Death by Dancing by Strauss Lee

Author:Strauss, Lee [Strauss, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Historical
ISBN: 9781774091722
Amazon: B091MGKWRH
Goodreads: 57743659
Publisher: La Plume Press
Published: 2021-11-23T08:00:00+00:00

14

Haley found solace in her home office. Her desk was tidy with a stack of science magazines to one side. A shelf was nicely filled with medical books and a collection of mystery novels, something she indulged in when she wasn’t busy solving her own mysteries in real life. Her joy was the artificial putting mat that ran along the length of the room. Taking the putting iron, Haley smoothed out her trousers and putted a few balls, getting every one of them into the hole. The rather mindless activity allowed her subconscious to work, and despite what might appear obvious, Haley knew she was missing something vital.

However, after her tenth putt, nothing extraordinary had come to mind. At any rate, it was time to leave for the morgue. She put the golf club in its spot in the corner, collected the balls, dropped them into the basket they’d come from, and removed the single golfing glove she wore on her left hand.

It was as she was answering her mail that it came to her. Using the boxy, wooden wall telephone in the kitchen, she dialed the number of the morgue, thankful that Dr. Martin came to work on time.

“Dr. Martin, it’s Dr. Higgins. I’m running a little late.”

“Good thing it’s a slow morning,” he said with a chuckle. “I’ll catch up on paperwork.”

That settled, Haley collected her things, put on her coat and hat, and slipped on her first glove just as the two black bells on the top of the telephone rang. When Molly had lived with her, Haley would have let the housekeeper take a message. Her choice now was to leave without knowing who was on the line or pivot and pick up.

Shoot. She would wonder about the call all day and if it was important or not. It could be Samantha with news or Talia’s school reporting a problem.

Her low heels clipped along the wooden floors as she hurried to the kitchen, lifted the black cylinder-shaped receiver, and held it to her ear.

“Dr. Higgins speaking.”

“Haley!” Gerald’s friendly voice crackled across the line. “I can’t believe I finally caught you.”

“Gerald! Well, you nearly didn’t. I’m just on my way out the door.”

“Lucky for me then.”

“Yes, well, what can I do for you?”

A pause. “I’m not making a professional call, Haley. I’m wondering when you’ll be free for dinner. Or lunch. Or coffee.”

The muted frustrations in Gerald’s tone irritated her. “I’m swamped at the moment. I’ve got two suspicious deaths.”

“Isn’t that the job of the police?”

Haley’s breath caught in her throat. She and Gerald had been friends for many years, long enough for him to know how she operated with the police.

“Perhaps crime investigation isn’t part of my job description, Gerald, but it’s part of who I am. Apparently, Detective Cluney understands this more than you do.”

“Haley, I apologize. Of course, I don’t mean to impede your job or your passion. Forgive me.”

Why was this man so easygoing? A part of Haley wanted to get into a rousing argument.

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