Free Along Came A Needle: A Mercy Mares Cozy Mystery by Ava Mallory

that. “When? She cooked for us this morning.”
     
    “Like I said, I heard she quit after brunch today. I don't know the particulars, but that's what they're saying.” Aldo explained.
     
    “Well, it's a good thing Mercy likes to cook. Who knows, you might enjoy taking the kitchen over.” Ruby was teasing, but I think she was on to something. I could finally get out of these strange excursions if I volunteered to work while I waited for my car to be repaired. Then, I'd pack up my car and go home.
     
    “Mom?” Diana stared at me in disbelief. “You're not honestly thinking about volunteering, are you? Besides, don't you have to have some kind of license or permit for something like that?”
     
    Aldo laughed. “Well, you've come to the right place. We are the people you'd see to get those permits. I'd have no problem whatsoever signing off on that temporarily – at least until your car is back in commission. Are you really a good cook?”
     
    I fumbled over my words. Small town politics were full of more surprises than I ever thought they were. Back in Lake Villa, where I lived, almost everyone knew everyone, but not in the same way that people here did. Not by any means.
     
    “I think its a great idea,” I said.

Chapter Seven
    “Chip, you can't just do whatever you want. I think it'd be wise to take some time. Get your head together. Think about what is that you want to do in the future.” Sheriff Calvin Moore smoothed his stubby fingers over his thick mustache as he spoke. All I could think was gross !
     
    “This is my business. Flynn and I built this together. I'm not going to shut down now or ever. That would be disrespectful to him and what we built. You can't honestly believe that I'd walk away from this. Come on, how long have we known each other, Calvin?” Chip stood his ground, refusing to walk away and I couldn't blame him.
     
    Sheriff Moore spun around to address those of us seated around the table in the makeshift dining room. I'd noticed the actual dining room doors were still closed. I could be glad for that. None of us would have been able to sit in there and not think about what we'd seen.
     
    “Ladies and gents,” the sheriff addressed us, “I'm Sheriff Moore, but everyone around here calls me Calvin. You've been through a lot, I know. I was just suggesting to my friend Chip that no one would be upset if he decided to take some time to clear his head. Am I right?”
     
    Everyone mumbled in agreement. I'm sure we all would have understood completely. I, for one, had no problem whatsoever with packing up my belongings and going home, where I could recover from this horrendous trip and celebrate my birthday in complete silence.
     
    Chip stepped in front of Calvin. “Now, let's not be rash. I won't close. Don't worry about that. I appreciate that none of you have abandoned your vacations. I have plenty in store for you. I want everyone to just relax and enjoy your stay. I promise, you will get what you paid for.”
     
    I listened to him, still unsure whether or not I was buying this 'Flynn is really dead' routine. Having the sheriff acknowledge that Flynn was dead, did give me pause to think that it might not be fake after all, but I'd seen stranger things. I didn't want to ignore the possibility that I might have been right, no matter how remote that possibility was.
     
    “Well, Cal, looks like we're staying open,” Chip smiled triumphantly when none of us protested. “All I have to do is get my hands dirty in the kitchen and we should be back on par.”
     
    Calvin sighed heavily as he walked into the kitchen. “You don't have a cook? What happened to Alice?”
     
    “She and I parted ways. It's fine. I'll have to put my culinary school training to good use. My parents would be so proud.” Chip said.
     
    “I can help,” I volunteered, much to my daughter's dismay.
     
    Chip and Calvin turned to look at me. One had a wide smile on his face. The other, had his eyebrows