Shitake Happens: (A Shitake Mystery Series Prequel) Read Online Free PDF Page A

good looking but seriously lacking in the charm department.
    Hey. Wait a minute.
    The runner looked like—Oh my goodness. It couldn’t be him. Not Wallace Williams. But the features were too much like those in the magazine for this to be anyone else. This was her target. She was certain of it.
    Crêpe.
    Wallace Williams huffed in exasperation. “Is that your cat or not lady?” He made a stabbing gesture toward the tail that was now the only visible part of the Maine Coon under the bench.
    “I’m holding his leash aren’t I? Now who's being obtuse?”
    “Then you’re responsible for this mess on my shoe. And you’re a lawbreaker. The law requires you to scoop poop. And why in the hell do you have a cat outside on a leash anyway?”
    "How do you know it was my cat? It could have been any dog or cat because I know you didn’t see my cat poop that poop."
    His gaze narrowed on her. “How do you know I didn’t see it?”
    “If you’d seen it, you wouldn’t have run through it." Mo asked. "And if you did see it, and still ran through it, then you’re more stupid than you want to claim I am.”
    “Touché.” For a few moments he stood there silent. He cocked his head as he examined her up and down. Finally, a smile spread across his lips. “I’m sorry about the yelling. I’m sure I can clean the shoes.”
    “I’m sorry, too,” she said, smiling back at him. “The poo was just there for a few seconds.” She indicated the pavement and then held up the plastic baggie. “I really was going to get it.”
    “What’s his name?” Wallace squatted down and tried to lure the frightened cat out with a smoochy sound and snapping fingers.
    “Ummm…" Mo's mind raced for a few seconds before finally sputtering, "Bonaparte. His name is Bonaparte.”
    “Really?” His head snapped up and his eyebrows rose.
    “Yes of course,” she said in what she feared was an overly defensive tone. “I do know my own cat’s name.”
    “I’m sure you do. It’s just that our family had a dog named Bonaparte when I was a boy."
    She grinned. “What an amazing coincidence.”
    "We thought it was cute because of dogs loving bones,” Wallace said. "Seems unusual for a cat."
    "He was named because...ummm...I'm such an admirer of Napoleon."
    Wallace stared at her, blinking a couple of time. Then he laughed and crouched down in front of the bench where Talley Bonaparte continued to quiver in hiding. “Bonaparte, Bonaparte,” Wallace coaxed to no avail so he rose to a standing position. “I don’t think he likes me. Either that or he doesn’t know his own name.”
    “He certainly does know his own name. He’s probably just scared. He—”
    “I was joking,” he interrupted.
    “Oh sorry,” she said. “Too much coffee is making me a spastic mess today.”
    “I don’t notice any spaz or mess.”
    She felt herself blush as she murmured, “Thanks.”
    “What’s your name?” Wallace asked.
    She hesitated. As with the cat name, her mind raced. What should she use?
    “I’m not a stalker or anything.” He chuckled.
    “I know,” she said, stalling for time.
    “You do?”
    “What?” Mo asked, startled.
    “You said you know I’m not a stalker and I wondered how you know.”
    "Oh. Well...I recognize you from television. You're the weather guy, Wallace Williams," Mo explained.
    He seemed pleased. “I feel at a disadvantage. Since you know who I am, will you tell me your name?”
    "Ummmmm." She hesitated, her mind a complete blank. She couldn't tell him her real name could she?   Mo gazed off into the distance again for a few seconds before answering. She held her hand out in greeting. “My name is Angelina Jolie."
    Why did I say that?
    "Interesting name," he said with a broad grin. "I bet you get lots of comments about it. There are built-in expectations with that name."
    She laughed. "No six kids for me. Just one cat."
    "Any Brad Pitt?"
    "No. I'm single," Mo said.
    Wallace Williams smirked. "Two expectations down. But