Ghost On Duty (Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

who looked like he could use a drink. The lady had an elegant way about her. She wore her blond hair pulled back from her beautiful face and her dress was ivory with an overlay of lace. Altogether classy. The man beside her—not so much. He had the look of an attorney unhappy with his choice of profession.  
    “Lance’s mother,” Jill said. “Mayellen Mansfield. And his uncle Frost.”
    I made a face. “Did you say, Frost?”
    She nodded, eyes dancing. “That’s his name. And don’t ask if it’s short for Forrest. It’s not. Interesting, huh?”
    Maybe. But I was getting anxious to see what the note I’d been handed had to say. A favorite customer of Jill’s came up to talk to her and I backed out of the circle, going to the side of the room and pulling out the paper. A quick glance was all I needed.  
    “Meet me at the fountain in 10 minutes-alone,” it said. “I know who killed Ned.”
    I stuffed the paper back into my pocket. My heart began to pound. I looked around for an exit.  
    “Are you okay, Miss Keahi?”
    I jumped, heart pounding even harder, and I knew my face was turning beet red. The captain was looking at me with narrowed eyes and one raised eyebrow, a picture of suspicious skepticism.  
    “Oh!” I put my hand over my heart and tried to catch my breath. “I…I…” I steadied myself. “It’s just so hot in here,” I adlibbed. “I think I’ll go sit down.”
    His leer made it obvious he didn’t believe me, but he didn’t say another word and I got back to my seat in time to see Lance announcing that the vote had to be postponed two days, as feelings were running so high, a period of quiet reflection was needed before such an important decision could be made.  
    He got roundly booed for that, but I thought he had it about right. Plenty who had spoken had seemed more emotional than logical. A couple of days space and time might do everyone some good.  
    In the meantime, I had a date at the fountain.
    I looked around. Bebe was talking to a circle of friends. Jill was flirting with a muscular young man. Lance was defending himself as a crowd gathered around him, everyone yelling at once. I didn’t see the Captain any longer. Maybe he’d already left since the vote had been postponed. No one seemed to be paying any attention to me. I rose from my chair and slipped out the side door toward where I’d noticed a fountain when we’d come in.  
    A blast of cold air hit me in the face, making me shiver. The lights from the meeting hall didn’t penetrate to the outside courtyard, but I could make out the fountain and hear the water tinkling. I didn’t see anyone else.  
    I hugged the shadows. I was beginning to wonder about the wisdom of coming out here to meet someone who wouldn’t name themselves, someone who claimed to know who murdered Ned. What if it was the murderer himself? Wasn’t this just a little careless, tromping out into the dark? I started a path around the outer edge of the area, staying in the shadows and making almost no noise.
    There was no one else there. I had to face it. I swore softly, because I really had been interested in who might have sent me that note. And I was even more interested in who might have killed Ned. Now it looked like I wasn’t going to get to know either. Another minute of waiting, and I gave up. Turning to go back in, I ran right into a hard male body.  
    “Oh!”
    I didn’t shriek exactly, but I did come close.  
    “Hey.” The man caught me to his chest and held on as though to trap me. “Mele, it’s me.”
    I caught the hitch in my breath and looked up at what I could see in the pitch-black night. “Detective McKnight?” I squeaked, feeling silly that I still didn’t know his first name.  
    “Yes, it’s me. What are you doing out here?”
    “N…nothing,” I lied. “I just came out to get some air. It’s so hot in there.”
    I was trying to pull out of his grip but he wasn’t letting go.  
    “Listen to me,