A Murder Like No Author by Amy Lillard

Author:Amy Lillard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2021-09-23T00:00:00+00:00

13

Arlo picked her way over the stepping-stones that led from the driveway to the porch of the Sugar Springs Inn. She had never noticed before, but she could see what Veronica meant by the pathway being lethal on heels. The large stones had grown unlevel with time and probably needed to be reset. She would talk to Helen about that later. Right now she needed to get inside and possibly save Veronica from a fate worse than jail—her Friday-night-turned-every-day book club.

She knew they were inside. Undoubtedly Helen was there, even though her Smart Car was firmly stored in the garage and Fern’s Towncar was parked off to one side. She didn’t know if Camille hadn’t brought her own car or if she was off on her own adventure. But two out of three ain’t bad.

“Hold up,” Daisy called. She had caught her heel on one of the stones and was trying to work it free without losing the tap of her shoe.

That was something Arlo wouldn’t have to worry about for a while considering she wouldn’t be able to wear anything that lifted her left side above the walking cast on her right. Joy of joys.

She stopped and waited for Daisy.

“That’s the third pair of shoes I’ve ruined out here.”

“That’s a shame” Arlo said. “But for now I think we need to go save Veronica.”

Daisy’s eyes grew wide. “What’s the matter with Veronica?”

“The book club,” Arlo answered.

Daisy stopped just before they entered the inn. “Are they trying to solve mysteries again? Exciting!”

Arlo shook her head. “It’s not exciting. It’s annoying. And Mads has had enough.”

“Pee-shaw.” Daisy flipped one hand in the air as if whatever Mads said had no significance whatsoever. “They’re sweet little old ladies. They don’t mean any harm.”

“They may not mean harm,” Arlo started, “but they sure can bring some.” And with that she opened the front door of the inn and prayed that the scene she found wasn’t something from the Three Stooges.

“Elly?” she called, stepping into the foyer.

Daisy was right behind.

“In here,” Helen replied.

“I think it’s cute that you have a special name for her,” Daisy said.

Arlo didn’t answer. Instead she made her way into the common room where she supposed the scene was about what she had expected. Veronica and the book club ladies were gathered around, lounging on the extra cushiony, overstuffed furniture that Helen provided. There were two decanters sitting on the coffee table. Well, if you considered Mason jars decanters. In one, the liquid was pure purple. In the other, it was a milky wine color.

“Come in. Come in.” Helen waved her into the room. “Hey, Daisy good to see you, too.”

“We’re just having a drink,” Fern said. “Introducing Veronica to some of the local labor, as it would be.” She nodded toward the Mason jars on the table.

“We went out to Anderson’s and picked up some moonshine so we could share it with Veronica.” Helen said.

Arlo had seen Anderson’s moonshine, and she had seen grape Kool-Aid, and that was exactly what was sitting on the coffee table in the Mason jars.

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