Free Digging for Dirt (Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mystery Book 9) by Cindy Bell Page B

“Mitchell, are you the investigating detective on this case?”
    “Not exactly.” He cleared his throat. “There is quite a conflict of interest, so another detective was assigned the case, but I have asked him to keep me in the loop. I did that to make sure that you and Sarah would be treated fairly. However, I didn’t expect you not to offer the same courtesy to me.”
    “First of all your officer was rude to me.” Vicky crossed her arms. “Secondly, we have to cover ourselves legally, Mitchell. If we give interviews, that could be used against us later.”
    “Only if you are guilty.” Mitchell studied her. “Are you more concerned about protecting the inn or finding the truth about a woman’s death?”
    His words hit home with Vicky. She wanted to protest against the accusation, but she couldn’t. She had been more focused on figuring out where the berries had come from and how they ended up in a basket in Freida’s room that was supposedly organized by the inn than she had been about Freida being dead.
    “Listen, Mitchell. I went to see the grocer and he says that there were two fruit baskets ordered yesterday, but they have no details of who ordered them and they don’t have any berries in stock at all. I’m starting to think that maybe someone added the berries to the order afterwards. I think this has all been intentional and the fact that it was addressed from the inn makes it even worse.”
    “I know,” Mitchell said. “That is why you need to give your statements. You need to look like you are cooperating with the investigation, and I won’t have to face an inquisition about why my wife is stalling a police investigation.” He reached out and took her hand in his. “I understand why you don’t always trust the police, but I’m your husband. I know you trust me.”
    Vicky nodded silently. She knew that she could trust him. She also knew that he was right, stalling the investigation would only make them look guiltier in the eyes of the law.
    “Don’t ever think that we can be on opposite sides, Vicky. I will always be in your corner.”
    Vicky felt some relief at his words. After Mitchell left the apartment, Ida stepped inside.
    “What was all of that about?” she asked.
    “It was about the berries of course, but it’s nothing to worry about. Now, let’s find out why Freida might have been a target.” She opened up her computer and began searching. Ida peered over her shoulder as Vicky brought up article after article and skimmed over them. Most of them were junk stories, but some seemed to have a newsworthy cause.
    “I’ll get us some coffee.” Ida walked towards the kitchen.
    The more Vicky looked at Freida’s articles the more she began to suspect that Freida was more of a skilled journalist than she often portrayed herself to be.
    “Have you found anything yet?” Ida walked over with two cups of coffee from the kitchen.
    “I might have.” Vicky frowned. “But I don’t think you’re going to like it.”
    “What is it?” Ida asked.
    “It looks like Freida was working hard to expose the truth about the war injury that Roman claims. She was publishing articles about how no evidence could be found to prove that he had even been in a war, let alone injured in one.” Vicky frowned as she read over the information.
    “I remember him telling me about that during our walk.” Ida grimaced. “That would be a terrible thing to lie about. I definitely think he has an injury.”
    “But was it caused in a war?” Vicky asked. “I bet Freida had finally found proof and she was going to reveal it. I overheard her saying she was not afraid of Roman. I wonder if he had been threatening her in an attempt to cover up the information she found. He might have been the person who her editor was talking about on the phone.”
    “Roman doesn’t seem very threatening.” Ida shook her head. “He seems more like he would be a caring and determined leader.”
    “Aunt Ida, I respect your