Death on Carrion Lane by Patricia McLinn

Author:Patricia McLinn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery
ISBN: 9781944126865
Publisher: Craig Place Books
Published: 2022-05-12T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Fae described essentially the same sequence as Wesley.

We caught up with her on the back porch of the B&B, typing at warp speed.

She grunted without looking up. Another couple of minutes of flat-out typing, and finally she stopped and looked up. But she didn’t move her hands from the keyboard.

“More questions?”

“We’re confirming the order folks arrived at the picnic area yesterday,” Clara said.

Fae reported Debi and Mary Jo were there when she arrived, followed by Wesley. Then she left to go back for the dish she’d forgotten. She paid no attention to vehicles in the parking lot either time she’d arrived. Why should she?

“What time did you get back here to get the dish?” I asked.

“No idea.”

“What time did you get to the picnic area?”

“No idea.”

“What time did you leave the B&B the first time?”

“No idea.”

Before either of us could press her, Fae spoke quickly. “When I got there, Debi was ordering Mary Jo around, just like high school. Also just like high school, she was complaining Mary Jo was late, leaving Debi to do all the work — and then she reeled off to-dos for Mary Jo.

“Thought I’d enjoy hearing someone like Mary Jo get bossed around. Thought I wanted payback for being bullied at good old North Bend County High, but it didn’t satisfy the way I thought it would.

“Anyway, Mary Jo got a break when I showed up and Debi zeroed in on my empty hands, not even noticing Wesley coming right after me. The lovely staff here at the B&B had given me a casserole to bring, but I forgot it. I told Debi that I’d go back and get it if more than twenty people showed up, but that wouldn’t do for her. Ancella came during the great debate. Debi insisted I get it right that minute.”

“When did you get back to Senior Hill?”

“I saw you two climbing the hill as I pulled in.”

That matched my memory, too. No need to let her know that. Better to keep her slightly on the defensive. So I kept asking questions.

“Friday night, when you had dinner in your room in the B&B—?”

“About that, I might have misspoken.”

My heart hammered at my ribs. “Oh?”

“I didn’t eat in my room. I try not to when there’s an alternative, so the room doesn’t smell like food the whole night. Ottalie Bishop suggested I eat out here on the back veranda and I did.”

Clara released a stream of air. Then rallied before I did by asking, “What did you have?”

“Filet with BLT risotto that was delicious.”

Images of cutlery and a distinctive knife danced in my head. “Steak.”

“Uh-huh. That was good, but that BLT risotto… Mmm.”

* * * *

“…doesn’t mean Fae or Glenn used a Haines Tavern steak knife to kill Josepha,” Clara concluded her defense of her fellow alums.

“Let’s go back to the high school.”

“Okay, but why? The sheriff’s department will have the picnic area closed off. If they also have someone watching…”

“Word will get back to Deputy Hensen we’re poking around.

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