Murdered in the Man Cave (A Riley Reed Cozy Mystery) Read Free

steal someone's heart and rip it
out afterwards, figuratively speaking."
    "I honestly thought the authorities would
never figure it out," Meryl said. "They seemed almost as baffled as
the ones who were taken by Clifford Stratford, until the police
finally put the pieces together."
    "Isn't that what makes the mystery," I
suggested, "to keep everyone, including the characters, in the dark
until as close to the end as possible?"
    Meryl frowned. "I guess, but I thought the
book was boring for the most part. Maybe the author could take a
lesson or two from someone who is truly a master of the genre like
Brent London."
    "I think he already has," Annette said.
"After all, Brent was his mentor."
    "Clearly O'Shea has a ways to go to measure
up to London," Josh said. "I'm sure he'll get better over
time."
    Everyone seemed pretty much in agreement with
that belief, with the possible exception of Meryl, who seemed
unsold on the notion. As someone who had read all of Brent's
novels, with the exception of the first, which had apparently gone
out of print before he found success and incredibly had remained
that way, it was certainly easy to distinguish the pupil from the
student. This notwithstanding, I believed that Pierce O'Shea had a
lot of potential as a novelist and I suspected that bigger things
were coming his way.
    Before the meeting was adjourned, we agreed
that our next book club selection would be the gothic novel Rebecca , by British author Daphne du Maurier. Though I had read several of her other
novels, somehow I hadn't gotten around to arguably her most popular
one. As such, I welcomed the opportunity to read and discuss it
with the club members.
    * * *
    After my morning run and breakfast the
following day, I paid a visit to my favorite flower shop, The
Blossoming Florist, owned by my good friend Peggy Lawrence. Like
me, Peggy, who was the same age, had never been married. However,
she was engaged to a charming man. According to her, it was one of
those long engagements that would give them plenty of time to make
sure this was what they both wanted.
    I didn't have to look far for Peggy, as I
found her in an aisle arranging some potted plants.
    "Well look who the wind blew in," she said
with a smile, gazing up at me through her glasses.
    "Actually, it is a bit gusty out there this
morning," I had to admit.
    Peggy was petite with dark short hair. "If
you'd like to work for me, I can always use the help, even with two
part-timers already on the payroll."
    I grinned. "Thanks, but no thanks," I told
her politely. "I prefer my green thumb in the comfort of my own
home."
    She sighed. "I figured as much." She wiped
her hands almost self-consciously on her stained apron. "So are you
shopping or did you just drop by to say hello?"
    "Both. Hello and I'm looking to add a couple
of nice houseplants to my collection. What do you suggest?"
    "I think I have the perfect plants for you,"
she said. "Follow me."
    I did and we ended up in front of some tropical bromeliads and other
colorful blooming plants.
    "These plants would certainly be great
additions for your house," Peggy said.
    I agreed, and I also liked the containers,
which were perfectly suited for them.
    But Peggy wasn't content to leave it at that.
"I can also show you some lovely orchids and hanging amaranthus."
    Tempted as I was, but knowing I could only
keep a handle on so many plants, I told her, "Thanks, but I'd
better quit while I'm ahead."
    She smiled. "Got it. But I'll let you know
when something new comes in that I think you might like."
    "Please do," I said nicely. As she rang up my
purchases, I asked casually, "How's Harold?" He was her fiancé.
    "He's great—thanks for asking."
    "I've got to have you both over for dinner
soon."
    "We'd like that. Harold's always telling me
that we should hang out with my friends more. I usually respond by
saying we should hang out with his a little less. Not that I think
they're too stuffy. Or maybe they are."
    I chuckled. "You know what