A Taste of Magic (A Sugarcomb Lake Cozy Mystery Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

come to think of it, his cabin isn’t far away from your place.”  She walked over to the window and peered out toward the woods.  “You didn’t hear anything last night, did you?”
    The color drained from Clarissa’s face.  She tried to speak but only a squeak came out.
    Liana spun around.  “What is it?  You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”
    “I did hear something last night,” Clarissa admitted with an alarmed expression on her face.  “I was in the woods chasing after this stupid cat that keeps hanging around and giving me grief.  And then there was this noise.  At the time, I thought it was a firework going off.  But now I’m not so sure.  Do you think it could have been a gunshot?”
    “I don’t know.  And what’s this about a cat?” Liana demanded, her eyes lighting up.
    “There was something else,” Clarissa recalled.  “It might be nothing, but...”
    “What?” Liana prodded, unable to hide her interest.  As insensitive as it was to say, the murder was the most exciting thing that had happened in the sleepy small town in, well, forever.  Her fascination with the details was only natural.
    “When I was in the woods a man ran through the trees near me,” Clarissa confided.  “I didn’t see him and I don’t think he saw me.  But I could hear him cursing under his breath.  He sounded really upset.  That happened right after I heard the noise that might have been a gunshot.”
    “Wow!  You should report what you witnessed to the police.  Oh yikes, you could have come face to face with the killer out in the woods!” Liana gasped, voicing Clarissa’s own thoughts.
    “It could have been nothing,” Clarissa offered unconvincingly.
    “But it also could have been something!” Liana pointed out.  “Word around town is the police have no idea who killed Jed Black.  So the killer is still on the loose.  That’s a creepy feeling, huh?  But anyway, yes, go give a statement.  I’ll come with you if you want.”
    “Yeah, okay,” Clarissa agreed.  “So much for job hunting this morning,” she sighed.
    “Seriously, I will talk to that neighbor of mine with the awful front yard.  You’d be willing to clean it up for him for the right price, yes?” Liana asked, following Clarissa as she went to the bathroom to brush her long dark hair.  “Please say yes!  I can’t stand to look at it anymore!”
    “At this point I’d be willing to do almost anything,” Clarissa smirked.  “When I bought this place I was counting on, you know, not losing my job.  But with this economy, things are tough.  I’m not going to be able to afford the mortgage if something doesn’t soon change.  I’m thinking about advertising for a roommate.”
    Liana made a face.  “I’d offer but...”
    “I know, I know.  Fastest way to ruin a friendship is to live together,” Clarissa grinned.
    “Also I am very messy.”
    “Yes,” Clarissa nodded.  “Yes you are.  You’re not invited to be my roommate!”
    Liana laughed.  “Hurry up and get dressed,” she ordered.  Then she walked over to the mirror in the entryway and began to primp.  “I wonder if we’ll run into any good looking cops down at the station?” she mused hopefully. 
    That was Liana:  always on the prowl.  Under normal circumstances Clarissa would have smirked, rolled her eyes and perhaps teased her best friend a bit.  But at the moment, she was completely distracted by what she may or may not have heard the previous night. 
    Had she inadvertently become a witness in a murder investigation?
    ***
    “Are you done already?” Liana demanded when Clarissa emerged from giving her statement a short while later.  “You weren’t even in there for two minutes!”
    “I know,” Clarissa said in dismay.
    “All the cops here are so old ,” Liana whispered in disappointment.
    “All the cops here are old and inept ,” Clarissa shot back angrily.
    “What do you mean?” Liana asked, climbing to her feet.