Murder in Marietta (A Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Book 2) by Deborah Malone Page A

fried chicken. Cholesterol heaven here we come.
    We talked about Dora’s progress and then discussed who we’d question next. “Let’s go to the bookstore first thing in the morning and talk with Susan. Dee Dee, you can look around and I’ll find some reason to ask her questions.”
    While we planned, Velma and a young lady brought our food to the table. Good grief, each plate held enough food to feed a starving family of five.
    “Did I hear y’all mention Susan over at the Magnolia Books and Antiques down on the square?” Velma wiped her hands on her apron, and struck a pose.
    “Do you know her?” Dee Dee asked.
    “Yep. She comes in here now and again. She always treats me like I’m some second-class citizen. Sure, she has money and is dressed in them nice clothes, but that don’t make her any better than the rest of us. She puts her pants on the same as we do. Anyway, I’ve heard she’s about to lose her antique store.”
    She glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was listening and leaned in conspiratorially. “As a matter of fact, I’ve seen her and Jacob Wallace in here more than once. Lookin’ all goo-goo eyed at each other.”
    Susan and Jacob as a couple was definitely an interesting twist. This information could take the investigation in a different direction. “Really? Are you sure?”
    “Of course I’m sure. I’ve lived here all my life and know most everyone from around here. A good number of people who work down on the square eat here.” She looked at me indignantly.
    “That’s good news, Trix. Maybe she killed Jacob and we can get Doc off the detective’s hit list.”
    “Yeah, ain’t that great, Trixie,” Nana said.
    I kicked Dee Dee’s shin under the table, I wasn’t sure if Velma would tell Susan about our snooping. I had to put a sock in Nana and Dee Dee’s mouths.
    “Ouch, what did you do that for?”
    “Oh, I’m sorry. It was an accident.”
    “Sure it was.” Dee Dee reached under the table and rubbed her ankle.
    “Thank you, Velma. We’ll holler if we need anything else.” I hoped she’d take the hint and leave.
    “Hmph. I’ll be back to check on ya.” She turned on her heels and left us to our delightful bounty. We bowed our heads and said a little prayer of thanks. I dug into my food like I’d never eat again. The helpings didn’t look so big after all.
    We enjoyed silence the next few minutes while we wolfed down our chow. Ruth’s home cooking was some of the best I’d ever eaten in a restaurant. No wonder they ran out of meatloaf.
    I laid the crumpled napkin on the table and patted my stomach. “Ladies, I feel like a stuffed turkey on Thanksgiving morning.”
    “Me, too,” Dee Dee agreed.
    “Well, I didn’t have much of an appetite after all.” Nana’s plate sat empty on the table. I’d hate to see her when she was hungry.
    “Ladies, y’all ready for your check?” Velma laid the ticket face down on the Formica. “I don’t know what you want to speak to that ole’ Susan Gray about, but I’m sure she and that Wallace fellow was up to no good.”
    I was sure they were, too. “Thank you, Velma. And you tell Ruth the food was to die for.” Oops, maybe not the best choice of words.
    “Yes, me too,” Nana said. “Some of the best vittles I’ve ever eaten.”
    “Well, y’all come back now. Ya hear?” Velma laughed and slapped her leg.
    It was a little after two in the afternoon, so we headed over to the Gone with the Wind Museum. We could go pick out our dresses, and then have enough time to go back to Dora’s and take a quick nap.
    Before Dee Dee could reapply her lipstick, we pulled onto the historic Marietta Square once again. Now familiar, with all of the trips we’d made downtown, the rain had stopped and the sun shone bright as a hundred watt light bulb. The air smelled fresh, and several tourists had already ventured out, enjoying the cooler air in the park, located in the middle of the square. Some window shopped as they