Mission to Murder by Lynn Cahoon

perfectly. Heck, Bambi, the murderous history teacher, had tried to kill me and my aunt because she believed the mission wall was on my property. Had we been wrong?
    “Miss Gardner? Are you there?”
    “Sorry, just surprised. Who filed the challenge?”
    “Hold on, I have the paper right here. It was a Josh Thomas and a Craig Morgan.”
    Craig, I’d expected, but Josh? “Et tu, Brute?”
    “Excuse me?” Frank Gleason sounded concerned. “Do you know these men?”
    Sighing, I knew Craig’s challenge would be one more strike against me in trying to prove I didn’t kill the weasel. “Actually, yes. And the one who’s still alive owns the antique shop next to my coffee shop. Maybe I’ll have a talk with him.”
    “Miss Gardner, I find it’s better if you let the professionals handle these discussions. Sometimes emotions are involved.” The man stopped talking for a second, then added, “Wait, you said the man who was still alive? Is one of these men dead?”
    “Craig Morgan was killed last night at his home.”
    “Oh my. That complicates the challenge, then.”
    You don’t know the half of it, buddy . I said my good-byes, then pulled out my notebook with the list of suspects. Next to Josh’s name I wrote down the wall challenge. Looking at the list, I realized I’d forgotten to tell Greg about Ray again. Tonight. Before the pizza arrived, I’d show him my list and tell him about the challenge to the wall and the run-in with Ray. Before someone else did.
    I was too late.

CHAPTER 5
    E ven a large meat lover’s pizza and a two-hour karate movie had no effect on Greg’s bad mood. Every attempt I made at conversation got either ignored or answered with one word. Finally, he grabbed the remote and turned off the television. Sighing, he leaned back against the couch and focused on me.
    “What?” I knew I didn’t want to hear the answer, but even being yelled at would be better than his silent recriminations. Emma sat up from her place under the coffee table, reacting to my tone.
    “Why didn’t you tell me about the run-in with Ray?” Greg shook his head. “Do you think this is some kind of game? You’re seen hanging out with the town bad boy and all of a sudden the guy whom you want out of your hair winds up dead. Do you know how many people called the station with the news, claiming you hired Ray to kill Craig?”
    I frowned, not wanting to believe his words. “Seriously? People think I’d hire out the deed? With Ray? The man can’t finish a job, any job, to save his life. Ask Lille. She’ll tell you he hasn’t worked a full day in years.”
    “Because he’s part of the California Mafia. He’s connected. What, you think he lives off Lille?” Greg’s voice raised.
    “Yeah, I kind of did.” I leaned back on the couch. “Wow. I didn’t even know California had a Mafia.”
    Greg shook his head. “You’re missing the point. Ray’s bad news. Always has been. And now, the mayor wants to know why you aren’t sitting in my jail cell calling for a lawyer.”
    “That’s not fair. Mayor Baylor hates me.” My back tightened. “You know that.”
    Greg ran his hand through his hair. “Jill, it may not matter. You have to stop getting involved in things like this. How come every time there’s a murder, you’re the main suspect?”
    “Maybe because I’m the new kid in town? Hell, I don’t know. Ask your friendly townsperson who ratted me out today. I didn’t want to talk to Ray. Besides, I thought I did tell you. Honestly, I was trying to listen in and hear what Craig and Josh were fighting about.” I felt the heat run to my face. “There, are you happy? I’m a nosy neighbor.”
    “Wait, you didn’t tell me about Craig and Josh fighting. When was this?” Greg leaned forward, his cop face on.
    I went through the encounter from the time I left the coffee shop with the box of cookies to the time Craig knocked them out of my hand. At least that one action would be the last time Craig