SLAY PAIRS WITH ROSE (The Kelly's Deli Cozy Murder Mysteries Book 3) by Sophie Brent (phonics reading books .txt) 📕

blue ink. Below that was a large paper sack of gift bags in pastel blue taffeta which had already been stuffed with sweets and chocolates. This was where her sugar rosebuds would have gone.

The bottom half of the box seemed to be full of banners and congratulation stickers, plus a hand-written sheaf of papers with the word ‘speech’ written on the top in a very thin scratchy handwriting.

A small plastic bag held an emergency kit with dry cleaning fluid, translucent face powder, lip gloss, tissues, needle, and thread.

Erin sucked in a low slow breath through her nose.

“Everything okay?” Matt asked as he looked up from a notebook which someone had tossed onto the desk.

“This is harder than I had thought.” Erin gestured to the crates and the collection of brochures, printed invoices, and receipts that had been stacked on the desk and overflowed onto the floor. “Constable Harris said that they had been through everything and taken what they needed but it looks like that didn’t include tidying up. What a mess. Who would be a wedding planner?”

“You’re asking the wrong person,” Matt winced. “I had only had three things to do for my wedding and that was turn up, stay sober and remember to thank my mother-in-law for organizing everything. Everything else was taken care of and I had a brilliant day.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.” Erin whispered, suddenly embarrassed when she recalled Matt’s uncle Lucien mentioning that Matt was divorced.

“You didn’t,” Matt nodded. “Are you ready to get started? I’m happy to cart these boxes and files back to the deli, but you’re on your own when it comes to packing this lady’s clothes and personal items. Can I leave you to it? Erin?”

“No problem. I can pack her suitcases.” Then she stopped. “Wait a second. Take a look at this, Matt.”

Erin pulled a clear wallet out from the next crate marked ‘HEN NIGHT. “Emma had put together profiles on each of the wedding party. Here’s a photo of Rebecca at some sort of corporate function with the words ‘Gold-digger’ written on it.  What do you think she meant by that?”

Erin flicked through the wallet. “This is unbelievable! She has a complete dossier of documents for Rebecca, Kate, and Maya, and all of it seems to be gossip and dirt.” She dropped it back into the crate and wafted her fingers in the air as though she had just touched something nasty. “I feel the sudden need to wash my hands.”

“Hold on there,” Matt frowned and stepped forward and picked up the folder. “I wonder if the police have seen these. Emma Wilson might have found something that one of those girls was willing to kill for, to keep hidden.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” she gasped.  “What shall we do?”

“Read them first. Then pass them on to Constable Harris if it is worth his time. That would seem fair, wouldn’t it?”

“Read them?” Erin exclaimed, horrified at the very idea. “I don’t want to read them. There could be confidential information in these folders or even lies that Emma repeated without checking the facts.” Erin said, taking a step back. “I’ve met these girls and they are all great friends who Fiona invited here to celebrate her wedding. I don’t want to dive into their personal lives. Even the idea makes me feel uncomfortable.”

“Then how about a compromise?” Matt suggested. “Zoe knows these girls better than you do. Why don’t we show this information to her and ask her opinion? Would that work?”

Erin stared at the crates that Emma had collected and shook her head. “Why did she do it? Why did she go to all of this trouble to give Fiona a super wedding and then spend days looking for background information on Fiona and her bridesmaids? I don’t understand it at all.”

“Was that a yes?”

“Absolutely.” Erin nodded. “Zoe was at the hen party on Friday evening. Emma has to have died in an accident. I don’t want to even think that one of the girls had anything to do with her death. But if there is something here… I would rather know about it and not sweep it under the carpet. I’ll phone Zoe now and ask her to join us at Rosa’s cottage.”

She looked across at Matt and pushed her shoulders back. “If you pop down for a luggage trolley, I’ll make the call then get started on the packing. Emma’s suitcases are not going to know what hit them.”

Chapter Seven

Matt stared at the front of Rosa’s cottage and chuckled. “Well, you said it was a country cottage and you certainly weren’t kidding. I had no idea people still had roses growing around their front doors. You could sell postcards of cottages like this in the deli and boost the tourist trade in Kingsmede.”

Erin hoisted her cool bag higher on one shoulder and followed Matt up the brick paved steps that led to the cottage. The front door was painted in a deep navy gloss that contrasted perfectly with the white cottage walls and the roses that grew in profusion around the porch.

She slid her bag onto the path and took a moment to pick out one of the wonderful purple-pink climbing roses from among the shiny green leaves.  Bending closer, she closed her eyes and inhaled the extraordinary rich scent that filled her senses. “Have you smelt these roses? The blossoms you buy in the florists can’t compare to these beauties. They’re so amazing at this time of year, I’m sorry that Rosa is missing them at their best.”

“Uncle Lucien and Rosa are due back in three weeks. Maybe these roses will still be here waiting for her?”

“I hope so,” Erin smiled as she turned the key in the heavy wooden door and stepped inside the cottage.  “Mind your