Death among the Roses: a Melanie Hart Mystery (Melanie Hart Cozy Mysteries Book 1) by Anna Drake Page A

Monday filled with sunshine and promise. Death and murder was something they’d read about in the newspaper tonight. I counted them as lucky.
    Ginger and I both opted for burgers and a basket of fries. Ginger’s order spoke clearly to me of her mental condition. The only food I’d ever seen her consume before involved green frilly, leaves with dressing served strictly on the side. Occasionally, a few slivers of grilled chicken was allowed into the mix, but even that came rarely. My surprise must have shown on my face.
    "I’m hungry. Okay?” she grumbled.
    “Hey, knock yourself out.”
    “I intend to. Nothing like a night in jail to trigger a girl’s appetite.”
    I settled a napkin on my lap. "How did you and Gossford get along?"
    Ginger made a sour face. "You mean that charming man who hauled me off like a criminal in the dark of night?"
    "Yes, him. How did it go?"
    She shook her head. "All of that drama for such a small point."
    "What point. What was he after?"
    Ginger shot her gaze about the room before answering. "Well, it seems Gary received a phone call before he was killed.”
    “Yes. I know about that.”
    Ginger’s head reared up. “You do?”
    “Stepich told Josh and me about the call at dinner Saturday night.”
    Her brows contracted. “And you never mentioned this fact to me?”
    “I never thought to pass the information along. Okay? How was I to know you’d be arrested before I spoke to you again?”
    “Some way for a partner to behave. I thought we’d agreed to work together on Gary’s murder. What else are you holding back on me?”
    “Nothing. The phone call just slipped my mind. That’s all.”
    Ginger shot me a disbelieving glance. “Well, anyway, Gossford told me the call came from my cell phone and hammered me about it all night long. Wanted to know what the call had been about. Wanted to know why I’d made it. Chapter and verse, and a few questions I can’t even remember, thank my lucky stars.”
    “Ginger,” I thundered. “What have you been playing at. Talk about withholding information. Between us, you’re obviously the star. That call came from your phone?”
    Ginger’s face reddened. “You don’t think I actually made the call do you?”
    “I don’t know. Are you telling me you didn’t?”
    “Absolutely, I did not call Gary. Not then. Probably not for a week before, either. What do you take me for, a murderer?”
    “Then how do you explain the call having come from your phone?”
    “Look, someone stole my cell phone.”
    “It was stolen? When?”
    “I noticed it missing sometime after the rehearsal dinner Friday night.” She shook her head in frustration. “But try telling that to the police."
    "Gossford didn't believe you?"
    Ginger sighed. "I'm not really sure. He didn't lock me up, but he gave me one heck of a tough time."
    "Where was the rehearsal dinner held?"
    "Over at the steakhouse in Webster. They have a nice room there. It’s a good place for a small, private affair.”
    “Wow.” I leaned back, stunned. “Are you telling me someone in the wedding party swiped your phone?”
    “How would I know? One minute it was in my bag and the next time I went to get it, the thing was missing. That’s all I know.”
    “Was Stepich there?”
    “Would you get off his case, please?”
    “Are you two an item?” I pressed.
    Ginger laughed dismissively. “I hardly think so. He’s not too keen on small town anything. Including women. Or hadn’t you noticed?”
    But her comment didn’t quite pass my internal lie detector. Maybe they weren't dating, but a connection between them had to exist. I couldn’t help but wonder why she was lying. I leaned over the table and lowered my voice. “If there’s nothing going on between you, then why did you defend him so vigorously the last time his name came up?
    "Because he's an outsider," she shot back. "Because he's on his own here. It makes him an easy target. Admit it, you'd rather he was the one who'd killed Gary