Free "A Murder In Milburn", Book 4: Death By Ice Cream by Nancy McGovern

is…” She stalled.
    Feeling pity, Nora said, “The fact is, I’m heading up there anyway, and I promised Karen I’d drop her.”
    “Why are you going there?” Sean asked, a little suspicion coloring his voice. “I’ve warned you already, Nora-”
    “And I’ve told you I won’t be deterred,” Nora said. “Come on, Karen. My trusty and rusty Toyota awaits.”
    “Are you ever going to get a new car?” Tina laughed. “That old thing has more rust in it than the liberty bell.”
    “Well, actually, the liberty bell is made out of copper,” Nora said. “So there’s no rust on it.”
    “Copper? I thought it’s made out of 100% freedom.” Sean grinned.
    “Nora, c’mon. I’m getting late for work.” Karen was itching to get out.
    “Won’t you atleast have some dessert?” Tina asked. “I saved a piece of our pie for you and Nora.”
    “Give it to Sean. He needs it more than I do.” Karen patted her stomach. “Bye guys.”
    “I’ll see you later.” Nora nodded to Tina. “Will you be okay to handle things for an hour?”
    “A-OK.” Tina gave her a thumbs up. “I’ll make sure the sheriff here is fed well.”
    “I’m sure she will,” Sean said. “Sure you can’t wait for a bit, Karen?” His voice was wistful.
    “I’m very sure.” Karen nodded at them both, and walked out.
    “Excuse the mess,” Nora said, as Karen got into her car. “I keep meaning to clean up, but…”
    “Don’t worry about it,” Karen said, picking a bottle of water from her seat and dumping it in the back. “As long as your car gets me away from Sean I’ll appreciate it as much as I would a Rolls Royce!”
    Fifteen minutes later, they’d pulled in at the ice-cream factory, and Nora managed to find a decent parking spot.
    “The atmosphere’s pretty tense today,” Karen whispered. As they entered, they discovered just how tense. Bernard had decided to hold an all-hands meeting, and was addressing the crowd of employees on the factory’s main floor.
    “My friends,” he said, “My friends and my loyal employees. It is a great tragedy that Tiffany Smith has passed away. I know that there are rumors circulating about her death. I’d ask you all, that in this time of grief, we come together as a family, and respect her. The police are working very hard to make sure that the killer is caught, and the best way we can help them is by continuing to do our own jobs. If any of you have any questions, or feel you may remember something that will help the investigation, my door is always open. Come and discuss it with me, and we will take it forward to the sheriff. But in the meanwhile, let us all avoid meaningless gossip.”
    Nora heard some disrespectful murmurings.  
    “That’s all very well for him to say,” one worker said to another. “But the thought that her killer is probably running free, maybe even working here with us? That makes me shiver.”
    “Shhh. Joe’ll hear you.” The other worker pointed to the supervisor, who was standing nearby.
    “Let him. I’m not scared,” the first man said, though he said it in a quiet whisper. “He might have done it. I heard he was dating Tiffany. Well, dating is a loose word for what they were doing...”
    “Joe? No way. He hated Tiffany. The police have arrested the guy who did it anyway,” the second worker was saying. “Harvey Nathaniel.”
    “Him? The construction and real estate guy? No way someone that posh would kill Tiffany. He wouldn’t even throw her a bone.”
    “You’ll be surprised. These rich guys like to slum around sometimes.”
    Disgusted, Nora moved away. As Bernard finished his speech, the crowd began to disperse. Karen waved goodbye and vanished.
    With a sudden change of heart, Nora walked up to the worker, and drew him aside.
    “What is it?” he asked suspiciously, “You’re not a reporter, are you?”
    “I’m Nora Newberry,” she said. “I’m a friend of Harvey, and I run the diner down by main street. You know the new