A Frosty Little Murder: A Violet Carlyle Cozy Historical Mystery (The Violet Carlyle Mysteries Book 33) by Beth Byers

Author:Beth Byers [Byers, Beth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-12-18T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

By the time they’d all gathered, it seemed like half the village was ready to search for the two women. Vi stared among them, wondering if Mrs. Hanover’s killer had joined the search. Vi looked from face to face, seeing those she recognized but no one she knew well. She wished it was simple to find the person who had killed Mrs. Hanover or the reason why Kay and Leah Hanover were missing, but these things never seemed to be.

Vi adjusted her coat and approached Rita, who was dressed as warmly as she.

“Any word?” Vi asked.

Rita shook her head. “I checked on Ruby, changed, and got as many as I could to come. Other than Nanny and the butler and housekeeper, who are, perhaps, a bit elderly to be tromping through the snow, they’ve all come. The vicar has taken over.”

Vi nodded. It had been her suggestion to him, and she had hoped that he would agree. “I was thinking we could volunteer to put the house to rights.”

“Do you mean search it thoroughly?” Rita asked low so the couple standing only a few feet away wouldn’t hear.

“Indeed.” Vi grinned wickedly and then approached the vicar.

He nodded calmly at Vi’s suggestion. His eyes twinkled for just a moment when he said, “Rather interesting having the mistress clean the maid’s house.”

Vi shrugged. “We do what we can. It seems that this also needs to be done, and I’d hate to see a stranger in their home.”

Vi knew all too well that neither of the women would want Vi to be putting their things away. Especially with the jewelry showing up in their hands. Vi didn’t much care about that at the moment with the women missing. She would do what she could for the sisters, but Vi had to admit that the ring had been weighing on her mind. How had Mrs. Hanover gotten it? Who had taken it from Vi? And had they taken anything else?

Vi entered the little house with Rita and found the neighbor woman with the bulldogs from earlier. “Hullo.”

“So glad to see so much help. My brother and I didn’t find anything.” The woman looked beyond them to the wood and the pastures and shook her head. “There’s too much for the two of us.”

Vi nodded and held out her hand. “Violet Wakefield.”

“Mildred Kinley.”

“Rita Barnes,” Rita added and then she took up a broom.

“My brother was able to prop up the front door,” Mildred Kinley told them, “but I’m afraid the fixing of it will require more than we can offer.”

“Perhaps you know of someone?” Vi asked.

“I’m curious,” Mildred Kinley said carefully. Despite her tone, her eyes were sharp when they landed on Vi. “Why it is that you were here when Mrs. Hanover was found dead with your ring in her hand?”

Vi paused, but Rita continued sweeping as if she hadn’t heard, though Vi knew Rita was hanging on their every word. Vi met the woman’s gaze, refusing to be cowed. “It’s good you’re here.

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