Free Murder on Wheels by Lynn Cahoon Page A

sigh. “If you must know, Harrold and I are going to the city for dinner and drinks to talk about the water conservation committee.”
    â€œWithout Josh or Amy?” I got it now. My aunt was going on a date.
    She turned beet red. “Fine, it’s a date. But don’t go getting all ‘what about Josh’ with me. I never said our relationship was exclusive.”
    â€œI wasn’t even thinking about questioning you on that subject.” Okay, so maybe I had been, but I liked Harrold. He and Aunt Jackie would make a nice pair. I did feel sorry for Josh though. In a weird way.
    â€œJust cover my shift and keep your mouth shut on my business.” My aunt looked at me, waiting for a response. When I didn’t say anything, she blurted, “What?”
    â€œYou didn’t say please.” I heard the bell over the door ring and saw Toby walk in for his shift.
    â€œPlease,” Aunt Jackie whispered.
    I stood and put the laptop under my arm. “Your wish is my command.”
    â€œUh-oh.” Toby smiled as he walked toward us. “Your aunt must have conned you into covering her shift.”
    â€œYep.” I smiled back at him. “And since I’m working tomorrow, I need to get home and take a run into Bakerstown to the Pet Palace. Emma’s almost out of dog food.”
    My aunt mouthed the words “ thank you” before disappearing behind the office door toward her apartment upstairs.
    Toby watched her go. “I felt bad saying no, but Elisa set up this dinner thing and she’s been pretty adamant that I need to be there. I even had to have Tim cover my police shift. I hate leaving Greg so shorthanded during an active investigation.”
    â€œSometimes people have to come first. I’m sure Elisa must have something very important planned.” I left the front of the shop and put the laptop on the office desk. Grabbing my purse, I decided to stop by City Hall and see if Amy wanted to get an early lunch. Okay, really I wanted to see what had happened between my aunt and Harrold at the water conservation meeting. So sue me.
    Toby was making fresh coffee when I returned to the front of the shop. He drummed his fingers on the counter, waiting for the pot to brew. I studied him as he tossed an empty cup from hand to hand, his attention elsewhere. “What’s up with you? Don’t tell me you’re still worried about taking tomorrow night off? Greg will understand.”
    He shook his head. “That’s not what I’m worried about.” His attention moved to the group of women who were getting out of a large van and walking toward the door. “I wonder what Elisa wants to talk about that’s so important.”
    Our conversation ended as the women entered the shop and rushed to the counter to order. Toby’s girls, as I called them, were students at the local cosmetology school down the highway toward Bakerstown. There were a lot of coffee shops or restaurants closer where they could take their study breaks, but only one that had the sexy police deputy–slash–barista working the counter. I put a hand on his arm. “Call me or Jackie if you get swamped.”
    Amy was balancing a pencil on her upper lip when I opened the door. She dropped the pencil and reached for the phone that hadn’t rung. When she saw it was me, she hung up the receiver. “Crap, you scared me.”
    â€œYou alone here?” I glanced around the empty waiting room and through Mayor Baylor’s open office door.
    â€œHe’s been gone all morning but he keeps calling to give me one more thing to handle.” Amy yawned and stretched her arms. “I guess I should be happy for the distractions. Besides the water conservation committee, the office has been dead all month.”
    Bingo, there was my opening. “Can I buy you lunch? I’d love to hear about the meeting.”
    Amy pulled her purse out of her desk along with