Trouble at the Kennel (Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery #9)(25)
“I’m not sure I’m ready to take into account the word of a drug addict when I’m looking for a killer.”
“I have no idea what’s important and what’s not. I’m just telling you some things you probably need to consider. Think about it while I put the finishing touches on dinner. Even if you aren’t happy about the way the case is going I know you’re going to be happy with what I’m about to serve you, plus I made the brie and egg strata that you like so much for breakfast tomorrow morning. You can read the paper and enjoy the day.”
“Shall I close my eyes while you surprise me with dinner?”
“No. You can admire the gorgeous stuffed Rock Cornish game hen you’re about to be served along with a special warm orange sauce, green beans with hollandaise, and a wedge salad. As they say in France, bon appetit!
CHAPTER 19
On the short drive to the coffee shop on Monday morning, Kelly thought about how lovely the day before had been. A leisurely breakfast, Mike helping her with the last of the neglected household chores, catching up on e-mails, and long conversations with both Julia and Cash. Julia filled her in on what was happening at their ranch in Calico Gold, while Cash shared some thrilling news with her.
He told her his tour of duty in Iraq would be over in just a few weeks, and his new assignment was going to be at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. He was really excited to be stationed there. He saved the best news for last, when he told her he had some time off between assignments and would be visiting Mike and her in a few weeks. The very thought of seeing him brought a smile to her face. Nearly every day while he’d been in Iraq Kelly had worried she’d get a phone call telling her that her wonderful son had become a statistic. She prayed he could make it safely to the end of his tour and hopefully, never have to return to Iraq.
When she arrived at the pier where the coffee shop was located she got the dogs out of the minivan and as usual, Roxie, Charlie, and Madison walked up to the door just as she was opening it. The three of them had worked for Kelly for quite a while and each went about their morning duties in preparation for what promised to be another busy day. Whenever there was an unsolved mystery in the small town, and in the recent past there had been quite a few mysteries including several murders, the townspeople gathered at Kelly’s Koffee Shop hoping to find out something about these crimes. Usually what they found out was nothing more than a rumor, but it gave them something to do, and in a town as small as Cedar Bay diversions from the ordinary were very welcome.
“Madison, would you give me a hand with the groceries that are in my minivan? I had to restock and could use a little help carrying them in.”
“Of course, plus it will give me a chance to tell you what I learned from Brandon about Ricky.”
“Well, you definitely have my attention,” she said as they walked out to her minivan. “By the way, I met him Saturday, and although I know what you told me about his drug use wasn’t based on facts, after meeting with him I would have to agree with the rumors.”
“That’s what I was going to tell you. I talked to Brandon last night and mentioned Ricky to him. He told me he’d been at a party Friday night when he’d come back from college, and Ricky was there. Everybody was surprised when he walked in the door, because none of them had invited him. In fact, the people there never had anything to do with him when they were in high school, and certainly not after graduation. They all thought it was pretty strange.”
“So what did he do? Just show up?” Kelly asked as she loaded several grocery bags in Madison’s arms.
“That seems to be about it. He wasn’t there too long. It looks like the drug use is true. Brandon said he was really wasted, and stupid enough that he asked several people who were there if they wanted some good stuff. He told them he had a friend that could always score big and said what this person had was the real deal.”
“Did anyone take him up on his offer?”
“Of course not. Brandon said drugs are certainly used where he goes to college, but he doesn’t do them, and he told me none of the people who were there Friday night did either. After a little while one of the guys told Ricky he thought it might be a good thing if he left. Several of the other guys stood behind him when he said it. At some level Ricky must have gotten the message, because he left right after the guy told him to.”
“That’s interesting,” Kelly said as they walked back into the coffee shop. “Thanks for telling me. Don’t know what I can do with that information, but it seems to confirm the rumors you heard. I probably better tell Mike. He hates drugs and even more, people who sell drugs. From the way Ricky talked, it sounds like he might be selling heroin. Maybe Mike can do something about it. Let me ask you something else, and then we both need to get back to work.”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Seems like every time we talk, you mention Brandon. As your Catholic sponsor, should I know something?” she asked, grinning
A few days after Madison had started working at Kelly’s Koffee Shop, she’d attended a funeral for Kelly’s goddaughter, Amber. After attending the Catholic funeral service, Madison had what some would call a spiritual awakening. Her life completely changed, and she credited her father ending his alcohol abuse, her good grades at cosmetology school, and all the wonderful things that had happened to her because of it and Kelly.