Soft Serve Secrets: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

I hadn’t eaten breakfast. I normally brought my lunch so I removed the brown baggie from the fridge and tore into my egg salad sandwich. Although the bread was soggy, it tasted delicious. As I unscrewed the top from my bottle of ginger ale, Stormi slumped down at the table with me.
     
    “Wow that was a workout. I’m happy your shoppe had so many customers this morning, but my feet are cussing you a blue streak.”
     
    “Don’t worry, so are mine,” I laughed.
     
    Stormi pulled her ham and cheese sandwich from its baggie. “I guess you heard the chatter this morning. All about Trixie and Mr. Florez. And his daughter Gracie.”
     
    I took another bite of my sandwich. “So what were they saying?” I’d heard some customers chatting, but most of the time I was in the back filling ice cream cake orders.
     
    “Gracie was seen at the police department this morning,” Stormi said as she pulled the bread off her sandwich. “I called Greg when we had a break in customers and he told me she was there but that’s all he could tell me.”
     
    Gregg was Officer Manning. Stormi met him a few months ago during the Jenkins investigation. They dated sporadically since then. Stormi wasn’t one to settle with one guy, much to Greg’s chagrin. She liked her freedom and the ability to answer only to herself. Gregg tried to wear her down though, with fancy meals and flower deliveries. I felt he was a great catch for her, but Stormi wasn’t about to head down the aisle without a fight. I just hoped she didn’t let ‘the one’ get away.
     
    I put my sandwich down. I was no longer hungry. “I’m sure she’s up to no good.”
     
    Then, speak of the devil…she walked into my shoppe.
     
    Gracie appeared more put together than she had at the hospital the previous day. She pulled her auburn hair into a bun and wore a teal pantsuit with light brown heels. She was taller and thinner than I had expected, although I’d only seen her from afar. Today she seemed under control unlike yesterday when she tore into Trixie. I hoped perhaps she’d come to her senses. I couldn’t be more wrong.
     
    I stood up from the table. “Hello, how can I help you today?”
     
    Gracie walked towards me. “Hello…I’m looking for Tara Beckley.”
     
    “You found her.” I tried to smile.
     
    “Oh good…I was hoping you would be here. My name is Gracie Florez.”
     
    “Yes, I saw you yesterday at the hospital Ms. Florez.”
     
    “Please call me Gracie.”
     
    “And you can call me Tara.”
     
    Stormi remained sitting watching our conversation as if she was at a tennis match. I was afraid she’d get neck strain from bopping her head back and forth.
     
    I motioned towards an empty chair at our table. “Here, sit down. We’re having our lunch during a slow time.”
     
    Gracie remained standing. “I don’t mean to interrupt.”
     
    “Oh no, you’re not interrupting.”
     
    Gracie pulled the chair out and sat down next to Stormi. “This is my friend and co-worker Stormi Rogers.”
     
    The two exchanged pleasantries, then I asked what brought her to my shoppe today.
     
    Gracie clutched her handbag that remained sitting in her lap. “I know you’re close with Trixie. I also know she spent the night at your home last night.”
     
    I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. “How would you know that?”
     
    “She told my father she was staying with you.” Well duh, of course she did.
     
    “How can I help you today Gracie?” I usually wasn’t so impatient but I didn’t feel like beating around the bush with this woman. Just get to the point.
     
    Gracie looked around my shoppe. “You have a wonderful establishment here.”
     
    “Thank you,” I said through gritted teeth. I didn’t like where this was leading.
     
    Gracie turned to look at me. “I would hate for you to lose it.”
     
    That was it…the gauntlet was thrown within two minutes of her entering my shoppe. But before I could react, Stormi put Gracie