The Case of the Missing Elf: a Melanie Hart Mystery (Melanie Hart Cozy Mysteries Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    Shortly before noon, I headed to the break room where I heated a can of soup for lunch. Betty joined me. We discussed weather, and murder, and Christmas shopping plans. I shopped almost exclusively with local merchants. Our advertisers supported us, so I felt duty bound to return the favor. Dad, of course, felt the same way.
    It wasn’t until late afternoon, when I was about to put on my coat and walk out the door, that my phone rang.
    “I’ve got  him.” It was Ginger.
    “You’ve got whom?”
    “My elf.”
    “I’m sorry. I’m confused. The ad won’t come out until Monday.”
    “I don’t need it. A woman walked in off the street this morning. Said she’d heard about Scroggins’ death and wanted to know if she could have the job.”
    “And you hired her?”
    “Yeah, her name is Agnes Plummer. She’s perfect.”
    “I’m glad it worked out for you. I’ll tell Dad so he can pull the ad.”
    “Do thank him for me. It was nice of him to offer to run it for free.”
    “I will. But tell me, aren’t you concerned about Agnes being left alone with Santa?”
    “Don’t give it a thought. Agnes could kick Santa out the door and halfway to the North Pole if he tried to get smart with her. She’s tough.”
    “What about the Elf costume?”
    “Fits her like it was made for her.”
    “That’s great,” I said. But on some level, I couldn’t help wondering what could have driven this woman to volunteer for so lousy a job? And before it had even been advertised yet.
     
    ~~~
     
    That night, after battling my way home over ice-covered roads, I’d just sat down to one of Father’s wonderful meals when the phone rang. This night Dad had opted for lamb stew with cornbread muffins. The meal was a perfect counterbalance to the dreadful winter weather surrounding us.
    But despite being settled at the table, when the phone rang, Dad excused himself and answered the call. Within seconds he returned to the dining room. “It’s Wendy Cartwright. She wants to speak with you.”
    I rose and proceeded to the kitchen. “Yes?” I said.
    “Melanie, is that you?”
    “Of course. But Wendy, what’s the matter?”
    “I think Gossford believes I killed Barnaby.”
    I already knew of the police chief’s suspicions, but I saw no sense in feeding her fear. “You’re worrying needlessly,” I lied. “I’m sure Gossford has more sense than that.”
    “No, I don’t think so. I mean, not that I think he’s senseless or anything. But he’s been after me about how much keeping Barnaby had cost me. And about how much money I’d spent remodeling the apartment for him. It was like he thought I considered Barnaby a financial burden. I tried to make him see that the money didn’t matter. But I‘m not sure he believed me.”
    “Has Gossford threatened to arrest you?”
    “He hasn’t come right out and said so, but he’s been back here several times. The last time he had a search warrant for my old gardening shed.”
    “Did he say what he hoped to find?”
    “Poison.”
    “I’ll be right over.”
    On my return to the dining room, Father frowned. “You’re going out in this awful weather?”
    “Can’t be helped. Wendy is nearly hysterical. She thinks Gossford’s about to arrest her for murdering her cousin.”
    “You’re sure she didn’t do it?”
    “I think she’s an unlikely killer.”
    “Melanie, I’d  rather you didn’t involve yourself in another murder case. Remember how that ended last time?”
    “I’m not going to do anything but lend a delightful woman an ear and give her a hug.”
    “On a night like this?” Dad shook his head. “She doesn’t deserve you.”
    “Yes, she does. She’s a lovely and caring woman.”
    “If you were younger, I’d lock you in your room.”
    “You tried that last time, remember?”
    He sighed. “Wait here. Okay?”
    He rushed to the kitchen and a short time later returned bearing a large plastic container. “At least if you’re leaving this house,