3
" Back in my room, I put Izzy down, pulled my dress over my head, and tossed it on the floor, lost in thought.
"Marygene Brown," Mama scolded the second I closed the door.
I screamed. Izzy was growling and running around Mama, barking.
Alex bolted through the door, gun in hand, scanning the room for an intruder. "What is it?"
I held my hand over my heart, a familiar response for me now, and scooped Izzy up. Mama was giving me a chastising glare, her arms folded across her chest. She didn't seem to like the idea of Alex sleeping in the house. She was such a hypocrite. That was when I recalled I was standing in nothing but my bra and panties. Alex devoured me with the intensity of his gape. I snatched the dress off the floor, using it to cover myself.
"Um... I thought I saw a mouse. Sorry I alarmed you," I stammered.
"Mouse, my derriere," Mama said. "That boy doesn't need to be in this house. You have a blind spot when it comes to him." She had never been fond of Alex.
He was subpar in her eyes. He didn't own his own business, like Zach did, nor did he come from an aristocratic family. He was a common boy who grew into a common man, who earned a deputy's salary. Like Eddie.
Alex had a lopsided grin. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were using that as an excuse to get me up here. A little jealous tonight, were we?"
"You watch yourself, young man!" Mama scolded, her finger in his face. Not that he saw her.
"Shh," I said to Mama.
"What are you shushing me for? Any man would think the same," Alex said.
"I thought I heard it," I held my hand to my ear, "the mouse, listen."
He put his gun back into his holster. "Right. If you want me to stay," he waggled his eyebrows at me, "all you have to do is ask."
"I mean it. You're about to get it, young man," Mama was waving her arms around like a lunatic, and I wasn't certain she could do no harm. She had slammed me to the floor the other night.
"No. I swear it was a mouse." I shoved him out the door. "I'll be fine. Good night, Alex."
"Good night, Marygene." He grinned again as I closed the door. "If you need me, just holler." He put extra emphasis on the word need. "
― Kate Young , Southern Sass and Killer Cravings (Marygene Brown Mystery, #1)
4
" Y'all know that little gal Kelly Crawford that works down at Tuckers?" Tuckers Jiffy Lube was the only gas station and mechanical shop in town.
Jena Lynn's face contorted in disapproval.
"You referring to that scantily clad girl who runs the register?" I asked as Jena Lynn hopped up to retrieve the coffeepot.
"That's the one." Betsy curled up her lip in disgust.
"That girl is barely legal!" I was outraged.
"I know! I'm going to tell her granny. She'll take a hickory switch to the girl when she finds out what she's been up to. She was all over Darnell." Betsy wiped her nose with the back of her hand. She was right about that. Her granny wasn't the type to spare the rod; she parented old-school style.
Jena Lynn's tone rose as she stirred raw sugar into her coffee. "You caught them?"
"Well, I called him after what happened with poor Mr. Ledbetter---"
We shook our heads.
"---told him I was going to be late 'cause I was taking that extra shift. Guess he thought late meant real late 'cause when I got home, they we're rootin' around on my couch, the one my meemaw gave me last spring when she had her house redecorated."
We sat in stunned silence.
"I threw his junk out last night. And when he still didn't budge from the TV"---she paused for effect---"I set it all on fire, right there in the front yard." She leaned back and crossed her arms over her expansive chest.
"That's harsh." Sam stacked his empty plates. "Maybe it wasn't Darnell's fault." Jena Lynn and I gave him a disapproving glare. He appeared oblivious to his offense, and the moron had the audacity to reach into the container for a cream cheese Danish.
"Sam, if you value that scrawny hand of yours, I'd pull it out real slow or you'll be drawing back a nub," Betsy warned.
"Sheesh!" Sam jerked backward. It was obvious he didn't doubt her for a second. He marched toward the kitchen and dropped the plates in the bus tub with a loud thud.
"He should know better. You don't touch a gal's comfort food in a time of crisis," I said, and my sister nodded in agreement.
Jena Lynn patted Betsy on the arm. "Ignore him, Bets. He's a man."
I stood. "And if I may be so bold as to speak for all the women of the world who have been unfortunate enough to be in your shoes, we applaud you."
A satisfied smile spread across Betsy's lips. "Thank you." She took a little bow. "That's why my eyes look like they do. Smoke got to me." She leaned in closer. "I threw all his high school football trophies into the blaze while he was hollering at me. The whole neighborhood came out to watch."
I chuckled. The thought of Darnell Fryer running around watching all his belongings go up in smoke was hilarious. I wished I'd been there. "Did anyone try to step in and help Darnell?"
"Hell nah. He owes his buddies so much money from borrowing to pay his gambling debts, the ones that came out brought their camping chairs and watched the show while tossing back a few cold ones." She got up from the counter to scoop a glass full of ice and filled it with Diet Coke from the fountain. "Y'all, I gotta lose this weight now I'm back on the market."
Betsy was one of a kind. "
― Kate Young , Southern Sass and Killer Cravings (Marygene Brown Mystery, #1)
11
" You've been keeping in touch with the reporter?"
"He came by the diner the other day. And that reminds me, you told me he was a by-the-book detective. Calhoun has evidence to the contrary."
He squared his shoulders and faced me head-on. Betsy was pushed out of the middle.
"What are you implying?" he spat.
"Hey, y'all," Betsy interjected.
"I'm not implying anything. I just want to know if you still think Detective Thornton is a pristine detective."
"Do you always believe everything people tell you?" Alex's jaw clenched.
"No." I bared my teeth.
If he wanted a fight, he'd certainly get one!
He took a step closer to me. "You believe the reporter?"
I jerked my head.
His neck was corded and his arms tensed. Boy, was he angry. "Some asshole floats into town with tall tales, dangling bait in front of your pretty little face, and you just bite? You've known him for two damn seconds. Me, you've known your whole damn life."
"Um... y'all," Betsy said louder.
"Where is all this anger comin' from?" I shrieked. "Somebody is going around murdering people. And since the department had to march to the tune of a crooked cop, I felt I had to do something."
That was a grave allegation I honestly didn't believe. He had ruffled my feathers and I was lashing out.
"And your keen investigative skills led you to believe I was dirty? Perhaps you think I'm the one going around killing people?" His voice teetered on unhinged.
"Don't be stupid," I said, more calmly.
He felt patronized, that was beyond obvious. Guilt washed over me like a tidal wave and I was searching for the appropriate words to apologize effectively, when he said, "What's with you and older men? Daddy issues?"
I gasped. "How dare you?"
That was the ugliest thing he could have ever said in this moment. And he'd said it.
His facial expression changed, and he took a step forward. I took one backward.
Eddie's commanding voice boomed, "Enough."
"I tried to warn y'all," Betsy said softly. "
― Kate Young , Southern Sass and Killer Cravings (Marygene Brown Mystery, #1)
12
" Marygene, girl, this is the best lime cheesecake I ever put in my mouth," Mr. Collins said from the back booth.
I stood up straight and smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Collins. That's so nice of you to say."
"Is it a new recipe?" his wife, Nita, asked.
"Not really. I tweaked it a tad. I added a bit of cream at the end that I folded in by hand. It makes the batter bake off light and airy."
"It does. So good." Nita took another bite. "Every time you tweak another recipe, you bring me a slice for dessert."
"Yes, ma'am," I said. "
― Kate Young , Southern Sass and Killer Cravings (Marygene Brown Mystery, #1)
