Free A Plain Malice: An Appleseed Creek Mystery (Appleseed Creek Mystery Series Book 4) by Amanda Flower Page A

Kennerwell a cup of tea.”
    “ Ya, Mamm ,” the girl murmured and turned to go taking the cat with her.
    “Leave Cheetos here. She won’t want any cat hair in her tea, and he’s shedding his winter coat right now.”
    Ivy frowned but then set the cat on the counter. The cat spread out on the smooth surface like a wooly blanket.
    I let the feline sniff my hand. “Cheetos?” I asked.
    The woman laughed. “He belonged to our Englisch neighbor who moved to England and couldn’t take her cat with her. We got the name as well as the spoiled cat. Ivy adores him.”
    “I have a Siamese at home.”
    She smiled. “You should tell Ivy that. She loves all cats. If she had her way the inn would be overrun with them.” She glanced at the large cat, who leisurely washed his face with his right paw. “Cheetos is more than enough I think.” She reached across the counter to shake my hand. “I’m Jane Shetler.”
    “Chloe Humphrey.”
    She slipped her glasses onto her eyes. “You’re that Englischer girl who solved Katie Lambright’s murder.”
    Heat rushed to my face. “I—umm …”
    Jane reached across the counter and grabbed both of my hands. “ Danki. Thank you for what you did. It made our community a little bit safer.”
    I blinked. This was not the reaction I was used to w hen an Amish person learned I meddled in their district’s business. “You’re welcome. Katie’s sister is Ruth Troyer’s closest friend. I am friends with the Troyer family.”
    Jane nodded. “Yes, I know this. Ivy is a classmate of Ruth and Anna. Ruth’s older brother Timothy is courting you.”
    I b lushed but wasn’t surprised she knew. “Yes.”
    “Are you working for this tour group now?”
    “Well, I—I’m subbing until they can find a replacement tour guide.” I swallowed.
    “ Ya, the police chief told me what happened. It’s terrible.” Jane removed her glasses, and they hung from their chain again. “Sounds like being a tour guide to this group may be a dangerous job.”
    I had n’t thought about it that way. I hoped Jane was wrong.

     
    Chapter Eight
     
    I petted Cheetos back, and the cat purred. “When we were walking back to Pearl’s room, we passed a teenaged boy in the hallway.”
    Jane nodded. “That must have been my son Ephraim. Both he and Ivy work here at the inn.”
    “I saw him at the Troyer’s farm this morning.”
    She played with the simple chain holding her glasses. “I don’t see how you could have. Ephraim has been working at the inn all day.”
    “That’s odd. The boy I saw looked just like him. He wouldn’t happen to have a brother, would he?”
    Jane brow creased. “ Nee, he does not.”
    Ivy returned Pearl’s tea.
    “ I’ll take it to her,” I said.
    Ivy nodded and picked up Cheetos again. The large ca t purred.
    I carried the tea to Pearl. “Here’s some tea.”
    She clutched her roll bag in her lap. “Thank you. Can you set it on the table there?”
    I placed the teacup and saucer o n a woven coaster. “Is there anything else I can do?”
    She shook her head.
    “Mrs. Kennerwell?” Chief Rose entered the lobby.
    “We’ve finished ou r search. You’re welcome to go back to your room.” The chief removed a paper list. “We confiscated Ruby’s medications. This is a list of them here. The coroner needs to know what was in her system and what health problems she may have had.”
    Pearl accepted the piece of paper without looking at it. “I understand. I think I would like to go lie down now.”
    “Of course,” the police chief said.
    I walked Pearl back to her room, holding her cup of tea and was relieved to see Officer Riley gone. Chief Rose and her officer had been neat. There was no indication they had searched the small room.
    Pearl perched on the edge of one of the beds. “Thank you so much for your help. I could use the rest and the time to make some phone calls. If I feel up to it, I will come out for dinner. When is that?”
    I set the teacup on the