Trouble at the Kennel (Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery #9)(26)
Madison blushed and said, “I like Brandon, and I think he likes me. He knows I’ve changed since Amber’s death, and although I know he was very much in love with her, and had even planned on marrying her, we’ve both gotten over it. He usually comes home from college about twice a month, and that’s when I get to see him. He calls me from school a couple of times a week. Kelly, I don’t know if there’s any future in it, but I hope so.”
“Honey, I hope so too. You both deserve some happiness. I’d be thrilled if you could find it with each other. I like him a lot, and you tell him he better appreciate you, or he’ll have to deal with me.”
Madison laughed. “Kelly, because of you everything in my life is good. Dad and I have never been closer, and Doc and his wife have been kind of like parents to me since Doc helped dad get sober. In fact, Doc’s wife and I have become very close. I’m really, really happy.”
“Well, if you’re happy, that makes me happy. Enough of this. Please put the groceries away. Charlie can handle the short orders, and I’ll start cooking the rest of the stuff. Oh, and Madison, I just want you to know how proud I am of you, and although you say the changes in your life are because of me, that’s not true. The changes in your life are because you decided to make something of your life and you definitely did! Now, get started, or we’ll both end up crying.”
CHAPTER 20
As Kelly was getting ready to lock up for the day, Roxie walked out of the kitchen, untied her apron, and said, “I've been meaning to tell you something all afternoon, but we were so busy I never could find the time to do it.”
“What is it?” Kelly asked.
“Well, just after lunch a man came in and wanted to know some information about you.”
“Why didn't you tell him I’d be happy to talk to him?”
“I told him I’d get you, but he said no. He just wanted to know a little bit about you, but he asked some things I thought were kind of strange.”
“Like what?”
“He wanted to know if you or your husband had discovered who killed Mary Barnes.”
“Did he say who he was or why he was asking?”
“No. He said he'd heard you’d solved some crimes in the past and that you’d been asking some questions about the murder out at the Doggie Love Kennel. That's all I know. Oh, he did ask where you lived.”
“You’re kidding. What did you tell him?”
“I told him you’d helped your husband solve several criminal cases recently, but I hadn't heard anything about you trying to solve the Mary Barnes case. I also told him I couldn't give out information about where you lived.”
“That's really weird. I can tell you this, I don’t like it when someone comes snooping around asking questions about me. I wonder who he was.”
“I have no idea.”
“I'm glad you didn't tell him where I lived. That was a smart decision, Roxie. What did he look like?” Kelly asked.
“He was fairly young, probably about thirty. Of course now that I’m getting older, everyone under forty looks young to me. He was wearing a grey suit, horn-rimmed glasses, and his brown hair was cut pretty short. He had a moustache, and I remember he had beautiful dark blue eyes that it was hard to look away from. I think he might have been a lawyer, because I did mention that you’d probably he happy to talk to him after the noon rush hour. He mentioned something about having to be in court. He didn't order anything. It seems his whole purpose for coming to the coffee shop was to find out what he could about you. I thought it was very strange, so I made a point of watching him when he left. He got in a fairly new silver car, but I don't know the make. I thought you'd want to know. Might want to keep your eyes open.”
“Do you think he was from Cedar Bay? I thought you knew pretty much everyone in town.”
"I know the townies that have lived here for a long time, but he might be from one of the newer areas. There are a lot of new developments on the south side of town. Come to think of it, no one here at the restaurant greeted him, and if he lived here in town, I'm sure someone would have recognized him. He didn't seem particularly threatening, but all in all it was strange enough to get my attention.”
“Thanks, Roxie, I'm sure it was nothing. I don't think I'll even bother to tell Mike. Something like that will just make him nervous. Now get out of here. It’s time for you to leave. See you in the morning.”
Kelly put Skyy on a leash and turned to Lady and said, “Time to go home.” When she put her seat belt on and started her minivan she had a sense she was being watched, and a chill went down the back of her neck. She looked around, but didn’t see anyone. On the drive home she kept checking her rear-view mirror to see if she was being followed. She noticed a silver sedan two cars back and debated whether or not to turn onto her street. She wanted to see if it was the man Roxie had told her about and if the car was actually following her. She turned onto her street and carefully watched her rear view mirror. The silver car continued on past the intersection.
I must be jumpy. If it was the guy Roxie was talking about and he wanted to find out where I lived, he probably would have followed me. This is silly, and I'm sure I'm overreacting. I think I'll call Sandy when I get home and see if she's heard anything. I can use the lost ID tag thing again.