A Matter of Wife and Death (A Sibyl Potts Cozy Mystery, Book 4) by Morgana Best

right in the Lost and Found bin. Someone turned them in yesterday, but the log wasn’t filled out properly. It just says, kitchen staff,” Cressida said.
    “How would kitchen staff find shoes missing from a guest’s room?” I asked.
    Cressida shrugged.
    “I was right!” Mr. Buttons exclaimed. “It was Dorothy! She’s the only kitchen staff we have.”
    “What are you talking about? You think Dorothy stole Lisa’s shoes?” I asked him.
    Mr. Buttons was unable to hide his enthusiasm. “It fits,” he said gleefully. “Maybe that was why the poor woman went out on the balcony. She probably wanted to ask Greg, whom she knew was outside in the yard smoking, if he knew where they were.”
    I thought about it for a moment. “Well, that makes sense, but still, I really can’t believe it was Dorothy who took the shoes, let alone hurt Lisa.”
    Cressida stood up. “I’ll speak with her about it.”
    “What? You’re just going to walk up to Dorothy and ask her about it?” I asked.
    “Yes, why not? If she did, the police will want to be made aware of it.” Cressida hurried off, and I hurried after her.
    We were met at the kitchen door by the grumpy woman. “What is it? I’m behind as it is!”
    Cressida stepped forward. “Dorothy, I’m here about an important matter. A pair of shoes went missing from a guest, and the entry says they were turned into Lost and Found by kitchen staff. You’re the only kitchen staff here. We need to know who found the shoes.”
    “What does it matter?” Dorothy snapped.
    “The shoes belong to the guest who died. The police are investigating it as a homicide, so they will want to know how someone came to have the woman’s possessions, and why,” Cressida said sternly.
    Dorothy frowned, and crossed her arms over her chest. “I know it looks bad, but that’s why I turned them in. That argument I had with her the night before, I know people are thinking I did something to harm her because I was angry, but I didn’t.”
    “Dorothy, you have a history of losing your temper with guests,” Cressida said.
    Dorothy narrowed her eyes, but her tone was even. “I did lose my temper, but not enough to kill someone. I stole the shoes because I was going to line them with some small slices of fish, so they’d stink the next time she wore them. Then, she ended up getting murdered. I cleaned the shoes and then threw them in the Lost and Found, hoping they’d be returned and nobody would ask questions.”
     

Chapter 15 .
     
    I had a break between grooming clients, so I wandered up to the boarding house to see if there had been any developments.
    Cressida was sitting on the front steps, her head in her hands. “The Little Tatterford and Shire Council is sending an inspector here today.” She sighed and rolled her eyes at the thought.
    “Why would they?” I said. “The police are treating Lisa’s death as suspicious.”
    Cressida sighed and looked away. “I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s a good thing. It’s like someone at that place has a grudge against me.”
    “Unless that awful Cynthia Devonshire from the B&B in town has a friend who works for the council, I honestly don’t think she’d have that kind of influence.”
    Cressida frowned. It was clear that she was overwhelmed with anxiety. “You never know, Cynthia Devonshire could be more powerful than we realize. Have you spoken to Blake recently?”
    “No,” I said, my heart sinking. “Not since the other day. Why?”
    “Oh, just wondering,” Cressida replied. “I was wondering if you thought I should notify the police about the shoes that went missing.”
    That caught me off guard completely. “I don’t know. What do you think?”
    Cressida’s face contorted, and the makeup around her eyes cracked. “I don’t really think it pertains to the case at all.”
    “You and I think that, but what if we’re wrong?”
    Cressida wrung her hands. “But then Dorothy will become a suspect.” She shrugged.