Death by Lime: A Key West Culinary Cozy - Book 5 by Summer Prescott Page A
Authors: Summer Prescott
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could watch a movie afterwards or something, if you’re not busy,” she offered.
Blushing to the tips of his ears, Sam nodded. “Thanks, I’d love to keep you company,” he agreed.
The two went into her apartment, never suspecting for an instant that Tiara had been watching their entire interaction.
“ Our plan may be foiled for tonight, ” she texted her mother.
“ What?? ” was the instant reply.
“ Kelcie has a date. I don’t think that the stalker would try anything while there’s someone with her. Should I just come home? ”
“ A date? Who? No, don’t come home, we don’t know how long he’ll be there, and for all we know, the stalker stays up late. ”
“ Okay, I’ll hang out here then. It’s Sam from my yoga class ”
“ Awww…that’s cute. I’ll keep you posted as to Tim the Terrible’s movements ,” Marilyn replied.
“ Roger that. ”
Marilyn signed off, ready to execute her plan, as discussed. Tim couldn’t know that Kelcie had a date, so chances seemed good that he’d head over there eventually. If Sam was still there when he arrived, she and Tiara would have extra help “detaining” him. She’d had her dinner, done the dishes and pretended to read her book, all the while darting glances over to the tree line that separated her property from Tim’s. Now it was time to head upstairs to pretend to take a bath. Fluffy trotted up behind her, prepared to curl up in her usual spot on the bathroom rug. Marilyn started the water, actually filled the tub, waited what seemed to be an appropriate amount of time to undress and get in, then crouched down below the level of the windows and crept back down the stairs in the dark.
Heart pounding so loudly that she feared it would give away her location, Marilyn knelt among the evergreen boughs of the tree line, fixing her gaze on Tim Eckels’ front door. She had mace clamped tightly in one hand, and her cell phone in the other. Her unfortunate reality was that, in order to see beneath the lowest branches, she had to sit back on her heels, which was slowly but surely cutting off the circulation in her legs, bit by bit. She rested her weight first on one side then the other, but relief was fleeting. She really despised the thought of lying on the ground, but might have to consider it as a realistic option if her thighs continued to scream at her. She knelt on the ground, her knees feeling every fallen needle and miniature twig through the thin fabric of her jean capris, and in short order, that position became unbearable as well. Wanting to sigh in frustration, but afraid of the noise that it would make, Marilyn eased back on her heels, lifting her sore knees from the ground. Hearing a twig snap directly behind her, she whirled about to see Tim Eckels peering down at her with a blank expression.
“What are you doing?” he asked flatly.
Marilyn stood shakily to her feet, her mind working overtime to come up with an explanation. She brushed off the knees of her capris, and the seat of her pants, to buy some time, then decided that the aggressive approach was the way to go. She was armed with mace, and her cell phone – she dared him to try anything.
“I’m looking for my cat,” she growled, mocking him with his own excuse.
“I don’t have it,” he replied, blinking slowly.
Marilyn was taken aback by the odd response. Most folks would have asked about what the cat looked like, how long it had been missing, any number of things, but his choice to deny wrongdoing right from the start made her suspicious.
“I didn’t say that you did,” she tightened her grip on the mace.
“You’re staring at my house like you think I took your cat,” he observed mildly.
“No, I’m not. She likes to hide under branches, so I was checking here first,” she lied, hoping he wouldn’t see through her ruse.
“Maybe she died,” he stared at her owlishly from behind his thick glasses.
Marilyn was aghast. “What a horrible thing to
Blushing to the tips of his ears, Sam nodded. “Thanks, I’d love to keep you company,” he agreed.
The two went into her apartment, never suspecting for an instant that Tiara had been watching their entire interaction.
“ Our plan may be foiled for tonight, ” she texted her mother.
“ What?? ” was the instant reply.
“ Kelcie has a date. I don’t think that the stalker would try anything while there’s someone with her. Should I just come home? ”
“ A date? Who? No, don’t come home, we don’t know how long he’ll be there, and for all we know, the stalker stays up late. ”
“ Okay, I’ll hang out here then. It’s Sam from my yoga class ”
“ Awww…that’s cute. I’ll keep you posted as to Tim the Terrible’s movements ,” Marilyn replied.
“ Roger that. ”
Marilyn signed off, ready to execute her plan, as discussed. Tim couldn’t know that Kelcie had a date, so chances seemed good that he’d head over there eventually. If Sam was still there when he arrived, she and Tiara would have extra help “detaining” him. She’d had her dinner, done the dishes and pretended to read her book, all the while darting glances over to the tree line that separated her property from Tim’s. Now it was time to head upstairs to pretend to take a bath. Fluffy trotted up behind her, prepared to curl up in her usual spot on the bathroom rug. Marilyn started the water, actually filled the tub, waited what seemed to be an appropriate amount of time to undress and get in, then crouched down below the level of the windows and crept back down the stairs in the dark.
Heart pounding so loudly that she feared it would give away her location, Marilyn knelt among the evergreen boughs of the tree line, fixing her gaze on Tim Eckels’ front door. She had mace clamped tightly in one hand, and her cell phone in the other. Her unfortunate reality was that, in order to see beneath the lowest branches, she had to sit back on her heels, which was slowly but surely cutting off the circulation in her legs, bit by bit. She rested her weight first on one side then the other, but relief was fleeting. She really despised the thought of lying on the ground, but might have to consider it as a realistic option if her thighs continued to scream at her. She knelt on the ground, her knees feeling every fallen needle and miniature twig through the thin fabric of her jean capris, and in short order, that position became unbearable as well. Wanting to sigh in frustration, but afraid of the noise that it would make, Marilyn eased back on her heels, lifting her sore knees from the ground. Hearing a twig snap directly behind her, she whirled about to see Tim Eckels peering down at her with a blank expression.
“What are you doing?” he asked flatly.
Marilyn stood shakily to her feet, her mind working overtime to come up with an explanation. She brushed off the knees of her capris, and the seat of her pants, to buy some time, then decided that the aggressive approach was the way to go. She was armed with mace, and her cell phone – she dared him to try anything.
“I’m looking for my cat,” she growled, mocking him with his own excuse.
“I don’t have it,” he replied, blinking slowly.
Marilyn was taken aback by the odd response. Most folks would have asked about what the cat looked like, how long it had been missing, any number of things, but his choice to deny wrongdoing right from the start made her suspicious.
“I didn’t say that you did,” she tightened her grip on the mace.
“You’re staring at my house like you think I took your cat,” he observed mildly.
“No, I’m not. She likes to hide under branches, so I was checking here first,” she lied, hoping he wouldn’t see through her ruse.
“Maybe she died,” he stared at her owlishly from behind his thick glasses.
Marilyn was aghast. “What a horrible thing to
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