Free The Case of the Missing Elf: a Melanie Hart Mystery (Melanie Hart Cozy Mysteries Book 2) by Anna Drake Page B

more money?”
    “Yes, he told Lester Porter that he was expecting a lot more cash to come his way soon. Do you know where it might be coming from?”
    “I’ve no idea. He’s my heir, of course, but I’m as healthy as a horse.”
    I smiled. “I’m glad to hear it.”
    Wendy gave me an answering grin. “But what was he going to do with the money?”
    “He intended to start a business. He was going to buy that old warehouse on the east side of town and establish an antique and craft mall there.”
    “Oh dear, starting businesses has never worked out well for him. Not over time, at least.”
    We settled to our coffee, both of us now silent. Nero sat on top of the refrigerator, keeping a close watch on us. I wondered what would have happened had the cat not managed to wake his mistress up?
    There was a knock on the back door. Wendy opened it up to find Patrolman Debbie Blake standing there. She was young and new to the force, but she stood in front of us displaying a steady confidence. “Miss Cartwright, would you mind coming over to the carriage house to take a look around? I’d like you to check and see if anything  was taken from your cousin’s apartment during the break-in.”.
    “May my young friend come with me?” Wendy asked.
    Debbie shrugged. “I don’t see why not. Just don’t either of you touch anything, you understand?”
    We both nodded. I recommended Wendy take time to put on warm clothing. This was not the night to wander even such a short distance in a nightgown and house coat. In a few short minutes, Wendy returned to the kitchen clad in corduroy slacks and a bulky sweater. After tossing on a warm overcoat she pronounced herself ready to depart. While she’d dressed, I’d gotten myself back into my parka and scarf and gloves. Now, bundled against the cold, the three of us marched our way to the carriage house and up the stairs to Barnaby’s apartment.
    “Remember, don’t touch anything,” the young patrolwoman said after closing the door behind us.
    Wendy and I stood in the living room gazing about. “They didn’t take the TV,” I said. “Isn’t that odd?” I glanced at Debbie.
    “If it were a normal burglar, yeah, you’d think they’d take something as portable as a TV,” she responded.
    “So this wasn’t a normal burglary, you think?”
    “I didn’t say that. Please, don’t put words in my mouth.”
    I backed off. Sometimes cops needed a little room. Plus, I suspected it was a tough job to be new i.  She’d learn to speak carefully around us news types in the future.
    Under an uneasy truce, we proceeded on through the rest of the rooms. Once finished we returned to the front door. I stopped and faced the officer. “Did you find any cash in the apartment?”
    “Cash?”
    “Scroggins apparently won nine grand recently at a local casino.”
    “I haven’t found any tonight. Not that I was looking for money. But I can’t speak to what they found when they searched the place after Scroggins death.”
    I turned to Wendy. “Do you have any idea where Barnaby might have kept cash if he didn’t deposit it in the bank?”
    “None. But why do you think it might be here?”
    “Since the TV and other portable items weren’t carried off, the cash seems the most likely attraction.”
    She sighed. “There’s no safe hidden here. Not that I know of. If the money were here, I assume he’d have put it in a drawer.”
    I wondered. I’d heard of all kinds of hiding places for cash — the freezer, the centers of toilet paper rolls, dirty socks in a hamper.: What about bank records? Do you know where he kept them?”
    “If I remember correctly, they might be in that desk drawer over there.” Wendy nodded toward a small  walnut desk in the far corner of the room.
    “May she check the drawer?” I asked Debbie.
    “Why don’t you tell me what you want, and I’ll look for you,” she replied.
    I glanced at Wendy. “Is that okay?”
    She nodded.
    I turned my gaze on the