The Sweet Taste of Murder: An Angel Lake Mystery Read Online Free Page B

dog over.
    “If I could just have a moment, dear. What is it with this younger generation always being in a hurry?”
    “Just need to fly off.” Elise chuckled at her own joke. It quickly faded as Mrs. Campbell peered over the tops of her glasses with lips pressed together in firm librarian disapproval. “Sorry,” she whispered, and began fussing with the zipper on her jacket.
    “Well, bless your heart. What I wanted to tell you was what Mrs. Packer shared with us at our meeting. It was right after our first glass of wine. Mr. Thompson had two and didn’t think we’d notice.” Her voice trailed away as her wrinkles settled into a frown.
    “What did Mrs. Packer say?” Elise prompted.
    “Oh.” Reanimated again, she smiled. “Why, the most interesting thing crossed her desk yesterday. She was with her son—you know that nice, young police officer with the dark hair?— when he received a fax. It was the toxicology report from the coroner’s office. Apparently, Cameron was poisoned.”
    Elise’s mouth dropped open before she quickly recovered. “Did it say what kind of poison?”
    “It said a chemical compound causing organ failure and heart attack. I wonder, isn’t that something rat poison could do? Because I think it’s awfully peculiar that there was an exterminator at the Wiggles Convenience store across the street just the day before. Tea, dear?”
    Elise sank into a chair and accepted the delicate teacup Mrs. Campbell offered.
    “Would you like a cookie to go with that?”
    She shook her head in the negative. “How do you know the exterminator was there?”
    “I heard it from Cecily—she owns the sewing machine repair shop, don’t you know. They were there for years before Cameron’s car dealership moved in. Quite ruined the neighborhood, she always said.”
    Elise felt a bubble of impatience rising in her chest and had to gulp at her tea to cover. Frodo bumped her arm with her head, impatient for his walk. “The exterminator?” she prompted.
    “Oh, yes. Apparently, they’d been clearing their back lots. Rats everywhere. Cecily said she’d even seen one bobbing around in their pool!” Mrs. Campbell shivered. “Horrid creatures.”
    Elise placed the cup on its saucer. “What was the name of the company?”
    “Oh, what was the name? Cecily told me.” Her forehead rumpled. “Well, I can’t hardly remember, dear. More tea?”
    Elise bit the inside of her cheek, her thoughts spinning. “No, I really should go but thank you again for the tea. Come on, Winnie!” She whistled and this time, the little Pug scurried out of the blanket towards her.
    After unfolding the leashes from her pocket, Elise snapped them on Winnie and Frodo. In his excitement, the big dog twirled in a circle. His tail swept the delicate cup off the table with a clatter, making both women squeal.
    “I should have watched him better. I’m so sorry.” Elise stooped to pick up the broken pieces of fine white china.
    “It’s not your fault, dear. Frodo strikes again.” The older woman’s face was grim as she shook a knobby finger at the dog. “What am I going to do with you?”
    The dog sat with his ears back and looked contrite. His tail thumped against the floor.
    Elise cradled the fragile pieces of china in her hand.
    “The trash bin is just around the corner,” the elder woman directed. Elise moved to the kitchen to deposit the broken glass. Her eye caught a bright splash of blues and yellows on the dining room table where a large vase of flowers sat.
    “Those flowers are lovely, Mrs. Campbell,” she said as she returned to the living room.
    Mrs. Campbell’s eyes brightened with pride. “Thank you, dear. Just clippings from my yard. Little did I know that I’d discover I have a green thumb in my seventies.” She ruffled her hand through Frodo’s coat and said, “Now, off you go and be good for Elise, you two!”
    Frodo led Elise down the hall, with Winnie dragging behind. “One of you sure is ready for