Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer by Lee Hollis (famous ebook reader .txt) 📗

just how handsome and sexy Phil was, at least a decade younger than Violet, probably early to mid-fifties.

“This picture doesn’t do him justice,” Violet said.

Poppy gasped. “It doesn’t?”

How could it be possible that Phil was even more good-looking in person?

“He’s quite the stud, Violet, congratulations,” Matt said.

“Am I going to have to call him Grandpa?” Wyatt asked.

“No, dear, of course not!” Violet laughed.

Iris grabbed the phone, inspecting the photo. “What does he want from you?”

Violet sighed. “Nothing, Iris. He just enjoys my company. He said, and these are his words not mine, ‘You’re a scintillating conversationalist, Violet.’ ”

“And no one else finds that highly suspicious?” Iris balked.

“Don’t be offended by Iris, Violet, she’s just jealous,” Poppy joked.

“I know,” Violet said, elated. “And it feels so good!”

Iris threw her hands up in surrender.

Poppy’s phone buzzed.

It was Sam.

“Speaking of dinner dates. Excuse me,” Poppy said. “I’m going to take this outside.” Poppy hurried out the door to Iris’s backyard and answered the call. “Hi, Sam.”

“Hey, beautiful,” Sam said hoarsely.

“Is everything all right? You sound strange.”

“I was wondering if we could postpone dinner tonight. . . ?”

“Of course. Are you sick? Are you running a fever?”

“No, just feeling a little off, that’s all. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

Poppy sensed something was definitely wrong, but like most bullheaded men who refused to show weakness, Sam was trying to act like his normal upbeat, jocular self.

“Where are you, Big Bear?”

“Yes.”

“Would you like me to come up there and check on you?”

Sam chuckled. “Poppy, there is no need for you to drive an hour and a half up a mountain when I’ll probably be asleep in an hour. I’m well-stocked with Tylenol and canned soup, so I’m good.”

Poppy hesitated. If there was one thing about Sam Emerson that she was sure about, it was that he was strong. But despite the calm, reassuring words coming out of his mouth, she could not ignore the overwhelming sense of dread building up in the pit of her stomach.

Still, she had to take him at his word.

“Okay, take care of yourself, I’ll call you first thing in the morning to see how you’re doing.”

“Sounds good.”

And then he hung up.

Rather abruptly, in fact.

And her sense of dread was not going away.

Chapter 29

As Poppy and Matt entered John Henry’s Cafe through the side patio entrance, Poppy couldn’t help but notice Matt wincing slightly, his body no doubt still hurting from having been in two separate car crashes in a matter of a few days.

“Are you in pain?” Poppy asked, full of concern.

Matt placed a reassuring hand on her arm. “A little, but don’t worry, I’ll be doing handstands in no time, not that I ever did them before.”

Poppy chuckled. “I appreciate you filling in for Sam tonight as my dinner companion.”

“What happened to him?”

Poppy shrugged. “I’m not sure. He didn’t sound like himself when we spoke, but you know Sam, he’s the last person willing to open up about what’s going on with him.”

“Poppy!”

Poppy turned to see Alfredo, the handsome, charming, fortyish owner of John Henry, who had started out as a busboy and worked his way up the ladder before buying the restaurant from the founding owner, a testament to the American dream.

Poppy hugged Alfredo. “Thanks for squeezing us in tonight, Alfredo.”

“Anything for you. Follow me, we have a table for two tucked in the corner, very romantic,” he said, leading them along past bustling waiters carrying food and taking orders, busboys cleaning off empty tables, diners eating, drinking, and chattering at a litany of white-clothed tables.

“Well, my request for something romantic is now off the table for tonight. My date couldn’t make it. This is my business associate Matt Flowers,” Poppy said.

“Ah, the famous Matt Flowers. I’ve read a lot about you. You’ve made quite the impression around here,” Alfredo said as he stopped at a small table and gestured for them to have a seat. “I’ll send over some escargot and baked brie on the house,” he said with a wink.

“You’re too good to us, Alfredo, thank you,” Poppy cooed, blowing him a kiss, which he mimed catching and tapping against his cheek. He hustled off to attend to his other customers while Poppy picked up a menu to peruse the specials.

Matt glanced around the patio. “He’s got a good business going here. Hey, did you get the idea to come here because Violet mentioned she had dinner here last night with her new beau?”

“Not exactly,” Poppy said, eyes fixed on her menu.

Matt suddenly sprang to attention. “Hey, isn’t that—?”

Poppy followed Matt’s gaze over to a table on the opposite side of the patio, just outside the covered dining room where Detective Lamar Jordan and his wife, Lynn, were having dinner. He was devouring a breaded pork chop while she daintily picked at a macadamia nut–encrusted sole.

“What a coincidence,” Matt remarked.

“Not really,” Poppy muttered.

Matt snapped to attention. “So you knew they were going to be here tonight?”

“I may have been tipped off by Mrs. Jordan’s Instagram post. She loves to tell everyone everything she’s doing and everything she’s planning to do. It’s proven to be very helpful.”

Matt flashed a sly smile. “Well, then, it would be rude of us not to go over and say hello.” He jumped up, and ever the chivalrous gentleman, scuttled around and helped pull out Poppy’s chair so she could stand up. Then, arm in arm, they traipsed over to Detective Jordan and his wife.

“Hello, this is a surprise,” Poppy said, beaming.

Detective Jordan was just raising his fork, about to pop a piece of his pork chop into his mouth, when he suddenly stopped halfway as he looked up from the table to see Poppy and Matt.

“Is it?” Jordan snarled.

“What are the odds of us running into each other again so soon after the last time?” Poppy asked, feigning innocence.

“Are you intentionally following me around, Ms. Harmon?” Jordan asked, a tension in his tone.

Poppy mustered up a slightly hurt look. “What? No, my business partner Matt and I just happened to arrive