Sweets Forgotten (Samantha Sweet Mysteries Book 10) Read Online Free PDF Page A

the shop. As long as I have somewhere to send her
before the end of the day, okay?”
    She walked back through the
kitchen, to the sales room, to check in with Jen. The sandwiches were coming
from the deli a block over and if they didn’t want to wait someone should run
over to pick them up. She couldn’t very well send Jane to do it, a woman lost
and with amnesia. She told Jen she would walk over to pick up the lunches
herself.
     

 
 
    Chapter
4

 
    Beau looked up to see a
gray-haired couple in exercise clothing walking toward him. The assisted-living
resident apartment manager had already confirmed that the Robinets had a son
named Zachary, who was on record as their next of kin. George and Nancy Robinet
certainly didn’t match the picture of any retirement home residents he’d ever
met before. Both wore athletic shoes and Spandex walking shorts and shirts.
They moved with confidence and George held out his hand.
    “I hear you wanted to speak to
us, Sheriff?”
    “Yes. Could we go somewhere?”
    “Come along to our apartment,”
Nancy said, wiping her forehead with a tissue. “I need to shed this jacket.
Funny how chilly it seems when we start out walking but how quickly we warm
up.”
    The elevator ride to the third
floor took longer than Beau liked. He didn’t want to inform these people that
their son was dead until he was certain of a few minutes privacy.
    “I have to admit that you two
surprised me,” he said. “You seem pretty young and fit to have chosen life in a
retirement home.”
    “Well, that’s the operative
word,” George said. “We chose it.
Hey, no more yard work for me.”
    “No cooking for me,” Nancy said
with a bright smile. “Our kitchen here has never seen more than cups of coffee
and occasional sandwiches. The cafeteria provides three meals a day if we want
them.”
    “Frees up our time for travel,
too. Don’t have to worry about who’s watching our house while we’re off to
Europe or China or somewhere.”
    Beau nodded and stood aside as
the elevator door slid open on the third floor. Clearly, these two had no clue
as to the reason for his visit. He felt badly about the news he was about to
spring on them.
    George unlocked the door to an
apartment with an autumn-themed wreath on the door, and Nancy peeled off her
workout jacket as she walked past the tiny efficiency kitchen. The place
appeared to consist of the little galley, a comfortable living room and a
bedroom. A bathroom probably connected beyond it. The Robinets moved briskly
about the room, offering coffee but seemingly unconcerned about Beau’s
presence.
    He cleared his throat. “There’s
actually an official reason I stopped by today. I’m afraid it’s about your son,
Zack.”
    “Oh dear.” Nancy dropped her
jacket across the back of the sofa. “He hasn’t gotten another speeding ticket,
has he? There was that time the officer got very upset with him and took him to
jail. I had to come and provide bail.”
    “No ma’am. It’s not that.”
    “No, honey. Couldn’t be that,”
George said. “He’s on his way to that tradeshow, remember?”
    “Maybe we should all sit down,”
Beau suggested. Keeping track of them was like trying to round up a pair of
leggy young calves. They wouldn’t hold still. He gestured toward the sofa and
armchair.
    “I’m very sorry to inform you
that Zack has died.”
    It took a full minute for the
information to sink in and, even then, Nancy looked at him as if he’d rattled
out something incomprehensible in a foreign language.
    “The Albuquerque police called
our department with the news and asked that I contact Zack’s next of kin. I’m very
sorry.”
    “Oh my god,” said Nancy, finally.
George sat on the sofa, his shoulders slumped, a good ten extra years suddenly
showing on his face.
    “What about Josephine?” he said.
    “That would be …”
    “Zack’s wife. Oh, and my
gosh—poor little Bentlee. What will the boy do without a father?” At the
mention