Free Beware the Orchids (A Shady Acres Mystery Book 1) by Cynthia Hickey

glass. I held it up to see if Cheryl wanted some. She shook her head no, so I continued. “Which means skipping breakfast.”
    “Oh, goody. Snooping. You get started. I’ll run to the buffet, grab some things we can eat with our hands and find you.”
    “Perfect.” Other than hanging around those two cottages for a bit, I had no idea where to go from there. The paper I’d taken from Dave’s room burned in my pocket. What did I do with it since I didn’t have the watch? Sometimes, I didn’t think far enough ahead.
    The responsible thing to do would be to turn it over to Officer Lawrence. Which I would do as soon as I made a copy. I spread it out on the kitchen table and snapped a picture of it with my phone. Ta da. I was now ready to be responsible the next time I saw the gruff police officer.
    I was waylaid by Alice the moment I stepped from my little home. “Is there something you wanted me to do?”
    She lifted her chin. “I expect a certain…decorum from my employees.”
    Ah. Dave snitched. “It isn’t what it looked like.”
    “Rolling on the floor with the handyman isn’t what it looks like?”
    “No, ma’am.”
    She made a noise in her throat. “Make sure it isn’t. Discretion, Shelby, please.” She whirled and marched away like a drunken cow. I really wanted to teach her to walk in heels.
    Reputation ruined, but one step closer to finding out who killed Maybelle, I went to the storage shed and grabbed shears and a rake. I might have a mystery to solve, but I was also getting paid to do a job.
    Heath stepped out of his cottage, a brace on his leg, and tossed me a wave.
    I ducked my head and increased my pace. There was no way I was ready to face him in the light of day.
    “Ah, something happened between the two of you last night,” Cheryl sang on her way past me toward the dining room.
    My face heated, and I kept on my path, not breathing until I reached Myrna’s cottage. Her kitchen curtains were parted a bit and I was able to peek in as I worked.
    She glanced up from washing a mug and screamed, then slammed the window open, catching me in the forehead. “What are you doing?”
    A lot of people seemed to be asking me that question lately. “Trimming the bushes.” I put a hand to my head, relieved there was no blood. I didn’t handle blood well.
    “There’s no need to stare in windows while trimming.” She slammed the window shut and closed the curtains.
    Great. No clues coming from her. I quickly finished the work there and moved to Bob’s cottage where he and Alice argued in the living room. Lucky for me the window was open. I trimmed the bushes just out of direct sight.
    “I’m telling you, I’ll get my rent caught up next week,” Bob said. “My account’s been cleaned out. If I catch who did it, I’ll kill them.”
    “One more week, Bob. If I don’t have the full amount due, I’ll have to evict you.” Alice stormed outside and slammed his door.
    Bob followed. “Don’t threaten me, Missy. My garbage disposal has been broken for a week! I have grounds not to pay.”
    She shook her head and continued on her way, passing Mr. Weasley.
    He approached Bob. “I have a leaky faucet. Ever since the handyman got hurt things are falling apart around here. I thought we had a substitute.”
    “I haven’t seen hide nor hair of the man if we do. Come on in for coffee.”
    I’d hoped the invitation would warrant a bit more information, but all they did was complain about the lack of repairs. Yep. I’d have to fire Dave. Better yet, I’d try to get Alice to do it. She was the manager, after all.
    I finished at Bob’s cottage and headed for the dining room. Since Cheryl had yet to bring me my breakfast, and my stomach was letting me hear about it, I needed to search for my own food.
    Most of the buffet had been cleared, but there was a blueberry muffin and one cold sausage patty. I grabbed both and headed for Alice’s office.
    Her door was partially open so I gave a soft knock and