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

voiced my sentiments. “Yeah, but you can’t blame her. I’d be mad, too.” She stood and gathered the stacked dishes, cups, and utensils. “Time to go see about my customers; got to keep them happy. Let me know if you need anything.”
    “Joyce!” I Columbo’ed her and smiled as she turned around. “One more thing. Where can we get in touch with Miranda? I might want to interview her for my magazine article since she’s in the Historical Society.”
    “She owns an antique shop on the square, The Antique Boutique. She works most of the day. She’ll probably be busy today though, it being Gold Rush Days and all.” And with that, she hurried off to take care of business.
    Dee Dee shot a shark-toothed grin. “Are you really going to interview Miranda for your article, Trixie?”
    “Sure, why not? And while I’m interviewing her I might happen to ask her a few questions about her ex-husband. I’d say she had a motive for murder. Since I’ve found out about Wayne, there’s been more than one occasion I dreamed of doing bodily harm to that two-timing cheater.”
    My poor heart ached talking about it. I quickly prayed for forgiveness for such angry thoughts. I’d begun to recover, but was still in the healing process. Band-aids of hurried prayers and half-hearted pep-talks held my fragile heart together.
    What if John’s ex-wife had taken her red-hot anger and humiliation to the extreme and acted out those feelings? It was possible.
    Dee Dee’s expression softened. She put her arm around my waist. “Trix, you know it’s all right to have thoughts and feelings that aren’t in our best interest. It’s what we choose to do with those emotions that can get us in trouble. Why, I don’t know how many times I’ve said, ‘If Gary hadn’t died, I’d have killed him for making me a widow.’” She gave me a squeeze as I wiped a tear from my cheek.
    I’d just blown my nose when Sheriff Wheeler sauntered up with his sidekick, Deputy Ray. I stashed the Kleenex in my pants pocket.
    “Good morning, ladies.” The sheriff touched the tip of his hat, like any good southern gentleman’s mama taught him to do. “I hope you slept well last night.”
    His Cheshire-cat grin stepped on my last nerve. “Well, of course we didn’t sleep well, Sheriff. My friend did find a dead body yesterday.” Like, I needed to remind him.
    He shot me a wickedly handsome smile. “You’re right, Ms. Montgomery—may I call you Trixie?” I nodded, and he continued. “Both of you experienced a traumatic affair. Maybe this job has left me a little too jaded. Please accept my apologies.”
    I nodded at his honey covered words, and felt the hard shell of my resistance begin to melt.
    “We do accept your apologies, Sheriff.” Dee Dee pushed me aside. “And you can call me, Dee Dee.” She giggled like a schoolgirl and offered her hand. As they shook, the bangles on her wrist played a jaunty, chinging melody. “I reckon that means we can call you Jake.”
    He didn’t answer. I guess not.
    Sheriff Wheeler turned and gestured towards a man dressed in a Sunday go-to-meeting suit. “Let me introduce Agent Jeff Cornwall from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. Any time there’s a crime on state property, the GBI is called in to perform an investigation.”
    Agent Cornwall, light pole thin, loomed over Sheriff Wheeler. I had a mental picture of the agent as Abe Lincoln on stilts and almost burst out laughing. I quickly covered my mouth to hide my mirth. I could tell my nerves were frayed like an old electric wire.
    “We’ve questioned several witnesses present in the lobby yesterday when Dee Dee had the unfortunate confrontation with John Tatum. There might be more to it than she suggested.” The sheriff looked directly into Dee Dee’s eyes. “We’d like for you to come down to the station so we can question you further.”
    Dee Dee’s nostrils flared. “If I’d’a known you intended to arrest me, I sure wouldn’t have