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

"Honestly," Skylar said. "I'm not sure. I mean, I know they were there because their table was the loudest one in the room. But some of them could have shown up later. They were definitely all there when I left the dining room."

"Great." Aubrey sighed and leaned back in her chair. "That means any one of them could have stolen trophies and still made it to breakfast."

"Exactly," I said. "There is no way we're going to solve this. Everyone looks too guilty."

"I guess you're right." Aubrey frowned and leaned forward, putting her head in her hands. "Those ladies were the only ones I'm sure didn't do it, but without knowing their whereabouts it feels wrong to mark them off the list." She let out a long sigh. "They were just so laid back and fun. No way they would waste time causing drama."

"Good point," I said. "Still though, I don't think we should write anyone off as innocent."

The girls both nodded along as we took turns taking drinks from our cups.

It had to be a subconscious thing. My brain cannot help but pick up my cup when one of them does. I shook the thought out of my head and urged myself to get back to the conversation at hand. I was too burnt for this level of thinking. Three days engulfed with people, cats, and a schedule was more than I could handle.

I felt bad that we could not solve the case, but at the same time, we needed to be realistic. They were just trophies, and we should have been out of this hotel by now.

"So, who does that leave?" Skylar asked. "Did we hit all the big groups?"

"Austin," Azure transmitted as Aubrey said it aloud.

They were getting too synced for my liking. How were they always on the same page?

"Sue said at lunch that they were at the pool for breakfast," I said.

"Is there any way to verify that?" Aubrey asked.

"We could look in the pool trash," Skylar said. "She mentioned they ate parfaits."

She said parfaits in a higher pitch and held her pinky up as if sipping tea. The action caused Aubrey and I to laugh.

"I'm not touching anyone's trash," I said.

"I'll do it," Aubrey said and stood up.

"What wouldn't you do for a mystery?" I asked.

"Hmm," She pondered. "I'm not sure."

We all laughed as we walked toward the pool. I created a mystery solving monster and there was no way it would end well for me.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Sunday, May 17th, 5:00 pm

Once at the pool, we were disappointed to find that an employee was currently cleaning up the area. He had already emptied the trash bins and looked to be stocking the amenities cabinet with towels. Skylar and I set the cats down only to watch them scurry over to the sunniest spot they could find and curl up together. Living the cat life must be a good life.

"Dragon," Azure transmitted.

I sent him a mental image of an eye roll and me loving on his cat form. He did not respond. The day was getting to him way more than I initially thought.

"Well then," I said aloud. "Guess that idea is out."

"Hardly," Aubrey said with a mischievous grin and walked over to the man.

I looked at Skylar with raised eyebrows and mouthed, "oh my." She shook her head and shrugged. Slowly, we walked toward Aubrey who was deep in conversation with an employee.

"I can't say I'm surprised," I whispered.

"Totally," Skylar whispered back. "If anything, I'm a little surprised it took her this long to start questioning random people."

I giggled. "Should we save him, or let her work some magic?"

"I just want to get close enough to hear what they are talking about."

"Sounds like a plan," I said.

As we got closer, I was able to read his name tag, Mark Poor.

Poor Mark. You drew the short straw today.

He looked to be in his early twenties, maybe a college student with a decent sense of style, as his brown hair was better kept than Aubrey's—that was saying a lot, since she rarely left the house with a strand out of place.

"Wouldn't believe the mess that happens out here," Mark said as we walked up on their conversation.

"I bet I can top any mess you've seen," Aubrey said with a smile. "In the cafe I work in, people are so inconsiderate."

Mark shook his head, "They just don't realize that we're people too. This weekend has been exceptionally bad. But anytime groups come in for events, they aren't here for the hotel. From treating it as a dumping ground for their adventures to acting like the staff are here just to serve them. It's so gross."

"Do tell," Aubrey said.

She had a look in her eye that I only ever saw during her PTA gossip sessions. Should I be proud, or scared, with where this conversation was headed? Maybe I should have brought popcorn?

"One of my coworkers told me she asked a guest to stop spraying her perfume in the lobby this morning. The lady looked them dead in the face and said, why, no one is down here. Like hello, she was down there. She counts as a someone!"

"Oh no," Aubrey said. "We get our fair share of tourists that come into the cafe, and it's pretty much the same nonsense. They think the cafe should carry whatever their city place has. And if the order isn't out within their personal time allotment, they act like waiting is going to kill them. Business depends on them, but man would it be better if it was only regulars."

"Ain't that the truth," I said.

"I sure hope none of our group has been acting like that this weekend," Aubrey said.

"No kidding," I said. "They'd find themselves without a group real quick. I can tolerate a lot of malarkey, but treating customer service workers like less than people is too far."

Everyone in the group nodded as Mark continued to stack the