June and Marv Taggart, the middle-aged couple who own Bubble Brite Laundry & Dry Cleaning, usually came in for lunch a few times each month. We were discussing their impending vacation plans as the Escalade rolled to a stop near the stone walkway that leads to the front porch. “You expecting ...
I spotted them in the back, huddled together at a small table near the display of packaged coffee beans. We were getting together to devise menu plans for Rosemary’s family that we could then split between the book club members. If everyone pitched in and prepared some easy meals that could be fr...
Originally built as the warehouse and offices for a small freight company, the expansive space was ideal for displaying paintings, photography and sculptures. When I opened the door and stepped inside that afternoon, I immediately detected a trace of pungent cologne. It reminded me of something m...
With two twelve-year-old boys and a forgetful husband, Olivia was forever pestering her family to turn off the lights when they left a room. As I made my way up the sidewalk to the front steps, I smiled at the glowing bungalow and reflected again on the guilt I’d been feeling about visiting Denve...
One was a woman with long jet-black hair holding a small white dog on a leash. And the other, dressed in a dark jacket, faded jeans and muddy hiking boots, was Kyle Gallagher. I quickly grabbed my phone and sent a text to Zack: running behind. c u asap. He responded instantly: how long? My thumbs...
Harper was making the rounds, refilling coffee cups and water glasses. I stood behind the counter for a few minutes, admiring her easy grace and natural ability to maintain an endless flow of upbeat chatter with customers. “Hey!” she said, gliding by to start a fresh pot of decaf. “How’s everythi...
Elle wanted a naked cake for her wedding reception—chocolate layers with buttercream frosting between each level but no fondant around the outside—and her mother had pitched a fit. I smiled at a little scribbled note in the margin of my notebook: Elle wants trendy naked, Mom not so much. In the e...
The hotel sent three female security guards to help us with the process. Luckily, we hadn’t fully unpacked our luggage, so it was relatively easy to collect everything and transfer the bags. Once we were settled in the new suite and Trevor Cole fully explained the additional security features ass...
said the voice after I answered. “Connie gave me your number. She told me to call if I thought of anything.” I squinted at the clock. It was nearly one in the morning. For a split second, I thought it might be Zack. But as the haziness of sleep dissolved, I realized that the guy on the other end ...