Murder Unmentionable by Meg London Page B

get hurt.’”
    “What is that supposed to mean?” Brian looked from Emma to Arabella and back again.
    “I think it means someone doesn’t like our snooping around. But who?” Arabella removed her glasses and let them fall against her chest.
    Emma turned the paper over. “It looks like someone used gum to stick it to the window.”
    “Not a very sophisticated operator.” Arabella quipped.
    Emma held the paper closer to her nose. “It smells familiar.”
    “The gum? Something minty?” Arabella asked.
    Emma shook her head. “Fruity. And I know I smelled this same gum somewhere.” She took another sniff. “I know. Angel. She was chewing gum when I went to her shop for my manicure the other day. And it smelled just like this.” Emma brandished the note under Arabella’s nose.
    “Angel!” Arabella’s eyes widened in shock.
    “Maybe she’s trying to protect her boyfriend, Tom. She might have gotten wind of the fact that I’ve been asking around about him,” Brian said.
    Arabella frowned. “I can’t picture Angel doing something like this, but then you never really know.”
    “Or,” Emma paused as an idea formed. “Maybe Angel is protecting herself? She claims Tom wasn’t home the night Guy was murdered. But what about Angel? If Tom wasn’t home, then she doesn’t have an alibi, either.”
    Arabella glanced at the note again and shook her head. “It looks like we’ve stirred up a real hornet’s nest here.”

“WHEN did you say your friend Kate was arriving?” Arabella looked up from the boxes she was going through.
    “She thought she’d be here around five o’clock.” Emma glanced at her watch. “Oh. It’s almost six already. Her flight must have been delayed because of the weather.”
    Just then a knock sounded on the front door. “The armoires!” Arabella and Brian chorused with a laugh.
    “Very funny,” Emma said over her shoulder as she headed toward the door. She saw Brian and Arabella exchange amused glances.
    “Kate!” Emma exclaimed as she opened the door. “You made it. You must be exhausted. Was your flight delayed because of the weather?”
    Kate looked puzzled. “No. We were right on schedule.”
    “Oh.” Now Emma was confused. “I thought you said you’d be here around five.”
    “Did I?” Kate laughed. “I must have forgotten about thetime difference. As a matter of fact, I’d better change my watch right now.”
    Kate’s suitcase had barely hit the floor when Arabella bustled out of the back room with glasses and a pitcher of sweet tea.
    “I’m sure you could use a nice, cold drink.”
    “It’s so good to see you.” Emma threw her arms around her friend and hugged her. She hadn’t realized how homesick she was until just now.
    Splotches of water darkened the shoulders of Kate’s dress, and the ends of her light brown hair were damp.
    “Would you like a towel?” Emma offered. “It looks like you got soaked.”
    Kate shook her head. “I’m fine. I’m just so glad to see you.” She smiled in a way that made her plain face light up. She accepted a glass of tea and looked around the shop. “This is so charming.”
    “It’s all thanks to Brian,” Emma said as she introduced them. “He’s done all the renovations for us.”
    “It was something of a 1970s relic before Emma and Brian took over,” Arabella acknowledged.
    Kate looked around again. “Is this where it happened…”
    Emma nodded. “Yes. I’m so sorry, Kate. As hard as it’s been for me, I’m sure it’s been even harder for you.”
    Kate swiped a hand across her eyes, then smiled and took a sip of her tea. “We all have to move on, I guess. I just wish they would find who did it.”
    “Me, too.” Emma agreed. “We’ve been doing some sleuthing of our own but haven’t come to any conclusions yet.”
    “Maybe I can help.” Kate’s face brightened.
    “That’ll be great.” Emma thought about the note stuck to the front window of Sweet Nothings but decided not to tell