Read Triple Dip Debacle: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 7) for Free Online

with two kids to raise she buckled down, worked two jobs, and never complained. You could count on Dottie in an emergency or if you suddenly felt overwhelmed. She was there to take charge. Something she knew how to do so well. I guess there were many times that Dottie’s take over attitude had positive effects on the community. Like the time the Baptist church suffered smoke damage from a faulty furnace. Dottie stepped right in and offered to have the church service in the basement of her home until the church was fumigated. Another time some teenage boys were scaring their elderly neighbors by tossing rocks at their windows late at night. Dottie took it upon herself to stay up late and sneak around trees and light poles until she found the culprits. Word is she grabbed one by the ears and wouldn’t let go until he promised that he and his friends would cease and desist. Yes, there were times when Dottie’s take-charge behavior had been a welcome relief. I told myself I needed to remember that, even when she was overbearing about Stormi’s wedding. But this wasn’t like her at all. I moved to the chair next to her and put my hand on her shoulder.
     
    “You okay Miss Dottie?”
     
    Dottie took a lace hanky from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m just so worried about my Stormi. Finding Mr. Pennington like that. My poor baby.”
     
    “Hey now, she’s made from strong stock,” I said patting her shoulder. “She’ll be fine.”
     
    Dottie gave me a half-hearted smile. We heard the creak of the door of one of the interrogation rooms opening and Stormi emerged. She walked over to us and sat down.
     
    “I think Jerry thinks I did it,” she whispered.
     
    “Did what?” Paige asked.
     
    Stormi peered at Paige impatiently. “He thinks I murdered Mr. Ping Pong.”
     
    “That’s ridiculous,” Paige replied. Then she looked sternly at Stormi. “You didn’t did you?”
     
    Stormi gave Paige the evil eye. “No I didn’t. Yes, I didn’t care for the man. He made my skin crawl and I wanted to boot kick him back to Atlanta. But no, I didn’t skewer him with the cake cutting knife.”
     
    “So that was the murder weapon!” Paige exclaimed. “That silver plating sure sparkled off that handle. That’s too bad; it was a really pretty cake serving set.”
     
    Stormi looked disappointed. “Yeah I know.”
     
    “You guys are unreal,” I exclaimed. “A man is dead, likely murdered, and you’re mourning the cake serving set? What are we, a bunch of ghouls?”
     
    I knew I shouldn’t have said it, but it just came out. I could see the look on Stormi’s face changing. Oh, crap…she was getting the giggles. Not now! You’ll definitely look guilty if you start snort/giggling. Too late…
     
    Paige saw it too. “Don’t you dare kiddo…if you start it will trigger a chain reaction!”
     
    I covered my mouth, trying to stifle the rising laugh gurgle trying to come forth. When Stormi started her nervous snorts and giggle, no one was safe.
     
    Stormi grabbed the sides of the creaky chair and took a deep breath in an effort to squash the impeding explosion.
     
    “That’s good,” Paige reassured her. “Just take deep breaths and calm down.”
     
    Dottie looked at us. She was no longer wringing her hands, but her gaze said she thought we were nuts. “What in tarnation is wrong with you girls?”
     
    That did it! Stormi could contain herself no longer. The snorts came forth, tumbling one after the other despite her attempt to hold them off. I could never keep from laughing at Stormi’s snort/giggles so I gave in before the top of my head blew off as well.
     
    Paige rolled her eyes and said, “Good Lord.” Which only made us laugh even harder. Dottie was speechless for once and Paige mumbled something about getting new friends.
    My stomach hurt from laughing and Stormi was finding it difficult to breathe. Then Greg, her fiancé walked into the waiting area. Stormi struggled to stand;