Page 17 of You Can Leave Your Hat On

“Yeah, well, so is the guy who killed her. So now I guess it’s time to delve into HazelPuckett’s life and see what we can find out. I’ll bring it all home with me.”

“Thanks. Let me know.”

“Okay. Later, baby.” And the phone went dead.

Maisey sat there and thought. How could she find the person who’d had the hat? There was only one way, and if Aaron found out, he’d be furious. But she couldn’t come up with another way to get the information she needed.

All of her morning appointments were finished and she stopped by a diner in town to have a little bit of lunch. She’d only been sitting there for a minute when a deep voice said, “Maisey?”

As soon as she spun to identify it, she smiled. “Oh, hey, Morgan! How ya doin’?”

“I’m great. Having some lunch?”

“Yep. Wanna join me?”

“Don’t mind if I do! I’ll just put in my order and I’ll be right back.” Maisey watched him stroll across the room with an appreciative eye. MorganWatters was eye candy extraordinaire. She was surprised a woman there in town hadn’t managed tosnap him up. In a minute, he was back. “So, what’s up with you these days? Got another murder mystery on your hands?”

Should I tell him?she wondered. “Um, matter of fact, we do.”

“Oh? Who’s the victim this time?”

“Her name is HazelPuckett. Aaron just found it today.”

Morgan’s brow furrowed. “I don’t remember that name.”

“That’s because they found her in LaurelCounty.”

“Oh! Well, that makes sense then. Anything I can do to help?”

“I don’t think so, but thanks for offering. Might have to ask you to look over the coroner’s report and explain stuff to me.”

“Wouldn’t mind at all.” Morgan relaxed into his chair. “How’d you come about this one?”

“Picked up the wrong hat at a Derby event and put it on.”

“Yes, I can see how that could happen. Where was this?”

Maisey frowned. “Louisville.”

“Oh. Yeah, that’s bad. Did you try posting about it on any of the social media community pages?”

“I did that this morning. Just kinda waiting. Called the restaurant again. Nobody’s asked about it. They probably haven’t even noticed that they have the wrong hat.”

“That much alike, huh?” Maisey nodded. “Well, if you want, you can bring it to me. I’ll go over it and see if I can find any forensic evidence that might still be clinging to it.”

Maisey grimaced. “It was two years ago.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah. I would think it would all be gone.”

A voice from the counter area called Morgan’s name and as he rose, he said, “Yeah, but it never hurts to look.”

“Agreed. I’ll bring it over.” He probably couldn’t find anything, but it wouldn’t hurt to have him look it over.

They ate and talked and before she knew it, lunch was over and it was time to get back to work. “This has been fun!”

“It has. You’re a very pleasant person to be around, Maisey. It helps that you’re not knocking yourself out to try to get into my pants,” Morgan said matter-of-factly.

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