Free Murder on Wheels by Lynn Cahoon

verified his story. Which probably makes Nick look like a criminal or something.”
    â€œI’m sure Greg was discreet.” I took in Sadie’s erect posture and clipped words. She was furious.
    â€œI don’t want to talk about this anymore. And I don’t need an escort home. You’ve delivered the message, a little late, but I know now.” Sadie turned toward home.
    â€œSadie, come have lunch with me, we’ll talk,” I called after her. Food could fix anything, including hurt feelings. At least that was my mantra.
    â€œNo, thank you.”
    I watched Sadie walk away and hoped that she’d be able to forgive. Even though I hadn’t done anything, apparently since I hadn’t told her immediately, I was as bad as Greg in her mind.
    The good news was, Nick was in the clear. The bad news was, I might have lost a friend in the process.
    I turned and walked home, hoping the sun would break through the clouds and lift the gray from the day if not from my mood.

CHAPTER 6
    T hursday’s shift was quiet, but I wasn’t able to lose myself in the novel I’d been reading. I picked up several of the new release advance copies our sales rep had dropped off, but nothing kept my attention. I kept thinking about Sadie and the scene from yesterday.
    I took out the laptop and spent the next few hours reviewing the accounting. Usually Aunt Jackie had to badger me into approving the last week’s figures, but today, the numbers stopped my racing mind and gave me something to think about other than Sadie.
    â€œI can’t believe you’ve already approved the book order.” Aunt Jackie stood over me as I sat on the couch. I’d moved from accounting to book buying and had probably spent my budget for the entire quarter already. “What’s gotten into you?”
    â€œI’m worried about Sadie.” I blurted the statement out before I could think about my aunt’s reaction.
    Instead of the lecture about staying out of Greg’s investigations that I’d expected, my aunt sat on the couch next to me. “She’ll be fine. It’s unfortunate that Kacey had to die so unexpectedly, but you and I both know Greg won’t be able to charge Sadie with the murder because she didn’t do it.” She patted my hand. “You really need to have more faith in the justice system.”
    â€œPeople are falsely accused and convicted all the time.” I decided not to share the fact that Sadie’s recipes had mysteriously appeared on her doorstep with my aunt. No need to add fuel to the gossip fodder already running through town. “I do trust Greg. I just feel bad that Sadie has to go through this.”
    â€œI understand.” My aunt sat in silence next to me. Finally, she turned toward me. “I need you to cover my shift on Friday. I asked Sasha and Toby but they both already have plans.”
    â€œAnd you know I don’t have plans since Greg will be unavailable due to the investigation.” I shrugged. “Sure, I haven’t worked an evening shift for a while. I’m probably getting rusty.”
    â€œPerfect.” She stood and headed toward the back of the shop.
    â€œHey,” I called after her. “What’s going on? Is Josh taking you to the city for dinner?”
    Aunt Jackie froze midstride and turned back, studying my face. Then she checked out the empty store to make sure no one was in earshot. She came closer, then whispered, “You can’t tell anyone.”
    â€œI can’t tell anyone what?” Now I was intrigued. “Don’t tell me you and Mary are breaking and entering again? What is it this time? A shady art dealer?”
    She pressed her lips together. “No.” She framed the word with her mouth. “I’m not doing anything illegal.”
    â€œOkay, now you have to tell me. What’s up?” I closed the laptop and focused on my aunt.
    She took a big dramatic