Mobsters and Lobsters (A Hooked & Cooked Cozy Mystery Series Book 2) by Lyndsey Cole Page A

might not have paid as much notice if your name hadn’t come up. Several times.”
    Hannah opened Ruby’s iPad. “Let me show you something. I think this is the key to all that’s happening.” Hannah brought up the images of the map.
    Meg slid her reading glasses from the top of her head down to rest on her nose. “I’d be lost without these. Okay, let me take a look at this.” She pulled the iPad closer. “This looks familiar. Did Caroline have a map like this?”
    “She did. Jack has it now. What do you think? Did Caroline ever talk about a treasure buried around here?” Hannah leaned closer to Meg to keep her eye on the map while Meg studied it.
    Meg pulled her glasses off and chewed on one arm. “You know? She did mention something, but more in an off-handed, joking way. As I recall, she said something like— wouldn’t it be funny to convince people there was a buried treasure around here? What scoundrels would that attract? I thought it was a gimmick she concocted to bring in more business.”
    “Looks like it worked. I wonder if she expected it to bring in a murderer, too,” Hannah said. She flipped the cover over the iPad and pushed her chair away from Meg.
    “We might be able to find out something interesting at the Pub and Pool Hall.” Meg grinned at Hannah. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
    “Probably. Tonight would be just perfect to make a visit. Check out the local flavors, and the not-so-local trash.”
    “What time should I pick you up?” Meg asked.
    “Nine? I’ve got to talk to Pearl Martini and I hope she can answer some questions. She arrived here with one of these treasure maps, too. I’m beginning to think that Great Aunt Caroline had a plan. I just haven’t figured out the details. Yet.”
    Meg cleaned up the lobster roll wrappers. “What about your grand opening?”
    Hannah held both hands out to her sides, palms up. “Not much I can do. Pam doesn’t give one hoot about my problems. She’s probably secretly happy to be ruining my opening.”
    “I have an idea.”
    “Spit it out.” Hannah leaned forward again, anxious to hear Meg’s suggestion.
    “Michael has a kitchen at the pool hall. How about serving lobster rolls, clam chowder, and Caroline’s famous slaw over there? You’ll attract all the locals, maybe some tourists, and, mostly likely, the motley crew of gangsters. Michael will love the exposure. He’ll sell lots of beer. You could even raffle off something.”
    “You’ve given this some real thought.” Hannah flicked the end of her braid on her cheek.
    “Yeah.” She nodded. “Raffle off a weekend in one of your cottages. The whole event could benefit the library. Cal’s sister told me they don’t have any money for new books.”
    “I like this idea except it will be a big hit in my pocketbook. I don’t know if I can swing it.”
    “Let me worry about that, too. I can scrounge up some donations. We’ll make it work out for you, Michael, and the library. Are you in?”
    Hannah paused, considering how much this little venture might cost her. “I’m in. With one condition.”
    “Oh boy. I’m sure I won’t like it.”
    “How about,” Hannah leaned toward Meg in a conspiratorial manner. “How about we raffle off the original, the one and only, treasure map from Great Aunt Caroline.”
    Meg roared with laughter. “Are we bringing her back to life to spook everyone?”
    “I only care about spooking out the killer before Ruby gets charged with Lenny’s murder. Or worse—someone else ends up with a knife in their back.”
    “All because of a silly treasure map?”
    “There are at least six people in town I’m betting don’t think it’s a silly map. And that number was eight a couple of days ago. Care to make a guess as to how many more will be killed off?”
    “As long as those scumbags keep killing each other, it cleans up the gene pool.” Meg laughed.
    Hannah slapped her arm. “You are one bad influence, Meg. Now, get out of