Shitake Happens: (A Shitake Mystery Series Prequel) Read Free

truck, shotgun in hand. He came around to the back, unlatched the gate and pulled it down. The rug roll and a shovel lay in the truck bed.
    "We should just wait until he buries it," Clarence urged tapping the dash nervously. "After he leaves, we can get the police and bring them out here."
    That suggestion kind of made sense until the bump in the rug moved.
    "Did you see that?" she asked.
    "Huh?"
    "She might be alive in there."
    Clarence gaped at her.
    "That means we can't let him bury her. I'm getting my gun out of the trunk," Mo said, easing her door open. "Don't lock the car. I might have to get back in. Fast."
    Clarence's eyes were wide with panic, but he nodded. His hands shook as he picked up her camera. "I'll take photos."
    "I'm sure that'll help," Mo grumbled. "If he kills me too, you'll have the proof."
    "Right," he said, perking up as if she'd been serious and not sarcastic.
    Mo exited the car and pushed the door closed with just the slightest of clicks. Hawkins didn't seem to take notice of the tiny sound. He was too busy lifting the rug off the truck and placing it on the dirt. He'd set the shotgun in the truck bed and out of his reach. As she was removing her gun from the trunk, he cut open the duct tape wrapping the rug and began unrolling it.
    At the end of the roll, Reva Hawkins lay still with baggies of ice packed around her. Her hands were bound and a strip of the same gray tape covered her mouth.
    What were those baggies about? Trying to lower the body's temperature so the police wouldn't know when Mrs. Hawkins had died? But that didn't really make sense since he'd brought her out here to bury her.
    Hawkins picked up the shovel as Mo crept closer. Was he going to dig a hole or bash his wife's skull in?
    "Stop," she yelled, leveling the gun sight of her pistol as she held it in a two-handed grip. "Move away from her."
    Hawkins reeled around to face her. "What? Who the hell are you?"
    "Never mind that." Mo continued closer. "Just move away from her."
    Hawkins' gaze darted to the shotgun in the truck bed and then back to Mo as if he were gauging whether he could reach his weapon before she fired.
    "Clarence," Mo called. "Get over here and see about Mrs. Hawkins."
    Genuine fear contorted Hawkins' face and he raised his hands in surrender. "Please. You can have my money. My wallet is in the truck. Just don't hurt us."
    Us?
    Clarence scurried forward to kneel beside Mrs. Hawkins. Out of the corner of her eye, Mo saw Reva move. Her eyes were open and blazing with rage. Clarence peeled the duct tape away from her mouth.
    "Aghhhhhhhh," Reva shouted. "Get out of here. Don't you hurt my husband."
    What the fajita?
    Mo was so surprised, she forgot to keep focus on Hawkins. The next thing she knew, he hit her in a body slam. She went down. As Mo's back hit the dirt, the breath left her body in a rush and the gun flew from her hands. Hawkins landed on top of her.
    With no way to get out from beneath the Sumo wrestler-type, Mo grabbed his meatballs and squeezed. Hawkins screamed and rolled to the side.
      Releasing her hold on him, Mo scrambled to her feet. She spotted the gun a few feet away and ran to pick it up. Her breath came in pants. She hoped Hawkins hadn't broken one of her ribs.
      Clarence hadn't moved during the action. He still stood stupidly gawping. But Mrs. Hawkins had managed to get herself free of the duct tape, and she rushed to her husband's side, kneeling next to him in the dirt. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins stared up at Mo with frightened expressions. Hawkins' fright was tinged with pain as he still clutched his nether regions.
    "I'm a private investigator," Mo explained, lowering the gun. "I was watching your house for the insurance company and saw you kill your wife. Or I thought I did."
    At the word insurance, husband and wife frowned, and then pleading fright turned to anger.
    "You bitch," Reva screeched.
    "He wasn't trying to kill you?" Mo asked.
    "Of course not," Reva huffed, getting to her feet and