Killer Breakfast Specials (A Sage and Dash Cozy Mystery Book 2) by Molly Dox Page B

locksmiths, and born only a few minutes apart. They were always side-by-side, for years, until their mother’s passing. Sometime after that, they had a spat and went their own way – until now. With the death of their father, they reunited to resolve matters.
    Their dear father was merely eighty and in fine health. This was preposterous! No way, no how should he have met his maker so soon. They were going to sue. Sue his doctors, sue his nurses, sue the nursing home for not taking better care of their dad.
    Gary leaned up against the counter. “Libby, you better call Rosie out here. We’ve got a situation.”
    “Oh, Gary, what now? We have a business to run.”
    “And I have a town to run,” he snapped back.
    Libby groaned and sighed heavily. “Fine.” She went in search of her daughter.
    Rosie wasn’t in the kitchen. After checking the back, she found her daughter in their attached home. Libby’s tone was flat, showing her lack of enthusiasm. “Sheriff Snyder is here.”
    Rosie was petting their cat, Dash. “What does he want?”
    “Your attention and mine, no doubt. Can’t get enough of us.”
    “Okay,” she said. “I just snuck over here to give Dash a treat anyway.”
    Dash mewed and rubbed against Rosie’s leg looking for more loving.
    “Later, buddy. I need to head back to work,” Rosie said. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring you something good when we close up shop.”
    “You spoil that cat,” Libby warned.
    “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said and walked past her mother.
    Together the women re-entered the restaurant side of the building.
    “Well, well, there you are,” Sheriff Snyder started. “I wouldn’t go getting lost now. Seems you women are always a part of things when something happens.”
    Rosie cocked her head. “What are you talking about?”
    “I went to the nursing home this morning after Twyla and Lila Jones came to the station, and asked that I investigate. Wouldn’t you know, when I asked what he’d eaten and what he’d done prior to passing, a special treat had been consumed. Do you know where that special treat came from?” He droned on longer than he needed, but loved being dramatic. Gary Snyder combed his hair to the side five or six times, and then kept talking. “That’s right, you guessed it. But of course, you’d know, since you’re the one that sent the goodies over. Free too, how kind and generous of you.”
    Rosie watched Gary talk. He did this weird thing with his lips. It was almost awkward to watch him speak. She cleared her throat and cut in. “First off, I sent a batch over. How was I to know who would get which muffin. So it’s not like I could coordinate that. And secondly, the muffins were perfectly safe. I didn’t do anything to cause this.”
    “We’ll see. We’ll see. We’re running a toxicology report and the truth will come out. I’d suggest you women stay put until we get all the details. No leaving town.” He glared at Libby, who was desperately trying to hold her tongue. She’d already gotten in enough trouble around Gary and she didn’t need anymore. “I’d be more than happy to lock you up and throw away the key.”
    “Get out of here,” Libby barked. “Until you have a reason to charge us with a crime, which you won’t, I refuse to listen to this garbage. This is harassment you know.”
    Sheriff Snyder sneered at Libby. “Make sure you don’t interfere in the investigation. I know how you two like to rub your nose in places where they don’t belong. One wrong turn, and you’ll hear that prison door slam. Good day, ladies.”
    Rosie looked at her mother, silently pleading with her not to fight with the sheriff. Just this time, Libby obliged.

Chapter 4
     
    Rose sat at the counter and jotted a couple of notes down. What they knew so far was that Mr. Jones had died unexpectedly. Yes, sadly, he’d consumed one of their muffins, but he’d also eaten breakfast by that point of the day. She guessed something