Killing the Carnations (A Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mystery) Read Online Free PDF

her aunt and attempted to shift Amanda from her aunt's shoulder to her own.
    “ Amanda, let me take you somewhere quieter, is there anyone I can call for you?” she asked as gently as she could. Amanda threw her arms up into the air, brushing Vicky off her as she did. She glowered at Vicky and Mitchell who had straightened his posture and was prepared to restrain Amanda if he needed to.
    “ I don't have anyone,” she hissed, and stumbled on her shoes. “He was all I had. Charleston. Someone took him from me!” she wailed. One of the EMTs walked up to her and spoke to her soothingly.
    “ Miss, why don't you let me take a look at you, okay?” he asked as he guided her towards the elevator. “We'll get you some water, and I have something you can take for your nerves.”
    Amanda reluctant ly allowed him to lead her away, but she shot a withering glare over her shoulder at Vicky.
    “ I'm going to sue this place,” she hissed.
    Vicky tried to keep a poker face, as she knew she needed to remain professional, but she was so disgusted by the way the woman was not even concerned about her fiancé’s death beyond the financial consequences, and then to have her threaten to sue her, Vicky's eyes naturally narrowed into a glare.
    “ Vicky,” Mitchell said calmly from beside her. “Don't let her get to you, she's obviously drunk, and emotional. She won't be able to sue you.”
    “ She might not be able to,” a voice said from behind both of them. “But I'm sure my lawyers will want to know about this.”
    When Vicky turned to look she saw that it was Jeremy Minkle .  “We booked our conference here assuming there would be sufficient security. You are housing some very wealthy and powerful people here, so how is it that someone can simply murder one of them?” he demanded as he stepped closer to Vicky. “We haven't even been here for a day!”
    “ Mr. Minkle, I understand you're upset,” Vicky attempted to calmly explain.
    “ No, you don't,” he growled in return and those brooding eyes that had been so attractive to Vicky earlier filled with fury. “You have no idea how upset I am. But you will,” he added. “Trust me, you will.”
    “ Oh Nicholas don't look!” Ida exclaimed suddenly as she saw him running down the hall.
    “ What's all the commotion?” he asked as he looked between Jeremy, Ida, and the officers that were moving carefully back and forth in the room.
    “ I'm so sorry,” Ida said quickly. “It's Charleston.”
    “ Charleston?” Nicholas asked with a gasp as he looked back at the body.
    “ Congratulations, Brendan,” Jeremy said as he clapped the man hard on the shoulder. “Looks like you're going to be the new CEO.”
    Mitchell shifted his gaze sharply in Nicholas' direction as Nicholas looked up with a bewildered expression.
    “I'm going to need to speak with both of you,” Mitchell said in an even tone as he looked between the two men. “As well as anyone else that is here for the conference.”
    “ You think one of us did this?” Nicholas said with shock in his voice. “Who could do something so...” he stammered as he searched for a word. Jeremy narrowed his eyes as he studied Nicholas.
    “ People will do the strangest things, for money,” he stated grimly, clearing his throat. “But I doubt it was anyone from our company. However, whatever you need we'll cooperate. There's nothing to hide,” he glanced over his shoulder at Vicky again. “My lawyer will be in touch.”
    Nicholas walked over to Ida and gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Are you okay? A woman such as yourself should never witness something so terrible.”
    Vicky eyed the man suspiciously as he held her aunt close to him in his arms. But Ida didn't seem to mind one bit. In fact she rested her head on Nicholas' shoulder. It suddenly struck Vicky that she and Sarah always had someone to turn to. Sarah had her husband, and now Vicky had Mitchell, but Ida hadn't had a companion to rely on in quite