An Ex to Grind in Deadwood (Deadwood Humorous Mystery Book 5) Paperback – September 4, 2014 Read Online Free PDF Page B

parents would take her to the store in the winter. After they moved away, I drove her around when she needed a ride. When I was busy, she’d ask the other residents.”
    “Did they get along with her?”
    “Sure. She was very kind. She baked for us as a ‘thanks’ for helping her. Her rum cake was to die for, and her homemade peppernut cookies would make this place smell wonderful for days.”
    “What was her first name?” I asked.
    “None of your business, Parker,” Cooper answered, his voice hard and tight. He grabbed my elbow, a gesture that appeared polite, but his grip was all dominance and irritation. He pulled me several steps away from Freesia. “I thought I told you to stand here and not talk to anyone.”
    “I thought you specified no phone calls.”
    “I said talk to nobody.”
    “Freesia’s not a nobody. She’s the house’s owner.” I tugged my arm free. I was allergic to dominant males. They made me break out in fights. “Besides, it would’ve been rude for Harvey and me to ignore her, right, Harvey?”
    The old buzzard held up his hands. “Don’t make me the monkey in the middle on this one.”
    Cooper looked at Freesia, his scowl dissipating. “How are you doing, Ms. Tender?”
    The sound of Big Jake’s last name reminded me of what I’d learned about the Galena House. Suddenly the old place seemed more forlorn than unkempt.
    “I’m okay, just sad. Ms. Wolff was a sweetheart. Were you able to determine how she was killed?”
    Harvey and I exchanged a wide eyed glance. The detective must not have filled her in on the condition of the body. I turned back and caught a steely look from Cooper, warning me to keep it that way.
    The detective’s focus returned to Freesia, his rigid features softening. “If you’re up to a visit to the station, I’d like to have you come with me to answer a few more questions.”
    A few? No fair. He was going to take it easy on her. I usually got the full neck bobbling shakedown followed by a rubber glove inspection.
    A few weeks back, Harvey had mentioned that Cooper had the hots for someone. Maybe Freesia was that someone. She was young for the detective by about fifteen years or so I guessed, but age might not matter to either of them. I hoped she used protection when getting naked with him. Chainmail underneath a hazmat suit should be enough.
    Harvey joined me off to the side while Cooper treated Freesia with kid gloves. I watched with a pout, waiting for him to offer her milk and cookies. I leaned over and whispered, “How come he’s so nice to her?”
    “Probably because she didn’t drop another murder in his lap that could cost him his job if he can’t solve it.”
    “It wasn’t my fault. Ms. Wolff called me.”
    “Maybe so, but why?”
    Cooper shouted for one of his men, who shielded Freesia under an umbrella and led her to a police car. The hail had stopped, replaced by a steady drizzle. Freesia waved goodbye to us before sliding into the passenger seat.
    After speaking in grunts and growls on his cell phone, Cooper hung up and stalked back to where his uncle and I waited for our flogging. “You can leave for now, Parker. I’d advise you to stay in town for a few days.”
    What? “You’re not hauling me to the station, too?”
    “Not now but don’t get too comfortable.”
    I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt anything even remotely close to comfortable since making the detective’s acquaintance back in July.
    “What about me?” Harvey asked.
    “Keep your phone handy.”
    “Did you see the twits I sent you earlier?”
    Cooper did a doubletake. “You sent me what?”
    “He calls texts ‘twits,’” I explained.
    “The pictures of the cow,” Harvey added.
    The canyons in Cooper’s forehead deepened. “I’ll call you later about those.”
    I palmed the keys to the Picklemobile and pulled the neck of my sweater up over my head to shield my hair. Rain tended to morph my curls into a clown wig. “Let’s go,