Sweet Taffy and Murder: Sweet Taffy Cozy Mysteries Book #1 Read Online Free PDF

Taffy couldn’t be trusted to take care of living things. Not since age five, when she’d fed her one and only goldfish silver glitter because she thought it would make him sparkle from the inside out. She’d been allowed no pets after that. Her father toured too often, and her mom had allergies to cats and dogs.
    “If you can get a hold of him, feel free to bring him to my place,” Ethan said, setting the bucket down. “And you’re just in time.”
    “For what?”
    “All traces are gone.” He grinned. Taffy liked his big warm smile. It matched his big warm presence.
    Joining him on the porch, she looked up at him and said, “I have something serious to ask you.”
    His smile faded. “Oh?”
    “Where in this gawdawful town is that coffee shop?!”
    “What coffee shop?”
    “You said it was ‘just up the road.’” She flapped her arms in frustration. “I looked everywhere and can’t find it. I’m dying for another cup.”
    He laughed. “I made it. By up the road I meant my place. It’s just up the road.” He pointed. “The town is between coffee shops right now. Did you notice a boarded-up storefront? The Vallee brothers are setting up a new business there, but it’s not open yet.”
    Why did small-town people always refer to each other with such familiarity, as if everyone should know everyone else? Taffy was clueless when it came to all the new names: Bill, Davenport, Janet Harken, Salinas, Randall Swain, the Vallee brothers.
    And Ethan McCoy, who, it turned out, made mighty fine coffee.
    Taffy’s lips curled into a smile.
    “Any chance I could get a second cup?”
    * * *
    A few minutes later they were sitting together in Ethan’s sunny but crowded kitchen. It was crowded because of the elaborate contraption Ethan had built to make his exquisite coffee. Beakers and bowls and tubes and valves took up the entire rectangular table, so they sat at a small bistro table near the open French doors leading onto a weedy brick terrace overhung with grape vines.
    “Why aren’t you the one opening the coffee shop?”
    He frowned. “I tried. My permit got shunted. Austin Vallee and his brother Mick apparently have friends in high places.”
    Taffy held her cup to her lips. “No matter how many friends they have, I doubt they’ll be able to whip up brew like this. It’s better than anything I’ve ever tasted. And I’ve been to the best of the best in Manhattan.”
    Ethan accepted the compliment, smiling proudly. “One point for Abandon.”
    “No point keeping score. I simply can’t live in a house where someone died.” Taffy shuddered.
    “Just forget it ever happened,” he said, topping up her mug.
    “I don’t think I can. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”
    “You slept last night didn’t you? After climbing through the kitchen window?” He smirked over his coffee mug. “I’m just trying to picture it.”
    “It wasn’t graceful. And it was really dark. And I went straight upstairs to find a bed because I was so exhausted. I hadn’t slept for two nights. And I didn’t know I was in a dead woman’s house.”
    He put his coffee mug down next to a plate of digestive biscuits.
    “It’s a good woman’s house. Janet was a pillar in the community and helped more people than anyone knows. She never looked for praise or acknowledgment, just did stuff behind the scenes. She seemed to sense the suffering of others and felt compelled to do something about it.”
    “You make her sound like a saint.”
    “I suppose if Abandon were to consecrate anyone, it ought to be her. Just ask Bill.”
    “The moody utilities guy?”
    “You’ve met him already?”
    “No, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed he’s in a good mood and will hook up the power today.”
    “I’ll give him a call and tell him you’re a friend of mine.”
    Taffy smiled. “You have friends in high places, too, I see.”
    He nodded. “It’s wise to be on the good side of certain people in this