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

gal.”
     
    Bruce laughed. “Yes you are.”
     
    Paige walked behind the counter. “Hey you two…I’m right here. Stop your flirting,” she teased.
     
    Stormi started on Bruce’s smoothie. “Oh Momma, you don’t let us have any fun.”
     
    Paige put on her Frozen Scoop apron and began tying it in the back. “That’s what Moms do…spoil all the fun.”
     
    Paige smiled and then turned serious. “There’s a reason I brought Bruce with me. Trixie was taken down to the police station for questioning.”
     
    “What the…What!” Stormi stammered. “Greg didn’t call me.”
     
    “Stormi I’m sure he can’t let you know,” Bruce explained. “That would be against protocol and you don’t want him to lose his job right?”
     
    “Of course not,” she replied but I could tell she wasn’t happy.
     
    Paige sighed and continued. “Tara, I thought maybe you’d want to go to the police station and that’s why I brought Bruce to help out until you got back.”
     
    Stormi handed Bruce his smoothie. “I want to go too.”
     
    “That’s fine,” Paige answered.
     
    Bruce took a sip of his smoothie. “I can scoop while Paige makes smoothies and takes the money.”
     
    I tore off my apron and grabbed my purse. “Thanks guys. Come on Stormi.”
     
    My chest felt tight. I wasn’t sure what I was walking into. I was afraid for Trixie and what they were accusing her of, but I was also troubled by what I might find out. There was a chance my view of Trixie might change forever. And the information that did come out wasn’t what I expected.
     
     
     
     
    *****
     
     
     
     
    When Stormi and I arrived at the police station, Officer Burkle walked up to us. The station hadn’t changed much in appearance since I was there a few months ago. Still the same drab atmosphere and centuries old desks and chairs.
     
    Officer Burkle waved us over to the side. “I assume you ladies are here because of Trixie?”
     
    Stormi was beside herself. “Jerry, I thought Greg would call me.”
     
    Officer Burkle looked at Stormi. “Stormi, you know he can’t do that. Besides, he’s the one interviewing her.”
     
    “Why did you all bring her in?” I asked.
     
    Officer Burkle looked confused. “We didn’t. She came in of her own accord.”
     
    Stormi and I looked at one another. I felt my heart rise in my throat. Oh Lord, she wasn’t confessing was she? “Is there any way we can see her?”
     
    “Let me see if I can interrupt their meeting. Wait here.” Officer Burkle took off down the hall. Stormi and I stood watching as he knocked on one of the doors in the hallway. After a few seconds, he walked inside. I felt Stormi reach for my arm. Officer Burkle emerged from the room and motioned for us to come down. My heart was beating so fast I thought it might blossom right out of my chest. Stormi and I walked down to where Officer Burkle was standing and peered into the room.
     
    An old wood table sat in the middle of the room. Trixie sat at one end of the table while Officer Manning, or Greg, sat beside her on one side. A tape recorder sat on the table in front of Trixie and Officer Manning held a notepad and pen. Officer Manning looked up from his notes and said, “Come on in ladies. Trixie would like for you to be here while she gives her statement.”
     
    Trixie’s eyes were tired. The events of the last few days had taken a toll and I was afraid for her health. A dreary brown blanket lay across her lap. I walked over and sat in the chair opposite Officer Manning and next to Trixie. Officer Burkle brought in another chair and placed it beside mine for Stormi.
     
    I looked at Officer Manning. “Shouldn’t she have a lawyer?”
     
    Officer Manning looked at Trixie. “That’s up to Ms. Florez.”
     
    Trixie looked at Stormi and I. “Lawdy no, I don’t want a lawyer and I don’t believe I need one.”
     
    Stormi looked at Officer Manning. “Greg, do you think she needs one?”
     
    Officer