Corpses & Conmen (Rosewood Place Mysteries Book 2) by Ruby Blaylock Page A

distraught than they were now.
    As Annie entered the sitting room, she realized that her guests were much less distressed than she’d expected them to be. Raucous laughter filled the room and she could see Frank, Doris, and Kizzy crowded around her iPad. Devon grinned at her from across the room.
    “Mom, Grandma Bessie, you’ve got to come see this video. It’s hilarious!”
    The room went silent for a moment as the others realized that Annie had returned. Annie glimpsed the screen of the iPad in time to see the last few seconds of a compilation video featuring clips of babies and cats. “I thought it might lighten the mood a little,” Devon explained sheepishly.
    Annie smiled at him. “That’s a wonderful idea. It’s been a tough morning,” she added. “I’m so sorry about everything,” she continued, addressing her guests. Her stomach rumbled. The iPad’s clock showed that it was nearly noon. “Oh, I’m so sorry--you all are probably starving!” They’d missed breakfast while the police had been questioning everyone. “Give me a few minutes and we’ll whip up something for lunch.” She turned to her mother, eyes wide with panic.
    “Oh, no, dear. Doris and I took care of that already, didn’t we, Doris?” Bessie smiled brightly as Doris nodded.
    “When did you have time to come in here and cook?” Annie was relieved and confused all at once, and she was a little jealous that everyone else had eaten. Her stomach growled again, much to her embarrassment.
    “Oh, it was just instant oatmeal,” Bessie explained. “Doris and I had a lovely time, didn’t we?”
    Doris grinned. “Your mother is such a hoot! Oh, and that kitchen--I told Frank he’d better make sure our house has one just like it when we retire down here,” she laughed.
    “Well, thank goodness for you, Mama,” Annie sighed. “I’m sorry everyone. I feel like I’ve let you all down somehow.”
    “What do you mean?” Kizzy slouched into the corner of the sofa and rubbed her eyes with the backs of her hands. “It’s not your fault some dummy decided to go drown himself in your pond.”
    Everyone stared at Kizzy. She blushed. “I mean, it was a horrible accident, but it’s definitely not your fault. And I never eat breakfast anyway,” she added.
    Annie forced a weak smile. “Thank you, Kizzy, but I completely understand if the events this morning have made any of you want to rethink your stay here.” She made herself look up and into the eyes of everyone in the room. “I’m prepared to refund your deposits, if you want to leave.”
    The response from the room wasn’t what she expected. Kizzy looked like she might cry, Doris laughed, and Marie Robichaud simply snorted. Mr. George was the only person who reacted the way Annie had expected him to. He simply blew his nose and shrugged his shoulders, an offering of quiet indifference that told her absolutely nothing about what he was thinking.
    “I’m not going anywhere,” Frank said quickly. “That drive down here almost killed me,” he complained. “Try spending over ten hours in a car listening to chick novels on audiobook, see how you like it. No, thank you. We’ll just take our chances here, Mrs. Richards.” He glanced at his wife and leaned towards Annie. “At least if I drown, I won’t have to listen to those darned audio books anymore,” he joked.
    “I don’t want to leave,” Kizzy offered. “I don’t really have any plans after I leave here. I sort of thought I might use this week to figure some things out.”
    Marie looked around. “Well, if everyone else is staying, I may as well stay, too. After all, it is my vacation,” she cooed. “And of course, I don’t mind dead people one bit. In fact, I talk to them all the time.” She said this without a trace of humor, but Devon couldn’t help chuckling. Marie glared at him. “What? You don’t believe me? I make a living with my spiritual abilities, young man. Ghosts and spirits are no laughing