Beach Town Trouble (A Port Grace Cozy Mystery Book 2) by Emily Page

Yes, sir. Okay, but if she doesn’t ask for one, we’re going to keep questioning her until your man arrives. Thank you for being understanding. Yes, you too, sir.”
    “Who was that?” said Georgia.
    “Skimmerhorn’s son, Tim Jr.,” said Rutherford. “He’s a little shocked to say the least.”
    “I bet,” said Georgia. “I’ve never heard of anything like it.”
    “He says he’d still like to hire her a lawyer so that she gets fair representation.”
    “That lawyer’s going to be too late,” said Peak, emerging from the interrogation room. “Crimbleton just got her to admit that Tim left her another threatening message a day before his murder. Apparently he told her he was going to take her house. The old bat’s so turned around and sideways that she doesn’t even understand she’s incriminating herself. Crimbleton will have a confession out of her within the hour. I guarantee it.”
    Georgia smiled, but it was half-hearted. She felt sick. She told herself it was because of Mittens, but Camila’s easy admission of the voicemail had gotten her thinking. It was too easy. If she was smart enough to think to burn the body to destroy evidence, then wouldn’t she be smart enough not to admit things that would incriminate her so easily?
    Georgia’s eyes found Cupcake, and she smiled for real this time. A long run on the beach with the enthusiastic Cupcake might help her clear her head. She grabbed his leash off Peak’s desk and knelt in front of his cage.
    “I believe I promised you a walk,” she said, reaching through the bars to scratch his head.
    He barked and started his butt wagging.
    “Come on, boy,” said Georgia, warding off his love attack as she opened the cage door. “Let’s go have some fun.”

Chapter 7
    O n her way to the beach, Georgia called Ryan and asked him to meet her at the pier near the bed and breakfast for a run and a debrief of what had just happened.
    She parked the car at the first beach spot with free parking and got out with Cupcake. He immediately started throwing himself against the leash, wheezing in his struggle against the collar as he tried to lick everyone in sight.
    “I should have told Ryan to pick up some dog treats,” she said, and Cupcake turned to look at her at the word ‘treat.’
    She took the Rottweiler’s head in her hands and held his gaze as he panted happily in her face.
    “Cupcake, I need you to chill out and concentrate on me, please,” she said.
    He sat down in the sand and wiggled his stubby tail.
    “Good boy.”
    She spoke too soon. When she straightened up and tried to start walking, Cupcake lunged at a woman in a red bikini, barking and whining to be petted. The woman rushed away.
    On a hunch, Georgia said, “Cupcake, treat!”
    Cupcake instantly sat down and looked up at her. She laughed.
    “I wonder how long that will last if I don’t actually give you a treat.”
    Cupcake stuck his tongue out in a goofy, lopsided grin.
    “Cupcake, treat!” said Georgia, acting as though she was holding something in her hand.
    He fixed his eyes on her, and she began a steady jog. He bounced along beside her, matching her pace with his tail wagging furiously.
    They jogged that way all the way to the pier. Once, he nearly pulled her arm out of its socket trying to get at a group of feeding gulls, and he barked at people as they passed them, but they made it without any serious incidents. Ryan was waiting for them in jogging shorts and a T-shirt.
    “Wow. Sometimes I forget you own other clothes besides button downs and your trench coat,” said Georgia.
    Before Ryan could reply, Cupcake jumped up and put his paws on Ryan’s shoulders and attacked his face with his tongue. Ryan hugged the big dog right back, scratching behind his ears.
    “Hey there, buddy. Take any patio tables along for the ride yet?”
    “Nope. Watch this,” said Georgia. She winked and added, “Try to keep up.”
    She held an invisible treat in her hand, and Cupcake snapped