I piled some of the noodles on Sydney’s plate. Then I did the same for me before bringing the pan back over to the stove. I grabbed the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and set it on the table.
“Mike, everything looks and smells so delicious. You must have been in the kitchen all afternoon.”
Laughing, I shook my head. “Nah, it’s all pretty easy and quick to make.”
“So, will you tell me what type of noodles these are?” She took a bite and closed her eyes in delight. “Oh my gosh, it’s so good. It has a bit of a crunch!”
“Zucchini noodles.”
I watched as her eyes widened in shock. Then she covered her mouth with her napkin as she began to laugh.
“Good grief. Me and my slips. You are terrible, Mike Murphy!”
“I love your little slips.”
She smiled as her cheeks grew pink.
Taking a bite, I closed my eyes. “Damn. This sauce. I could eat it alone with a spoon.”
“It is good. I would have never thought to use zucchini noodles.”
“Trick I learned from my sister. She’s really into plant-based foods, so she gets pretty creative with her meals.”
“I’ll bet.”
“How was your day?”
“Better than yesterday. I swung by and checked on Gladys again. She said Doug went to the station today. Beatrice was there, keeping her company. I guess it’s probably good for Doug to stay busy. I asked Gladys if she wanted to help out at the clinic. I mean, we’re not busy, but it might give her something to do to keep her mind occupied.”
“Smart suggestion.”
She set her fork down and wiped at her mouth. “Any leads on who stole the evidence?”
“No. I did, however, look more into that house in Provincetown.”
Sydney sat up a little straighter, curiosity in her eyes. “What did you find out?”
“It was built around 1750. It has only sold two times over the course of its history, so there have only been three owners.”
“Wow. That’s impressive,” Sydney said.
I nodded. “I thought so, too. The last owners purchased it in 1995. They had a total restoration done that turned into a sort of archeological dig, if you will.”
“What do you mean?”
“From what I read, they stumbled upon a lot of historical finds that are now displayed in the house. There’s a problem, though. The house isn’t open to the public.”
“Oh no!”