Free Halloween Hiccups: A Mercy Mares Cozy Mystery Novella by Ava Mallory Page A

I'm not touching it. What do you want me to see?” I asked.
     
    Ernie sighed in frustration again. “There's a sticker on the bottom. See. It's one of those return address stickers that you get in the mail for sending a donation somewhere. Look at the name on it.”
     
    I turned my head as Ernie flipped the camera over to show me. Without my new reading glasses on, I could barely make out the words. I squinted to see.
     
    After a moment, I could make out the address and part of the name.
     
    “Whoa! Does that say...” I started to ask.
     
    Ernie hushed me, looking around to see if anyone was nearby listening to our conversation.
     
    “It does. Now, do you understand why I need your help?” He asked.
     
    I grabbed the camera with the sleeves of my windbreaker. “How did it get in there and why?” I asked.
     
    “That's what I need you to find out.” Ernie answered.

Chapter Twelve
                  Diana mumbled under her breath, “How much longer are we going to keep this up? He said he's sorry already. What else do you want him to do?”
     
    I cupped my hand over the phone, to prevent Charlie from hearing what I said next. He'd already heard too much of our back and forth about why Mr. Fireman hadn't asked me for my daughter's hand in marriage. She didn't get that his lack of communication was the equivalent of pulling up in front of the house and honking instead of knocking. No parent wanted that for their daughter.
     
    Charlie pulled my hand down. “I don't see what the big deal is. Times have changed. What are you, living in the Ice Ages? She's a big girl. She's in love. Why not just learn to deal?”
     
    I shot a dirty look in his direction. “Learn to deal? Have you been hanging out with all the cool kids? Is that where you learned to talk like that?”
     
    Slicking back his brown hair with his hands, Charlie said, “I am the cool kids. Do you have a problem with that?”
     
    Ugh! Was he ever going to grow up?
     
    Temporarily forgetting that I had Diana on the line, I spoke to Charlie. “I just don't understand how you could be a tough as nails cop in one moment and a teenage boy the next. I'm sure there's a diagnosis, there somewhere, but I'm so busy trying to figure out your train of thought, I'm missing it. I guess my grown up brain can't process your immaturity.”
     
    Charlie pretended to consider my remark for a moment, then said, “I can accept that. At least, I'm not the one who almost got arrested for stomping all over a crime scene.”
     
    I covered the receiver again, but it was too late. Diana heard him loud and clear.
     
    “What did you do now, Mom?” Diana asked.
     
    I gave Charlie the death stare as I tried to explain all that had happened since the last time Diana and I spoke.
     
    Charlie spoke over me, telling his slightly exaggerated version of events. “She let some strange man take her back to the crime scene and they were tree hugging and now, she thinks your Aunt Ruby's arch nemesis is a murderer and also happens to be in love with your good old Uncle Hank. How's that for an explanation?”
     
    I swatted at him playfully to get him to simmer down.
     
    “She assaulted me!” Charlie yelled. “She assaulted the new Lake Villa Chief of Police and I have witnesses!”
     
    Diana giggled like a hyena. She adored Charlie! It was pathetic, if you asked me.
     
    Nubbin walked into the room, his cane up in the air, ready to break up what I'm sure sounded like a knock down drag out fight. “Cut it out! What's all the racket about in here?”
     
    Suddenly, I felt like a young girl, getting scolded by my grandfather for acting up. Not that I ever did that, but I imagined that's what it must have felt like.
     
    “Charlie started it!” I said accusingly.
     
    “Oh, no, I didn't. I'm not the one causing trouble in town. That would be you, my dear. That would be you.” Charlie said.
     
    “My dear? Did I just hear Charlie call you a term of endearment?”