Free Probable Paws (Mystic Notch Cozy Mystery Series Book 5) by Leighann Dobbs

absolutely certain that the book is in the cottage?”
    “I can’t say as I’m absolutely certain. It’s one of the places Adelaide used to store stuff, but if she’s got Max in there now, she’s likely moved her storage. Heck, I’ve been gone so long, for all I know someone in the family cleaned it out long ago. Like that money-grubbing Lisa. Do you know that the few times I’ve been able to manifest in the house I’ve caught her stealing the family silver? Literally!”
    “Lisa?”
    “Poor David. How he let that viper get her claws in him.” Louis shook his head. “His first wife, Emily, was a sweet soul. She’s gone through the golden gates now, lucky thing. She died when Max was just little, and I suppose David wanted someone to mother the poor boy. Too bad he didn’t get what he expected.”
    Through the dark, Pandora could see Striker’s steely eyes narrow on Louis, and she could sense his cop instincts kicking in. “What do you mean? You think Lisa could have taken this book? Why? Does she like cooking that much?”
    “Maybe. Maybe she just wanted the book that Adelaide coveted. If Adelaide valued it, she might think it was worth something. I don’t know, but I’ll tell you one thing. If someone really did do something to my Adelaide, or the book, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out it was her.”

12
    T he next morning I practically had to drag myself to the bookstore. I was tired from the previous night’s foray into the daisy field. Pandora appeared even more tired than I was. She loped along slowly beside me and then snuggled into her cat bed in the window the moment we were inside.
    The regulars weren’t there yet, but I was greeted by Robert and Franklin, who drifted out from the History aisle to swirl beside the desk while I dumped my purse behind the counter and sorted through the sales receipts I’d left beside the cash register the day before.
    “What’s with you? You’re as pale as a ghost.” Robert snickered.
    “Late night with Striker last night?” Franklin wiggled his white brows.
    “No. Not really. Well, I did run into Striker, but I was out looking for that damn recipe book.”
    “Oh, still looking for that?” Franklin made a face then turned to Robert. “Did you find anything about recipes on the ghostly grapevine?”
    “Not a thing, I’m afraid. Though my spiritual sources tell me there might be more at stake than just recipes,” Robert said.
    “Maybe they are recipes about steak.” Franklin tittered.
    “This isn’t funny, guys. I have a feeling there might be more to this, too,” I said.
    “Oh?”
    “I think Adelaide was murdered. Why else would Striker have been out at the Hamilton mansion last night?”
    “ Meow! ” Pandora stirred in her bed, glaring at me from one slit eye.
    “Right?” I agreed with her and then turned back to the ghosts. “See, even Pandora agrees.”
    “I do hope it’s not going to be dangerous for you.” Franklin swirled with concern, and warmth blossomed in my chest. He might just be a ghost, but it still made me feel good that he cared.
    “Yes, Willa, you be careful.” Robert glanced out the window, then his eyes widened. “We have to go, but you make sure to take care of yourself. You don’t have to go miles before you sleep.” He laughed at the reference to his own poem and then disappeared just as the door opened and Bing, Hattie, Cordelia, and Josiah came in.
    “ … was getting her nails painted bright red and buying designer purses. Not even a decent time of mourning before she started spending the money,” Cordelia was saying over her shoulder to Hattie as they made their way to the sofa.
    “I just don’t know what it is with young people these days. No respect.” Hattie clucked.
    Bing handed me a coffee in a Styrofoam cup as he walked past on his way to one of the chairs.
    “Maybe you were right about Adelaide’s death not being natural.” Cordelia’s words caught my attention, and I slipped out from