Raspberry Revenge Read Online Free

don’t have to drive to where I want to go first.”
    Grace’s smile wavered a bit. “We’re going to speak with Gabby, aren’t we?”
    “I thought you two had worked out your differences?” I asked her. In fact, I’d been there to witness it, and if the peace that had been brokered was now gone, I wasn’t aware of it.
    “No, we’re fine. I just don’t see any reason to push my luck with her.”
    “You’re kidding, right? I constantly stay in the woman’s doghouse, but does that keep me from pressing her for answers when I need them?”
    “You’re a special case,” she said.
    “How so?”
    “I don’t know, but for some reason, Gabby seems to really like you.”
    “If that’s affection, I’d hate to see animosity,” I said as I approached her door.
    “I can tell you from firsthand experience that it’s ugly, that’s for sure,” Grace answered.
    I stopped at the door, ready to turn the handle and go inside, when I noticed a sign displayed prominently in the window. “THE SHOP WILL BE CLOSED ALL DAY TODAY. COME BACK TOMORROW.”
    I gestured to the glass where it was taped. “I didn’t even know she was leaving town.”
    “I didn’t, either. When do you think she’ll be back?”
    I looked at Grace oddly and then back at the sign again. “Tomorrow,” I said as I tapped out the word with my knuckle.
    “Sure, but when did she put it up? It’s pretty clever, actually. It leaves her free to return whenever she’d like. If it was first posted yesterday, one might assume that she’s coming back sometime today, but if it just went up, then we’ve lost one of our best sources in town for the next twenty-four hours.”
    “I doubt that you’re really all that unhappy about it,” I said.
    “Don’t be so sure. Gabby’s useful,” Grace said. “I never denied that. So, if we can’t use her as a resource, who do we speak with in her place?”
    I was trying to come up with an answer when I heard my name being called from down the street. I looked over to see Christine Hargraves, my friend and Emily’s mother, approaching.
    “Hi, Christine,” I said when she got to us.
    “Hello. Hi, Grace.” Christine had clothes covered in a dry-cleaning bag in her arms, and when she looked at Gabby’s sign, she frowned. “Where could she be?”
    “Did you have an appointment with her to resell those things?” I asked her.
    “No, but I just assumed that she’d be here. I brought some of my nicer things by a few days ago, but she wouldn’t even look at them until I had them dry-cleaned first. Can you imagine that?”
    “From Gabby, I have no problem believing it. How are Emily and the guys doing?” The guys in question were her three stuffed animals she’d had since she’d been a little girl. Not only was her business named for them, Two Cows and a Moose, but they were prominently displayed in the newsstand as well. Emily often dressed them up in costumes, and I had to admire her business acumen. A great many folks came by just to see what they were wearing at the moment.
    “They’re all perfect,” she said with a grin. “Have you been by the shop lately?”
    “No, not for a while,” I admitted. “What are they wearing?”
    “She’s dressed all three of them up as snowmen! I suppose I should say two snow cows and a snow moose, to be proper. They’re so adorable in their costumes. I don’t know where she gets her creative streak. It’s certainly not from her father or me.” She looked at me for a second before she asked, “Were you looking for Gabby, too?”
    “I thought I’d take a chance and try her,” I said.
    “To talk or to shop?” Christine asked us.
    “Would both be an answer that suited you?” Grace asked with a grin.
    “I know the two of you. You’re looking into Harley Boggess’s murder together, aren’t you?”
    I simply shrugged, but as I did, Grace nodded enthusiastically as she replied in the affirmative.
    Christine looked pleased. “I thought as much.