A Killer Plot (A Books by the Bay Mystery)

baked apples onto any available space remaining on each table. Once her customers were busy eating, she skated backward to Olivia’s booth and did a neat half-turn inches away from Haviland’s paw. “Now, for the good stuff. I heard tell you paid a visit to a certain gentleman’s house the other night” She grinned, her bubblegum-colored lip gloss twinkling. “And didn’t leave again ’til midnight.”
    Olivia couldn’t help but laugh. “Let me guess. One of your bevies of relatives lives on the same street as Flynn McNulty.” Her smile quickly disappeared. “If only one of them was around to witness Camden’s murder. Or Dean’s fall.”
    “Fall? Feed me another one.” Dixie snorted. “That’s not how a man like him goes. Take that with a grain of salt, mind you, because I’ve only seen him a time or two, but he seemed like one sure-footed fellow. He ate lunch here on Thursday so he could ferret out how Grumpy was going to vote come Tuesday night.” She gazed out the window as she remembered. “I liked that he didn’t sugarcoat his reason for coming in. Just asked us straight out. Grumpy told him just as plain that he was votin’ in favor of building that development. Talbot and his buddies ate up every bite of their burgers, thanked us, left the biggest tip I’ve ever laid eyes on, and then went about their business.”
    Dean was smooth , Olivia thought. Dixie and Grumpy weren’t easily impressed, especially by outsiders.
    “I won’t mince words with you either,” she told her friend. “I’d like to talk Grumpy into rejecting the proposal.”
    She raised her hand to stop Dixie from interrupting. “All I ask is that the two of you spend a few, quiet moments in the graveyard in the park. If you still want to support Cottage Cove as it stands, fine, but I’d like the proposal to be altered to allow the cemetery to remain untouched. Consider backing me up on this point. I’m going to talk to the rest of the board members when I’m done here.”
    Dixie jerked a thumb toward the dining area behind her. “There aren’t going to be any quiet moments at that park for any of us! Every inch of that place will be on the news, in the papers, and on the Web by tomorrow. Grumpy’s cousin told us that the Talbot kids have being arriving since Sunday. Each one in their own little jet. Isn’t that too cute?”
    Olivia laid the fork laden with omelet back on her plate. “Can you find out exactly when each of them landed? I’m specifically interested in when Blake Talbot arrived and if anyone met him at the airport.”
    “I’ll make you a trade. Flight information for Flynn information.” Dixie produced a theatrical wink before pushing off from the table. Propelled forward, she dropped off two checks, collected empty dishes, and zipped through the kitchen’s swinging door in the time it would have taken another waitress to tie on her apron.
    Smiling, Olivia returned her attention to her omelet. She was just about to take a bite when Laurel’s flushed face appeared at the diner’s window. Before Olivia could wave, Laurel raised her fist and knocked loudly on the glass. As she gestured feverishly for Olivia to come outside, her lovely face crumpled and tears slipped down her cheeks.
    “Haviland! Something’s wrong!” Olivia shoved the diner door open. Haviland burst out in front of his mistress and immediately began to scan the street for threats. Laurel had turned the stroller away from the sun. The twins were both sleeping, their heads tilted at what looked to Olivia like supremely uncomfortable angles against the blue fabric of the jogging stroller.
    “What is it?” Olivia took Laurel by the elbow, fearing that the younger woman might collapse at any moment.
    Laurel gulped. “I saw it! At the bulletin board by the town hall. I saw the . . . the . . .” Her words tumbled from her mouth as she fought for air.
    Olivia couldn’t make sense of her friend’s jumbled phrases. “You need to get out of the sun and drink some water. Come inside.”
    Shaking her head, Laurel wouldn’t release her grip of the stroller handle. “It doesn’t fit through the doorway. Too wide.”
    “Wait here.” Olivia strode into Grumpy’s, slapped some money on the table, and grabbed her purse and her water glass from the table. Several reporters cast her interested glances but were too captivated by their food to pay her any real heed. Outside, Olivia handed the water to Laurel. “Take small sips.”