Chocolate-Covered Crime Read Online Free PDF Page B

calloused palm with my thumb.
    He shrugged and focused back on the road ahead of us. “You didn’t give me the chance to do anything. Not come over and reassure you—nothing.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “What are the names in Mae Belle’s book? Maybe I can shed some light on this for you.”
    Ethan had to be the most wonderful man in the world. Gnawing my bottom lip, I forced my memory to remember the names. “Hubert Smith.”
    “The dentist? Makes sense. He was engaged to Edna Mobley, but they canceled.”
    Hence the marks through their names. “Renee Richards.”
    “The Princess of Mountain Shadows? What would she
    want with Mae Belle? Her fiancé is in Iraq.”
    “Mason White.”
    Ethan frowned. “I’ve heard the name but don’t think I know him. Wait. Yes, I do. A playboy. Was a grade behind me in high school. Who else?”
    “Larry Bell.”
    “Why would a farmer need Mae Belle’s services? Anyone else?” I shook my head. “Quite a motley list and not very big.”
    “All the names were scratched out. Like cancellations.” The airport came into view, and I glanced at my watch. “The plane lands in ten minutes. We made it.”
    The security at Little Rock National Airport being what it was, we opted to waieigt for Mae Belle’s parents next to the baggage claim. Voices rose and fell as suitcases tumbled onto the carousel to be snatched up by waiting hands. Hugs were passed around like cookies at Christmas. I smiled at the joyous reunions.
    Finally, Claudia Sweeney approached, shuffling her feet. A woman as large as Mae Belle had been skinny. Beside her, a firm grip on her elbow, ambled my Uncle Fred, who resembled a praying mantis, minus the green. Aunt Claudia lumbered up to me. Her glare could have burned through steel.
    “Summer Meadows, what are you doing to find the man who did this to my baby girl? Don’t say you ain’t doing nothing. You meddle in everyone else’s business. Now you got to take care of your own.”
    “Uh.” I shrank back. “We don’t know that it was a man.”
    “Don’t mince words with me. What are you planning to do?”
    “The police are handling things.”
    She raised her arm. I thought for a moment she would strike me. The woman’s face fell. She covered her head with her hands and wailed. Then she tossed her arms over her head. Her fists clutched the tight gray curls spiraled on top of her head.
    Help me out, Lord . I laid a trembling hand on her arm, not sure how to handle someone else’s hysterics, despite having shown plenty of my own during my life. Ethan deserted me with a sheepish look and took Uncle Fred to collect the luggage. I’d deal with him later.
    Aunt Claudia lifted red-rimmed eyes to mine. “By police, you mean my nephew, Joe.” She shook her head. “He’s the definition of a bumbling country boy if I ever saw one. You’ll have to do this for me, Summer.”
    “I’ll do my best, Aunt Claudia. But give Joe some credit. He’s done just fine as our chief of police.”
    That didn’t satisfy my aunt, who kept after me until I vowed. Whatever it took, I’d find Mae Belle’s killer.
    Aunt Claudia clasped me to her massive bosom, threatening to suffocate me within her mounds of flesh. “You are the sweetest thing. I’ll help you however I can. Now let’s go and see my sister.”
     
    To accommodate Aunt Claudia’s bulk, we had her sit up front, with the seat as far back as it would go. Uncle Fred folded himself in behind Ethan, and I hugged my knees for the hour drive home.
    After Ethan pulled between Aunt Eunice’s and Uncle Roy’s matching 1962 Chevy pickups, I breathed a sigh of relief and toppled out of the car. My legs had fallen asleep.
    Aunt Claudia shook her head. “Get up, girl. We have work to do.”
    er “Are you all right?” Ethan rushed to my side and helped me to my feet.
    “I can’t feel my legs.”
    He chuckled and swung me into his arms. His long strides carried us past my relatives, and he deposited me on the porch swing.