Bye, Bye Blackbird: A Blackbird Sisters Novella (The Blackbird Sisters Mysteries Book 12) by Martin Nancy

Author:Martin, Nancy [Martin, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2016-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

8.

Emma snatched the bottle of Jameson’s out of the priest’s hands before he could pickle his liver completely. “Stop that! What are you trying to do? Drown yourself?”

“It’s a harmless dram before bedtime. Even my blessed mother, may she rest in peace, took one every night.” The priest settled back in the passenger seat of the truck as if nestling down for a good night’s sleep. His Irish brogue was thick enough to work on a vaudeville stage. “She used to say the Heavenly Father wouldn’t have created grain if he guessed what mankind might do with it.”

“Well, it’s nice to have an open-minded mother, but I gotta keep you sober long enough to do the deed,” Emma retorted. Although tempted to toss the bottle out the window, she tucked it into the cup holder. There was no sense wasting good whiskey.

How Hart knew this character, she wasn’t sure. But he fit the bill tonight, if she could get him to the hospital in time. Trouble was, he seemed to be a little too theatrical. He wore a lush floor-length robe in royal blue with what might have been a slightly moth-eaten ermine fur around his shoulders. The white priest’s collar showing at his neck looked a lot like a paper napkin that had been hastily folded and tucked into his shirt.

The night had turned very dark, and the headlights shone on the winding road ahead. A few fallen leaves danced in the twin beams. Beside Emma, the priest folded his hands complacently across his round tummy and smiled. He was a priest out of Central Casting—pink-faced with laugh lines around blue eyes, a cherubic smile, white hair, and a slight double chin that quivered above his white collar. His accent was Irish, blended with something Emma couldn’t quite place. Long Island, maybe?

“What should I call you? Your Lordship? Father What?”

“Father Jerry will do just fine.” He peered over at her side of the dashboard. “Young lady, you’re tempting the good Lord’s wrath. You’re speeding.”

“He’s got bigger problems to worry about than me. Besides, I think speeding comes under the separation between church and state. Forgive me, for I have sinned. Also, I’ve got a lot on my mind tonight.”

“Anything I can help with?”

“No, Father, I’m pretty sure you don’t want to know all the things that have me in a tailspin.”

“Try me. Something to do with you and Mr. Jones?”

“How do you know Hart, anyway?”

“We met at O’Meara’s. And I used to see him there with you from time to time.”

“Yeah, well, not lately. He’s been out of the country.”

“I couldn’t help noticing you and he are rather affectionate with each other.”

“Sorry if you saw something shocking, Father.”

The priest waved away her apology. “I’m not as unworldly as you think. I have noticed the two of you seem to care about each other. Are you going to marry him?”

Emma snorted. “Not likely. He’s already spoken for.”

“But you seem to get along so well.”

“We get along great as long as we’re making the beast with two backs.

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