Page 71 of Shadowed Witness

“Tea sounds wonderful.”

Allye selected two rose-patterned teacups and matching dessert plates for the cookies. When she turned back to her guest, she paused at sight of the frown on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but do you have a mold problem?”

Allye blinked. “Mold?”

“It smells the tiniest bit musty in here. There’s been a similar odor at our place, and we haven’t been able to pin down exactly where it’s coming from.”

“I haven’t seen anything.” Or smelled it either.

Shannon quirked her lips to the side and tapped her nose as if she’d heard Allye’s silent addendum. “I have a strong smeller. My husband sometimes calls me the bloodhound.”

“I’ll keep my eye out.”

“Thanks. I asked Cornell to pick up a test kit on his way home from work this morning, but he forgot. I plan to run to the drugstore later and see if they have any in stock, but if not, it’ll be back on his to-do list for tomorrow.” She set the container on the table and popped the lid. “I wouldn’t worry about it, but my allergies have been on overdrive almost since we moved in. Mold is one of my triggers.”

“Let me know what you find out, if you don’t mind. Maybe it would help explain my migraines.” Finding an answer to even one of her symptoms would be a win.

As she poured the steaming amber liquid into their cups, a classical waltz blared from her phone. Eric. She flushed and sent the call to voice mail. She needed to change his ringtone to something less enjoyable. Maybe an old-fashioned funeral dirge?

She pushed Shannon’s cup toward her and eyed the cookies. “Chocolate chip?”

Her neighbor’s eyes sparkled. “Dark chocolate chip.”

“Even better.” Allye helped herself to one. She bit into the still-warm cookie and allowed a soft moan to escape. “These aregood.”

“They’re Cornell’s favorite.”

“I can see why.”

Shannon took a cookie for herself. “Did the cops ever catch the guy who broke into your house the other night?”

How much of the investigation should she divulge? She chewed slowly, then took a sip of tea. “No,” she said, deciding to keep it simple. “His identity is still a mystery.”

Shannon shivered. “That’s freaky.”

That was a good word for it. She still hadn’t figured out what that break-in had accomplished, but everything else going on had pushed it to the back of her mind.

Eric’s ringtone interrupted them again. Again, she rejected the call.“Sorry about that.” She shot her guest an apologetic smile, though everything in her wanted to cry.

“No worries. You could have answered it.”

“Not someone I wanted to talk to right now anyway.”

What had they been discussing? She blinked. Whatever it was, it was gone. She sighed. Hopefully, it wasn’t important.

Her phone dinged with a text. A quick glance showed it was from Eric.

Are you okay?

She considered ignoring it, but the last thing she wanted was for him to show up banging on her door again. Her emotions couldn’t handle seeing him again right now.

I’m fine.

After sending the text, she snoozed the conversation and tried to focus on her guest, but her concentration was blown. When her phone went off again a few minutes later—this time with her mom’s designated ringtone—Shannon stood.

“I’ll let you answer that. I need to see about getting that test kit.” She set her teacup by the sink. “Thanks for the tea.”

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