Chicken Pesto Murder: Book 5 in The Darling Deli Series by Patti Benning Page B

larger than it was. The kitchen had granite counter tops and a huge sink, with a stainless steel fridge that put even the deli’s refrigerator to shame.
    The dining room and living room were open plan, and the living room area opened out onto a small balcony overlooking Main Street. The single bedroom was small, but not tiny, about the size of Candice’s bedroom at Moira’s house. She was envious of the shower in the bathroom; it was large, with a bench seat and a beautiful slate floor.
    “Wow, this place is amazing,” she told her daughter. “How did you find it?”
    “Adrian heard about it from a friend and told me,” she said.
    Are you two back together?” Moira knew that Candice was lucky in a lot of ways, but not when it came to men. She didn’t know much about the breakup with Adrian, only that he hadn’t been coming around the deli as much over the past few weeks.
    “No, but we’re still friends. He’s still planning on helping me with the candy shop,” her daughter said. “Isn’t this place just perfect, though? And it’s a pretty good price, too. What do you think, should I put the deposit down?”
    “If you like this apartment, then go for it,” the deli owner said. “Just be completely sure that you want to open your business in Lake Marion. It wouldn’t be good if you had already put the deposit down on this place, and then decide you want to open the candy shop in Traverse City.”
    “I’m sure,” the young woman replied. “This is the perfect town for my candy shop. Besides, Traverse City is too far from you and the deli. I would never move there.” Moira hugged her daughter; it was good to know that Candice felt the same way about moving out.
    Since she was already in town, after leaving Candice with the real estate agent at her soon-to-be new apartment, Moira decided to call David and see if he was free to get a cup of coffee. He answered almost immediately when she called, and they agreed to meet up at the small coffee shop on the corner of Main and Pine Streets.
    Moira got there first and ordered a caramel cappuccino, then seated herself at a small table in the back. She realized that the first time she had ever met David had been at a coffee shop. It seemed like so long ago, but in reality had been far less than a year.
    “So, Candice found an apartment?” David asked as he slid into the seat across from her, a mocha in hand.
    “She did, and I’m surprised by how nice it is.” She spent a few minutes describing the little apartment to him. The thought of Candice living in the same town as the private investigator comforted her. She knew that if Candice ever needed help, she would be able to call David.
    “I’m going to miss her,” she finished. “But I’m glad that she’s beginning to live her own life. I really hope that this candy shop venture works out for her.”
    “If she’s got anything like your mind for business, I’m sure it will.” He smiled at her, and Moira noticed for the first time how tired he looked.
    “Are you all right?” she asked. “You look exhausted.”
    “I haven’t been sleeping well lately,” he said. “This whole murder investigation thing has really been getting to me.”
    “Oh.” She hadn’t told him about the news article that she had read online, but he had likely found it by now anyhow. “Have they brought you in for questioning again?”
    “Not yet,” he said. “But business hasn’t been going so well. No one wants to hire a potential murderer to solve their mysteries. And I still haven’t been able to crack that missing pet case. It just hasn’t been a good week.” He sighed, gingerly sipping his steaming coffee.
    “I’m sorry. I haven’t seen any more sign of the dogs either; if I do, you’ll be the first to know.” She paused, considering her next words. She didn’t want him to know that she had spoken to Detective Jefferson; surely that would go against his wishes of her not getting involved in the case, and