Death in Dahlonega (A Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

discourage the innkeeper, but once again she was oblivious to anything but herself and began to talk as though she’d never stopped.
    “As I was saying, he did a lot of things to help the community. Not everyone liked him, but Mr. Tatum always pitched in if the need arose.” Joyce waved to an older couple across the room and hollered out a hardy ‘hello.’ “He could be overpowering when he exerted his authority and that rankled some feathers.”
    My ears perked up like a coon dog on a scent. “Are you saying he made enemies around town?”
    “I guess you could say that. He was known for using strong-armed tactics to get what he wanted.” Joyce started stacking plates and swiped up several empty jam and sugar packets. “As you experienced first-hand, he had the personality of Attila the Hun. I suppose you could say he had a heart of gold and a fist of steel. Nonetheless, I felt sorry for him. He was going through some hard times.” Her tone didn’t match her words. I wondered if she really felt sympathy for him.
    Dee Dee and I looked at each other, her brows rose and fell. I felt pretty sure we thought the same thing. It was possible that several of the town’s folk wanted John Tatum dead.
    “What bad things?” I watched Joyce clatter a cup full of silverware and restack the plates, and tried again. “What had he been going through?”
    “His father, John senior, died about six months ago.” She kept moving the plates from one place to another. “He was patriarch of the family business. After his death, everything was left to John—including all the problems his father left behind.
    “And it’s common knowledge he’s recently gone through a nasty divorce.” Joyce lifted, dropped her shoulders with a sigh. “His ex-wife, Miranda, made sure everyone knew. Anyway, Miranda found out he’d been messing around with his secretary. He was gone from their house faster than he could say, ‘I’m sorry.’
    “You go girl!” I shoved a fist in the air for emphasis.
    Joyce looked at me, eyes wide with surprise. Dee Dee, however, just shot a knowing look to my pain. I didn’t realize I’d spoken aloud my thoughts. Heat warmed my cheeks. “Uh, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
    “Honey, you just voiced what I was thinking.” Dee Dee squeezed my arm.
    Dee Dee, no stranger to loss, stood by my side as staunch supporter and friend this past year during my own divorce. When her husband, Gary, died suddenly after an undiagnosed heart problem several years ago, Dee Dee’s enduring faith through the tough times, as well as the good, set an example for me to follow.
    To lighten the mood, Dee Dee asked Joyce, “What happened after she turned the two-timing, low-down, scum-sucking, no-good son of a snake out of the house?”
    I choked on a mouthful of lukewarm coffee. Joyce’s startled gaze darted between me and Dee Dee. I laughed out loud. “Well, Dee Dee, why don’t you tell us how you really feel.”
    “I just did.”
    Joyce finally laughed and patted Dee Dee’s arm. “Miranda went for where it hurt the most—the wallet. I heard it got nasty in court. Miranda’s attorney exposed all of John’s indiscretions. A woman judge sat on the bench that day, and she made John pay through the nose.” Joyce shook her head as she spoke, her bob bouncing back and forth.
    “How did you learn about the court proceedings?” Dee Dee asked.
    “We’re a small town. Everybody knows somebody who knows somebody, and news travels faster than butter on a hot biscuit.” Joyce wiped the crumbs off the table and smoothed the tablecloth. “Miranda is president of the Historical Society. I was at the meeting where she spent the majority of the time enlightening the members of John’s affair. She was mad as a wet setting hen!” Joyce had a faraway look and her shoulders shuddered.
    I couldn’t blame Miranda. Being betrayed by the one person in life you trusted, beyond a shadow of a doubt, was devastating.
    Joyce