Bound To Be Dead: Cozy Mystery Bookshop Series Book 3 Tamra Baumann (new books to read txt) 📖

see if we can grab that empty table in the middle. Maybe we’ll get lucky and get one of the servers they had.”

Madge, Cooper, and I head for the stairs to claim the empty table along the railing. I grab the fake badge from my pocket and toss it in the bin at the bottom of the staircase.

Madge eyes the badge longingly, so I say, “Don’t even think about it.”

“But that cost me twenty-five bucks!”

We start up the steps. “And panic-bribing those kids cost you another sixty.”

“It was for a good cause.” Madge sniffs. “But now I’m broke, so you can buy lunch.”

“Deal.” I bite my lip so I won’t say anything else, and get on with the long climb.

The busy café is mostly filled with what looks like tourists. Casually dressed, phones out taking ocean shots, hats, sunglasses, and tell-tale pale skin. A few other groups also have dogs, each at their family’s feet and with metal water bowls that sport hippos on the side, proving it’s a dog-friendly place.

Madge glances around. “On second thought, maybe we shouldn’t sit in such a visible spot on account of the cops might be looking for us.”

I shake my head. “We’ll have to take our chances. This is where Tina sat. We don’t need two strikeouts today.”

Madge mumbles, “It could be three strikes and we’re out if the cops catch us. But we’ll do things your way.”

Ignoring Madge, I claim our table. Before we can hang our purses on the back of our chairs, a tall blond guy wearing a Blue Hippo T-shirt greets us.

“Hi, ladies, and adorable dog.” He kneels to pet Cooper but keeps his eyes locked on mine and Madge’s. “Welcome to The Blue Hippo. I’m Dean, and I’ll be your server today.” He stands and beams a gorgeous smile. His tanned skin and wave-tossed sandy hair give him a dreamy surfer look. “May I bring your dog some water and a treat?”

Before I can answer, Madge bats her eyelashes and says, “Cooper would just love that, Dean. Thank you so much.”

Someone has a little crush on our server.

Dean is a few steps away, so I whisper, “Down, girl. We’re working here. Remember?”

Madge nods, but her eyes are focused on Dean. He’s stopped to talk with another server and providing Madge an impressive view of his other side too. Dean must spend a fair amount of time in the gym.

Dean turns to study us. His friendly smile has faded, and his forehead furrows. He continues to eye us as he grabs his cell and dials.

My stomach takes a dive. Something’s not right here.

Madge gasps. “That family with the girls is standing right below us on the street!”

I lean over, and sure enough, there they are. And they’ve seen us. “We’ve been made. Let’s go!” I grab the leash and my purse and head for the stairs, confident Madge is behind by the clomping of her heavy shoes.

Our feet have just hit the concrete by the trash bin, where I threw away the evidence, when a cop appears before us and says, “Ladies? I need a word, please.”

A word? There’s only one word that comes to my mind: busted!

Chapter 11

My heart is pounding so hard, I’m sure the policeman standing before Madge and me can see the fear pulsing in my neck. “What can we do for you?” I ask.

His eyes lock with mine and then Madge’s. “I understand you were just in the B and B next door?”

We both nod like bobblehead dolls. I can’t speak for Madge, but my mouth has gone as dry as cotton, making it impossible to talk.

“Then come with me, please.” The cop, whose name tag reads B. Williams holds out his hand toward the street.

Madge cuts her eyes toward the trash can with the fake badge inside, so I nudge her in the ribs to make her stop. I don’t want the cop looking in there too. Mostly because I don’t want anything to do with an impersonating-a-policeman charge.

She visibly swallows and then gives me a little nod before she heads toward the street with me right behind. I half expect the barrel of a gun to poke me in the back any second. Is the policeman taking us to his squad car? Or maybe he’s going to march us to the station for booking?

My mind races with bad scenarios as we round the corner and nearly bump into the family from the B and B. One of the kids points and says, “There they are, Mama.”

Great. Now the cop will have more witnesses to Madge’s charade.

The cop stops and smiles at the pointing little girl. “Do you want to give it to them?” He hands something to the little kid.

Give us what?

I glance at Madge, who looks as confused as I am.

The little girl sticks out her hand toward Madge. “Thank you, but we’re not allowed to take money from strangers.” She places the twenties into Madge’s outstretched hand.

The father says, “I hope you understand.”

I nod. “Absolutely.” Relief nearly buckles my knees. The family must’ve seen us on the deck and asked the cop to return the cash.

The father shakes hands with Officer Williams and then hustles his family away.

The cop smiles at Madge. “You ladies have a nice lunch now.”

I open my mouth to speak, but only a relieved squeak comes out. Madge finally says, “You too. Thanks!”

Madge grabs my arm and pulls me back to the trash can at the bottom of the restaurant’s steps. “See? You got all worked up for nothing.” Madge’s hand dips inside the trash can to retrieve her fake badge.

“Nope.” I grab her offending hand and tug her up the long staircase with me. “And now that you got your money back, you’re buying lunch!”

“Fine.” By the time we reach the top, Madge is gasping for air. “Geez, Sawyer. Are you trying to kill me here?”

More like punish her. Her antics scared me half to death. “Just burning some calories for this fine