A Frothy Fiasco: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 3) Read Free Page B

equity.”
    “Well…we bought it cheap. The market was depressed when we first got married. And now the theme parks there have expanded, and real estate is booming, and our house is now in a high demand area. The value doubled.”
    Okay, I was really interested now. But I tried to remain cool.
    “Nice. And?”
    “And, so that’s why Mark finally decided to go along with the sale. He gets six figures, and I get six figures, plus…”
    “Plus?”
    “…plus I get half of his share as a lump sum settlement in lieu of spousal support. I mean, he’s a plastic surgeon, so he should have been paying me a lot and would have to keep paying me until I remarried. I never pushed it, because, you know…that’s not me. I just figured it’s his money. He earned it, not me.”
    “But then that attorney you were always complaining about found an opportune moment to cash in for himself – and you! I’m so happy for you, Jules. You deserve it.”
    “So…what do you think about me buying Francine Diddlemeier’s printing press and starting up a little weekly newspaper and shopper with ads for all the local shops? And free ads for the Coffee Cabana until you get back on your feet?”
    I didn’t even have time to process a thought in my brain about Jules’ idea when my phone rang. It was Auntie Essie.
    “Did you forget something?”
    “Lily…” Essie sounded frantic. “I’ve been robbed!”

Chapter Three
     
     
    By the time I got to the house on Peach Tree Lane, there were three police cars with lights flashing plus Eli’s unmarked detective’s car out front. There were a dozen golf carts and a gallery of curious onlookers gathered as well.
    Eli was waiting on the steps for me as I ran towards the house. We embraced and he guided me inside. Essie was sitting in a chair in the dining room, and Hildie was standing over her, rubbing her shoulders.
    “What happened? Were you here? Did they hurt you? What was stolen?” My eyes danced between Essie and Eli. Eli spoke first.
    “It was a burglary. Someone came in and took her jewelry while she was out.”
    “I went to put my earrings away, and everything was gone.”
    The crime scene investigators were dusting the doorknobs in the front and back, looking for a point of entry, and taping off the bedroom and kitchen areas. They had just arrived too.
    “Now, Essie,” Eli said gently, “I need to ask you a few questions, starting with what’s missing.”
    “Everything,” Essie said, matter-of-factly. I expected her to be crying and more upset, but maybe the shock hadn’t worn off yet.
    “I’ll need a list, and your insurance company will need the same list, so try to be precise.”
    Essie listed several necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings, and Hildie helped her out with the particulars too.
    “How about you, Hildie? Is any of your jewelry missing?”
    “Nope. They went in my room and opened up my jewelry box, but I guess they didn’t see anything they liked.”
    Eli and I gave each other a puzzled look.
    “Did you hear anything when you came in, Essie?”
    “No. Just a cat screeching in the alley. I think some youngsters might have been speeding through there, cause I heard some tires squealing after that. Nothing unusual though.”
    Eli made a few notes. “Okay, now what was each of the items worth.”
    Essie and Hildie looked at each other like two schoolgirls who just got caught throwing rocks at the building.
    “Uhm well…maybe a hundred dollars,” Essie said, and Hildie nodded her agreement.
    “Which item?”
    “Um…all of them.”
    “Okay, so one-hundred dollars each?”
    “No. All together.”
    Eli put his pen down on his pad and looked at Essie.
    “Well,” she said, “I keep the real gems in my safe deposit box at the bank and just take them out for special occasions. This is just my everyday costume jewelry.”
    “I see.”
    “But somebody broke into our house!” Hildie said in defense of her sister. “If we were here they might have