The Tail of the Secret Identity: A Beatrice Young Cozy Cat Mystery (Beatrice Young Cozy Cat Mysteries Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

of cinnamon.
    “Thank goodness you’re here,” Zoe said, as she slid the tray into the display case. She wiped her forehead with the back of her arm. “I thought there was going to be an epic cat fight outside. The customers were afraid to leave.”
    “This little muffin seems to have quite the way with the gents,” Beatrice cooed to the fluff ball under her arm. Petunia blinked at her lovingly, as Hamish and Lucky sat at their owner’s feet, eyes as shiny and round as pennies.
    A waitress came sailing over, with what looked to be a long lunch order in her hand. Zoe took it.
    “Help me with the lunch order and tell me everything,” Zoe said, grabbing Beatrice’s hand.
    “What am I going to do with this one?”
    Zoe glared at the innocent-looking Petunia. “Ugh. YOU. Troublemaker. Listen, you have to start fighting your own battles. Leave her out with Hamish and Lucky.”
    Beatrice arched an eyebrow at her young pastry chef. “Wow, you’ve really had it, huh? Listen, sorry I took off. I’m going to make it up to you and make the best darn sandwiches you’ve ever seen.”
    Zoe cracked a smile. “You better, boss!”
    They headed into the kitchen and began assembling the order: turkey apple brie panini, creamy clam chowder with crusty bread, and biscuit chicken pot pie. Soon, the kitchen was filled with the delicious scent of warmed cream, roasted turkey, and fresh biscuit.
    After the order was filled, they sat down at the tiny kitchen table with bowls of chowder, their stomachs rumbling.
    “Bernie Sullivan is dead,” Beatrice said, leaning in.
    Zoe’s brown eyes snapped open. “Whaaaaatttttt?” She leaned in. “Oh my God, did Nancy kill him?”
    “What? No! Geez Zoe. I don’t like her much but I’d never think she’d kill somebody.”
    Zoe shrugged. “It was just a theory.”
    “Well, try this theory on for size, and if you tell anyone you’re dead meat: Bernie Sullivan is actually John Henson, a con man from Florida. He was wanted by the FBI for a whole bunch of very bad things.”
    Zoe rubbed her eyes. “Seriously? This is the most twisted case you’ve worked on yet, and that’s saying a lot.”
    “I know, between this and Petunia it’s been a crazy day.”
    The front door bell rang and then a familiar voice said, “Well aren’t you adorable. Hamish, didn’t I tell Bee she would get another cat? Wasn’t I right?”
    Beatrice’s face immediately clouded. It was Matthew. Married in their early twenties, it had been decades (and another marriage for Matthew) since their divorce. It was usually smooth sailing between them, though they hit a rocky patch every once and a while.
    “Oh so now he wants to talk to me,” she said to Zoe. “That’s another thing we need to talk about. Let me deal with his highness first.”
    She went into the café, shedding her apron and hairnet as she did so. Self-consciously she smoothed her striped black top and combed her hair with her fingers.
    Matthew was by the cash in his tan ranger’s uniform, his wavy gray hair combed back. He held Petunia in his arms and was chucking her under the chin. She purred loudly.
    “That cat has some kind of magic powers over anything male,” Beatrice said. “And no, she’s not my new cat. I found her on the street this morning. She’s been causing a ruckus ever since.”
    “I can imagine, I’ve never seen Hamish and Lucky so on edge before in my life.” He put Petunia down on the ground and she sauntered away toward a table of customers.
    He smiled, his blue eyes winking with good humor. “Now Bee, I didn’t just come here for lunch. I knew you’d be upset that I cancelled our plans tonight so I thought we could have a bite together now.”
    “I’m not upset,” Beatrice said airily, arms crossed. “And I’ve already eaten lunch, thanks very much. I also happen to have a very hot case on my hands, which you would know all about if you had bothered to call me back.”
    Matthew rolled his eyes. “Bee, look