Breach of Crust: A Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery Read Online Free PDF

programs.”
    “It would be my honor.” Ella Mae slid a twenty into the can. Lowering her voice to a whisper, she jerked her head in the direction of the community center entrance. “Can we talk inside?”
    “I’m going to grab some water for us, Bert. Be back in five,” Hugh said and put the donation can inside Bert’s basket.
    Bert arched his bushy brows. “If she was my girl, I wouldn’t come back at all.”
    Laughing, Hugh accompanied Ella Mae into the building.
    “I keep thinking about last night.” Hugh took Ella Mae’s hand. “About all of yesterday, in fact. Poor Bert. He must be wondering how he got stuck with the fireman with half a brain.”
    As they walked, Hugh and Ella Mae waved at friends and neighbors. It was only after Hugh purchased the bottled water that Ella Mae led him to an alcove near the restrooms and showed him her bandaged palms.
    “What happened?” he asked, his blue eyes darkening in concern.
    Ella Mae told him as succinctly as possible.
    When she was done, Hugh leaned against the wall and exhaled. “Maybe you didn’t see her during the festivities because she was out on a boat.”
    “How would she have fallen overboard? The water was totally calm. And why would she have gone out alone?” Ella Mae argued. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
    Hugh put his arms around her. “It was an accident, Ella Mae. It must have been. She didn’t know anyone in Havenwood, right?”
    “I don’t think so, no.”
    “Then there’s no reason to believe someone meant her harm,” Hugh said reasonably. “I’m sorry that she died and I’m even more sorry that you had to find her.” He stroked Ella Mae’s hair. “I wish I’d been with you. I want to be with you always.”
    Ella Mae closed her eyes. She was comforted by Hugh’s touch. By the sound of his voice and the familiar way their bodies fit together. “You should get back to Bert,” she said.
    “I know I should, but I want to stay here a little longer.” Hugh kissed her lightly on the lips. “Part of me feels like I never have enough time with you. I don’t mean that in a bad way either. What I mean is that what we have is so great that I can’t get enough of it.”
    “At least we had yesterday to ourselves. It was magical,” Ella Mae said. She nestled against Hugh one more time. She listened to his heartbeat and ran her fingers over his sun-warmed shirt. Finally, she stepped away from him. Reluctantly, the couple returned to the main hallway.
    Outside, Bert was busy speaking with two Gulf War veterans, so Ella Mae gave Hugh’s hand a final squeeze and slipped away.
    *   *   *
    On the way back to her truck, Ella Mae walked by The Charmed Pie Shoppe. Though her business had been open for a couple years now, the sight of the butter-yellow clapboard cottage with its wide front porch and raspberry-pink front door never failed to make her heart swell with pride.
    A blue minivan was parked at the end of the shop’s flagstone path. The vehicle was not unusual, but the glittery camellia decal on the rear windshield got Ella Mae’s attention. Hustling up the path and into the patio garden, she found a woman seated at one of the café tables.
    Ella Mae couldn’t see her face because the woman’s head was buried in her arms. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed.
    “Ma’am?” Ella Mae said softly, not wanting to startle her. She suspected she’d stumbled upon Bea’s daughter. “Mrs. Fisher?”
    The woman raised her head and swiped at the mascara tracks on her cheeks. “Yes. That’s me.” She ran a hand through her hair, which was an unkempt mass of mouse-brown curls. “Are you the pie chef?”
    “I am.” Ella Mae gestured toward the building. “Can I get you something from inside? A glass of water?”
    “No, thanks.” She sniffled. “I just wanted to see the garden. Mama mentioned it because she knows how much I love gardening. It was one of our few safe subjects.” She fell silent for a moment before