Board Stiff (An Elliott Lisbon Mystery) by Lynn Kendel

Author:Lynn, Kendel [Lynn, Kendel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, mystery and suspense, private investigators, humor, cozy, beach, detective novels, amateur sleuth, cozy mystery, beach read, mystery novels, southern mystery, murder mystery, chick lit, humorous mystery, private investigator, mystery books, english mysteries, southern fiction, mystery and thrillers, mystery series
Publisher: Henery Press
Published: 2013-11-20T00:00:00+00:00

She took two for her plate. “I can’t thank you enough for your help with the Wharf, dear…”

Her voice faded out as I met Ransom’s eyes. He was sitting behind Zibby on a lounge chair near the pool.

“…the best meal yet. The chef even stopped by my table,” Zibby finished.

“I’m happy for you, Zibby. If you have any more trouble, you call me.” I said. I turned my back to Ransom and served the guests to the west of the most annoying man at the party.

Ninety minutes and five tray refills later, I was down to my last three puffs. I spotted Whitney Tattersall at a bistro set in the corner. “Moroccan salmon puff?”

She smiled. “I don’t eat seafood.”

“Really? Me neither.” I joined her at the table, setting my tray down and putting my feet up.

Whitney was what you might call big-boned, or a plus-sized gal. Though I imagine most of her childhood nicknames were much crueler and included some version of the word fat. She had creamy smooth skin and pretty soft brown hair that fell in curls past her shoulders.

She was drinking a bottle of water and offered me one from a galvanized tin on the deck behind her. “Thanks,” I said as I twisted off the cap.

A uniformed server came by with a tray of petit fours and sliced vanilla cake. We both declined, but the girl raised her eyebrows and asked Whitney again before she walked away.

“What was that about?” I asked.

“Shock that I passed up dessert. People think fat folks eat cake for breakfast and cream pies for lunch. Sure, I wish I weighed a hundred pounds less. I’ve tried—still trying—exercise, diet, low-cal. Haven’t eaten processed sugar in ten years. It just won’t come off. Big-boned, metabolism, whatever. People are so afraid of being fat, they’ll suck it out, the riskiest form of surgery. It’s nuts. All the while we tell ourselves inner beauty is all that matters.”

She set her water bottle down and laughed. “I don’t know where all that came from. Sorry to unload. I’m passionate I guess.”

“You have a right to be. The server was rude.”

“People can’t help being judgmental. They see you eat a cheeseburger, they think nothing of it. They see me? They think I’m an oinker scarfing down my third one. Nothing subtle about the ridicule either. People figure I deserve it.”

“Well, sure, what with eating all that cake for breakfast,” I said.

She laughed. “Exactly. You know that server is just waiting for me to sneak over and stuff a piece of cake in my mouth when no one is looking.”

“Or shove some in your handbag for later.”

“Five bucks says she comes back by.” She took a sip of water. “Listen, I’ve been thinking about Leo ever since you called.” She looked around. We were tucked away on the top deck. Everyone else was either down by the pool or inside the house. “I’m sure it’s nothing, it’s so small.”

“Any little thing might be important. Honestly, even something totally innocuous.

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