April Fool Dead by Carolyn Hart

Author:Carolyn Hart [Hart, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Fiction, Contemporary Women, Mystery & Detective, General
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2009-10-13T04:00:00+00:00

Emma Clyde glanced at her watch and gave an impatient shrug. “I’m right in the middle of Chapter Seventeen.” She paced back and forth, her flaming orange caftan swirling, her stubby-heeled white shoes clicking on the heart-pine floor of Max’s office.

Henny’s dark eyes flashed. “Very inconvenient of Kay to be murdered when you have a deadline.”

“I’m here,” Emma snapped. “Though Kay certainly should have expected trouble. Those flyers were designed to upset people.”

“I don’t believe Kay made those flyers.” Henny threw up her hands. “I don’t care if the flyers were there. Kay would never do something like that.”

“Nice of you to stick up for your friend.” Emma’s smile was cold. “I knew Kay. She was not a woman who welcomed diversity.”

Henny sighed. “True. And untrue. Yes, she had definite values in which she believed, but she was kind and good.”

Annie glanced at Max. He was staring moodily at the indoor putting green, hefting a putter in one hand. He wasn’t paying any attention to the bickering between Emma and Henny. Annie understood. Pete Garrett was on his way to Confidential Commissions and Max had a decision to make.

Annie took two steps, leaned close. “Don’t tell him.”

His reply was equally soft. “Ma must have been in the Sound last night. She must have seen the murderer getting away. That’s what she said—no running lights.”

“But she couldn’t identify him.” Annie ran her fingers through her hair. “Or her.”

Max’s eyes were troubled. “Annie, we have to tell Pete. It might make a big difference to know the murderer came by boat.”

Annie folded her arms. Her voice was as light as the rustle of cordgrass in the breeze. “We can’t. Laurel said it was a matter of life or death.”

Max wrapped both hands around the shaft. “What if it’s Ma’s life?”

Annie recalled Laurel’s firm—yes, firm, determined, decisive—tone when she ordered them not in any way to permit her name to be associated with the police. Annie heard the front door to Confidential Commissions open. Barb’s voice rose in greeting. “Hi, Chief. They’re waiting in Max’s office. Go right through there.”

Quick, quick, Annie knew she had to be quick. She whispered, “Something’s going on. Look, Laurel will be fine. She’s…” What was the right word for Laurel? Unsquashable? Irrepressible? “…unstoppable. And nobody’s fool.” Laurel had run into trouble and she had gone to earth faster than a marsh rabbit running from a gray fox. “As soon as Pete catches the person who killed Kay, Laurel will be safe. Besides, Pete’s okay, but if we told him your mother was out in the Sound near the time of the murder and she refused to say why and she’s hiding out…” Annie watched Max’s expressive face, saw worry, uncertainty, and rapid calculation.

Pete Garrett strode through the doorway, Billy Cameron right behind him. Sprigs of wiry blond hair poked from beneath Garrett’s cap. His round face gave him the aura of a choirboy, but his blue eyes, though young, were cold and tough. He’d worked hard since

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