A Recipe for Trouble: The Ozarks Cozy Mystery Series by Dianne Harman

Author:Dianne Harman [Harman, Dianne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2023-11-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

Della laughed as Bryce finished with his joke, a grin spreading across his face as he watched her.

“I’m sorry,” Della said quickly as she covered her mouth. “I didn’t mean to laugh that loud. That was embarrassing.” She looked over at the nearby older couple who had turned to stare. “Sorry,” she mouthed to them.

“Don’t apologize, I like your laugh,” Bryce said. “You laugh like you mean it. In my book that’s a good thing.”

Della felt warmth spread across her cheeks. “Thanks,” she said. “I’ve always been a little self-conscious about it.” She cleared her throat and decided to change the subject. “So, I take it we have more people on your list to talk to.”

Bryce took a bite of his burger and nodded. “Definitely. When do you want to do that?” He wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“How about this afternoon? I have a few things I need to do, but then I can leave Molly in charge like she is now. I highly doubt we’ll be gone that long.” At this point she trusted Molly completely, and she knew she’d have no trouble keeping an eye on Moose, too.

“Message me when you’re ready,” he said before finishing his burger. “Then I’ll swing by and get you.”

Della nodded. She couldn’t wait.

*****

That afternoon, as Della was climbing into Bryce’s black Suburban SUV she found herself surrounded in the scent of his cologne, a smell that wasn’t unpleasant. It was like whiskey and woodsmoke mixed with a hint of leather.

“Who’s our next victim?” she asked as she shut the door.

He grinned. “Her name is Sarah Martinez. She’s been pretty vocal in the local online groups that her boyfriend was wrongfully arrested. She’s made comments online and even to the sheriff himself.”

“What was he arrested for?” Della asked.

“Robbery,” Bryce replied grimly.

“That seems like a hard one to be wrongfully accused of,” she said.

“I thought so too, but maybe we’ll change our minds when we hear her side of the story.”

He used his GPS to lead them to her address which he’d found in the police reports. Soon they were pulling to a stop in front of it. After he put the SUV in park and they’d climbed out, they approached Sarah's modest house, located on a quiet street in town. Della knocked on the door, and a few moments later, Sarah answered, her expression a mixture of curiosity and wariness.

"Can I help you?" Sarah inquired, her arms crossed over her chest.

Della introduced herself and Bryce. "We're looking into the recent incident at the chili cook-off, and we were hoping to talk to you, Ms. Martinez."

Sarah hesitated for a moment, her guard still up. "Alright, you can talk to me, but I'm not sure how I can help." She pushed the screen door open and stepped out onto the porch.

Della and Bryce followed Sarah across her front porch, where she took a seat in an old rocking chair. A cool breeze began to rustle the trees surrounding her home which had already turned brilliant fall colors.

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