inn, she considered Sarah and Henry's words regarding firing Bob. She knew that they were both right. Bob wasn't contributing anything positive to the inn, in fact she spent more time cleaning up after the mistakes he made. The decision had to be made, and she would have to fire him. But how?
    She lay awake that night, thinking of just how to tell Bob that he would have to find a new job. She didn't like the idea of having to do it, but she knew that it was her responsibility. It was at times like that, when she had so much on her mind, that she did kind of wish she had someone in her life that she could turn to. She was sure Mitchell wo uld understand her conflict, since working as a deputy sheriff was not exactly a glorious career. But he had not called her. That caused her to run through the date for the thousandth time in her mind. She just couldn't place where things might have gone sour. She had thought they