Girlfriend Retreat. . . Cheaper Than Therapy : Book 22: The Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles by Linda Pirtle

Author:Linda Pirtle [Pirtle, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Region 8 Education Service Center
Published: 2024-03-08T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

Saturday, 2:00 p.m.

Magnolia Bluff Public Library

Caroline saw the last patron out the inner door of the library. She heard familiar voices coming from the conference room. “Let’s check that out, Dewey.” She opened the door. There sat Magnolia Nadine and Daphne, each holding a glass of wine. Both wore green, long-sleeved golf shirts. Caroline was frustrated that the members of the Round Table had on sweaters since they had all agreed to wear them only when they conducted their meetings in private.

Dewey always sensed his owner’s mood, so he sought refuge beneath the long, oak table and hunkered down, prepared to take a nap.

Caroline pulled her black cardigan tighter across her chest to hide the emblem on the green golf shirt she, too, wore for their meetings which were called only if their investigative services were needed to help the police despite the fact the judicial authorities had never requested their assistance.

They followed suit. Daphne and Magnolia pulled their jackets to hide the Round Table logo. Good. They got the silent message. I’m glad we three have the silhouette of our blind Lady Justice under wraps.

Caroline stopped, her hand gripping the doorknob. She took a deep breath and placed her tongue between her upper and lower front teeth.

Margaret laughed. “I know that look. I remember you literally always held your tongue between your teeth when you didn’t want to blurt out what you were really thinking.”

Caroline’s eyes and the cold smile she exhibited indicated that Margaret had, indeed, hit a nerve. “Where on God’s green earth have you been? You know, don’t you, that our friends left even though they were and are worried sick about you? You must contact them immediately.”

“Mary Ann knew what I was up to, but she promised to keep it a secret, but by now, I’m positive she’s already let the others know about my mission in Magnolia Bluff.”

Caroline noticed an empty wine glass in front of the chair where she usually sat while conducting MBWA meetings, so she poured herself a glass of the Pinot Grigio and said, “It would have been nice to have known you weren’t here only for our annual meeting. I guess you felt you couldn’t trust me to be discreet?” Her red face mirrored the wave of anger she felt rising from her red-polished toenails on its way to her brain.

She took a big gulp from her glass and sat down. Her right foot bumped into a lump under the table. She bent to make sure Dewey was okay. Her mood softened as she realized he wasn’t alone. Trixie and Ebony lay on the soft gray carpet of the room. They were nestled together sound asleep. Dewey must have heard the anger in her voice. He slightly opened one eye for a nanosecond and yawned before resuming his nap.

Before the librarian could say another word, Magnolia Nadine spoke. “Before you go into attack mode, you should hear what she has to say. I think you might find it most interesting.

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