Purrfect Roast: A Dragon Cozy Mystery by Verena DeLuca (the giving tree read aloud TXT) 📗

We laughed at her failed attempt to make a joke.

"Either they were all just talking to hear their own voice, or they each think they are getting a gold medal."

"Oh! I forgot. Amid the pandemonium this morning, Linda mentioned each participant would receive a gold star. Now everyone could feel like a winner," I said in a deadpan tone.

At least with the amount of laughing we were doing, there was no way I could fall asleep.

"No participation award for me please, just the first-place trophy," Azure transmitted.

"You are just as bad as the ladies," I transmitted.

"So, no leads then?" I asked.

"Not at all," Skylar scoffed. "They just kept whining about wanting to get their trophies and go home."

"Why would they want to leave all of this?" Aubrey spread her arms out. "I thought you said these women thrived on drama?"

"Exactly," I said with a straight face. "Think of all the free entertainment that we'll see today."

"Totally," Skylar said, still laughing. "Guess they only thrive on the drama of people they know personally."

The room was mostly empty. Those who stayed seemed prepared to stay for a while. Why they wanted to, was a mystery to me. Under no circumstance was I going to stay any longer than I needed. Just wanted the room to clear out enough, so I could leave without being shoved into a crowd of people.

Random bumps into me—no thank you!

As we walked toward the front doors, I filled Skylar in on what I saw behind the curtain. Which was not much. But I was able to drive home Azure's idea of the culprit wanting to make a statement, not get rich. There were thousands of dollars in gift cards and prizes throughout the room, all untouched and accounted for since there were not any other empty spaces.

"We should go see the vendors," Azure transmitted. "There might be gossip to hear."

I transmitted an eye roll. He was not about to mask his real reason for being there behind the investigation.

"Do you want to see the vendors?" I asked Aubrey. "There are only three, but we might overhear something of use."

We had visited the Pure Balance cat food room every day. Each time Azure was just as excited as the first. I knew it was the fresh samples he was after, but I was not going to push it.

"Sure."

"I think Shadow wants to get his daily dose of salmon," Skylar said.

Noted by the fact that they were now leading us toward the hall to the right of the ballroom. The lobby of the hotel was expansive and designed with large gatherings in mind.

We walked with the cafe behind us, down a faux hall along the wall of the ballroom, while people mingled in a recessed seating area beside us. The area was twice as wide as the hall, with tables and chairs sprinkled throughout. The hotel featured a glass window front view that spanned two stories. It made the lobby feel much larger than it probably was.

"Azure is so obsessed with salmon."

"If I were a cat, I'd want to eat fish too," Aubrey said. "Dry cat food smells like moldy tea."

"Totally," Skylar said. "I'm not a cat, and I like salmon."

"Bluh, no thank you." I stuck out my tongue and snickered. "I'd rather drink day-old tea."

"Oh my," Aubrey said. "I had no idea you hated fish that much."

"It's mostly the smell," I said. "But the texture and flavor, ugh, salmon is one of the more potent ones I despise."

"Regardless," Azure transmitted, while stopping to meow at us, "we should go as you don't have to eat the food."

"We'll go." I reached down to scratch behind Azure's ears.

"Oh, does the little fluff ball really want his salmon?" Aubrey asked in the voice people use when talking to cats and babies.

"Yes," I said, realizing I'd slipped and spoken out loud rather than transmitting my thoughts. Today was going to be difficult. Having to solve a case with Azure's help, while not breaking into speech, would be rough. What would I do if he came up with the ideas? Pretend I just had an amazing breakthrough?

"You can only take credit for my ideas, if you'll hurry and take me to salmon."

I fought down a laugh and led the way.

"This is so exciting," Aubrey said. "It's so neat that the three of us are solving a mystery together."

"At this rate, you'll be able to open your own P.I. firm," I said.

"Only if you're the Sherlock to my Watson," Aubrey said.

"Always," I said.

What else could I say, she put up with my coffee addiction, so I had to deal with her mystery obsession. At least for the most part, it stayed confined to discussing our latest mystery read, and not actual crime solving.

"That would be hilarious," Skylar said. "This will make up for girls' night. Too bad Jess had to man the cafe."

"I should call her again," I pondered aloud. "Make sure they are okay."

"They are fine," Aubrey said. "Stopped by this morning before I headed into the city. Don't be a mother hen."

"Fine, fine, I won't call," I said with a pout. "But if my baby is in flames when we get home, I'm blaming you."

"Blame away, they know how to dial nine, one, one," Aubrey said.

Halfway down the faux hall—toward the side rooms where the vendors were set up—was the lifesaver I had been looking for, a long table with fresh coffee and muffins. I skipped the muffin and took two cups of coffee.

"You need it that bad?" Aubrey asked.

"Leave my addiction out of this," I said. "We're doing just fine together. The real problem is when people try to separate us."

Skylar and Aubrey broke out in laughter before preparing their own cups. They might not be as addicted as me, but any self-respecting thirty-year-old woman who did not need a morning pick me up was not doing enough in their day. I once heard that the country ran