Cleaning is Murder by Elizabeth Spann Craig

Author:Elizabeth Spann Craig
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cozy mysteries seniors, southern cozy mysteries, Cozy mysteries with cats, Myrtle Clover
Publisher: PublishDrive
Published: 2018-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“IT’S NICE THAT YOU’RE so eager to spend time with your mother,” said Myrtle tartly.

Red said, “You have no idea what sort of fate awaited me in that lunch box. We’ll have to dump it out at your house. Probably double-bag it before putting it in the trashcan.”

“It couldn’t be that bad. Besides, it’s healthy. Elaine is looking out for you, you know.”

“Looking to kill me, you mean,” said Red morosely. He gave his mother a sideways look as he drove rapidly toward her house. “Why were you and Elaine talking to Gabriel Tharpe? Y’all are hardly friends.”

“But I do know him. And I thought he gave an excellent eulogy today, and I wanted to commend him on it. I taught him years ago, remember?” said Myrtle.

“Years and years ago, yes. I though you said he was a horrible student. He certainly wasn’t one of your favorites, at any rate,” said Red.

“No, my favorites were the students who actually did their homework and tried hard on the tests. Gabriel didn’t exactly fit the bill. What frustrated me the most about him was that he was such a bright boy. A bright boy who wasn’t making the most of his gifts,” said Myrtle.

“I suppose he thought he didn’t really need to use his gifts if he was inheriting his father’s automotive garage. Which is exactly what happened,” said Red. He looked at his mother again. “You know that Gabriel and Amos were good friends.”

“Well, naturally. That’s why he gave the eulogy,” said Myrtle. She didn’t offer anything else and fortunately Red didn’t ask. Conversations about Myrtle’s sleuthing usually ended up with Red making a reference to Greener Pastures retirement home. And Myrtle already had all of her gnomes pulled out.

The sight of the gnomes made Red clench his jaw as he pulled up into Myrtle’s driveway. But he must have been ravenous indeed since he didn’t say a word about them.

“You’ll be glad to hear that Miles took me to the grocery store,” said Myrtle. “Café Mama is now completely stocked with chips and sandwich meats and bread. Oh, and I picked up that pimento cheese that you always say you like.”

“Thanks, Mama.” Red actually sounded grateful. “And what fictitious chores are you having me work on, since that’s our excuse? Just in case Elaine asks.”

“How about unclogging my sink?” asked Myrtle.

“Perfect.”

“No, really, how about unclogging it? It’s not draining very quickly and I could use a hand with it. Maybe while I make you a sandwich?” asked Myrtle.

Red gave a resigned nod.

While Red was unscrewing the pipes under her kitchen sink, Myrtle said, “Now about this case. You couldn’t possibly really suspect Puddin, could you?”

“Why couldn’t I? People do unusual things under stress. Maybe Puddin’s way of handling the stress she felt was to take it out on Amos.” Red’s voice was muffled from inside the cabinetry.

“What stress are we talking about? The stress of inventing excuses to get out of work? The stress of showing up on time? Because I really don’t find Puddin’s life remarkably stressful.

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