Free The Legend of Tabby Hollow (Whales and Tails Mystery Book 5) by Kathi Daley

best friends with Danny his entire life and he got along with Aiden, Siobhan, and Cassidy as well. He came to Sunday dinner with me every week, even when it meant he’d miss watching a big game on TV. And while he was at my mom’s, he went out of his way to charm her into loving him like a son.
    I got Cody on the phone and he said he’d be right over, and Finn assured me he’d be at the cabin within a half hour. So much for getting to work early. I called Tara and explained what had happened and that I might very well be late. It was a good thing Tara was so easygoing. It seemed that for one reason or another I was late for work quite a lot.
     
    “So what did Finn make of the fact that both our victims were found with black poker chips?” Tara asked when I finally managed to make it to Coffee Cat Books.
    “He seemed to think the black chips were meant to serve as a signature of some sort,” I answered as I tied the pink apron with the Coffee Cat Books logo around my waist.
    “Signature? That sounds like a serial-killer thing.”
    “Yeah. Unfortunately, it does, although based on the way the men died I’m going to put my money on the killer being someone who knew the men. Probably someone who knew them well.”
    “That’s disturbing.” Tara frowned.
    “When I saw the chip the image of a black rose flashed through my mind. Didn’t we read a book a while back where the killer left a black rose lying across the chest of each of his victims?” I decided I really could use a latte after the morning I’d had, so I began to gather the items I’d need.
    “Yeah. We read it in book club several years ago. But I see your point. Maybe the killer puts a black chip into the pocket of each of his victims. Bradley’s chip was found in his pocket and Grover’s was found near where the body was recovered. It could have fallen out of his pocket when they moved his body. I’m beginning to feel a little uneasy about all the unanswered questions. Francine moved over to Mr. Parsons’s house so she wouldn’t be alone, which made perfect sense because she’s a member of the Island Council, but what if the killer just chose two victims at random who just happened to both be councilmen?”
    “I think the likelihood of that is pretty slim, but maybe you and Destiny should move over to Maggie’s house for a few days,” I suggested as I took a sip of my drink. “She has eight bedrooms all made up and ready for guests. I don’t necessarily feel any of us would be targeted, but we are snooping around and the killer may realize that. I’m sure Siobhan won’t mind the company, and Maggie won’t be home until Sunday night. I can ask Danny if he’s willing to stay at the house as well. There’s safety in numbers.”
    “I guess I would feel better having other people around, and I do hate to leave Destiny alone for any length of time.”
    “Then it’s settled. Pack a bag and come over after work. Where is Destiny anyway?”
    “She had a doctor’s appointment and then she was going to head over to St. Patrick’s to work on her lessons,” Tara informed me. “She said she’d come in this afternoon and finish the bookkeeping she started yesterday.”
    “She really is catching on to that.”
    “She is. I know we hired her as a means of helping her out, but it’s worked out that she’s actually helping us. I hope she’ll be willing to stay on after the baby is born.”
    “Has she said anything more about her plans for the baby now that she knows it’s a boy?” I asked.
    “No. But I can tell she’s thinking about it. I don’t think having a boy is the obstacle she initially thought it would be. I know she’s discussed her situation with Jake, although I’m not sure where he stands on the whole keep-the-baby/don’t-keep-the-baby debate.”
    “My heart aches for her every time I think about what she’s going through.”
    “Yeah, mine too. Despite the fact that we’re doing all we can to help her, I’m sure