Tangerine Morning: Jezzica's Story (Serenity Cove Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

tail—what’s it called?”
    “A bobtail, I think. He showed up in the alley. Maybe Julia has something to feed him.” She paused before heading to the coffee shop. “Let’s call it a day and drive to the inn for an early dinner?”
    “You’re on.” Catylen rolled up her sleeves. “We’ll leave one of the cars at the cottage. I need to make a stop on the way home, but I won’t be long.”
    “I’ll feed Rusty and then I’ll meet you there.”
    “You’ve already named him?” Catylen shook her head, laughing as she picked up a bag of trash and headed out the back door.
    Jezzica fed the cat the sliced turkey that Julia had given her, and settled him inside the shop for the night. She arrived home first, and clicked on the message machine. “Jezzica, this is Sally, Jackson’s assistant. I’m probably overreacting—at least I pray I am. Jackson is missing. He left yesterday afternoon to follow up a lead on your case.” She sniffled, her voice almost inaudible. “We haven’t heard from him since—he hasn’t even called his wife. The police here advised me to call you and suggested you let the police there know what’s going on.” The machine beeped and clicked off.
    Catylen came home, and Jezzica wanted to erase the voicemail without telling her sister, but she couldn’t keep it from her if there was a possibility of danger. She hit the Replay button.
    Catylen listened, and then narrowed her eyes. “Do you think it has anything to do with Geoff’s killers?”
    “I seriously doubt it. You ready to go?” Jezzica refused to panic. After all, what were the chances that the killers had followed her to Serenity Cove?
     
     

Chapter Seven

 
     
    Zack timed his morning runs, hoping to meet up with Jezzica. Either she’d been avoiding him or the hours she ran were sporadic. Either way, he hadn’t found her on the shore running in rhythm to the morning dawn, but she had formed the habit of visiting his thoughts, as his feet slipped in and out of the sand repeatedly.
    Her husband’s murder kept nagging at him. Could the detective have missed something—clues that might still bring the criminals to justice? He’d worked in small towns—nowhere near the size of Stone Valley. It seemed presumptuous to think he could succeed where others had failed. His gut told him he had to at least read the file. He slowed his pace to cool down.
    Before going to his office, he made a detour to the coffee shop, thinking he’d treat the whole crew at the station to Julia’s fresh pastries. Who am I kidding? I might bump into Jezzica. He slid onto a stool.
    “Don’t usually see you this early. What can I get for you?” Julia flipped his coffee mug  right side up and filled it.
    “A variety of whatever pastries you have, enough for the department.” He kicked back a slug of the dark liquid and waited for the robust flavor to pleasure his taste buds. “Best coffee this side of the Great Divide”
    Julia’s laughter rang with pure delight. “It’s the quality of the beans and grinding them fresh for each pot.” She set a box of pastries on the counter next to him, along with the total on a handwritten receipt.
    “Have you considered getting a point-of-sale system?” He pulled out his wallet.
    “I sell coffee, tea hot or cold, and pastries. My little slips work fine. You’ve heard of the acronym KISS? Keep it simply sweet—that’s my motto.”
    He laughed at her variation on the ellipsis. “If it works, that’s what matters.”
    “If my Harry were still here, he’d have bought one of those up-to-date systems in a hot flash. We were true opposites for forty-six years.”
    “How long has he been gone?” Zack shifted on the stool.
    Her eyes fill with sadness. “Almost two years—Lord, I miss that man.” She picked up the dirty mug and wiped the counter, seemly lost in her own thoughts.
    “Thanks for the coffee and pastries.” And leaving the shop he silently prayed that God would give Julia peace.