Legs Benedict by Mary Daheim

Author:Mary Daheim [Mary Daheim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780061737244
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2007-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

BETWEEN SOBS, JUDITH realized that her cousin hadn’t barricaded herself in the bathroom, but had gone to fetch some water for Bea.

“Here,” Renie said, thrusting the glass at the grieving woman. “I’m sorry I shot my face off.”

It was the wrong thing to say. “That’s what happened to Corelli! He had his face shot off!” Bea shrieked and clawed at her husband’s chest.

“I’m gettin’ her outta here,” Mal grumbled. “You dames make me wanna puke.” Clumsily, he gathered Bea close to him and virtually dragged her out of the bedroom.

Judith was wiping her eyes. “You are a big pain,” she said to Renie between sniffs. “You went too far. Sometimes you take after my mother instead of Aunt Deb.”

Renie shrugged. “It’s some kind of syndrome, a refutation of what our mothers represent that we don’t like about them. As Bill would say, we become just the opposite. You act like my mother, all sentimentality and bleeding hearts. It’s a form of rebellion, and…”

“Oh, shut up!” Judith glowered at Renie. “I’m in no mood to listen to your long, drawn-out rehash of Bill’s brilliant insights. Didn’t you hear what the Malones said? Their son was shot. It must have happened while they were driving from Chicago.” The tears had stopped, and Judith was sitting up very straight. “It can’t be a coincidence that one of our guests is shot here, and another was shot en route.”

Looking vaguely chagrined, Renie perched on the edge of the bed. “Okay, you’re right about that. But I’m not apologizing for my attitude. The Malones are a pair of jackasses, and I suspect they were that way even before Sonny Boy got whacked. Besides, it isn’t always what you say, it’s what you do. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m here.”

It was Judith’s turn to look sheepish. “I know.” She pressed her fingers against her swollen eyes. “You usually are. But you have to remember that no matter how odious these people may be, they’re still my guests.”

“This bunch is beyond odious,” Renie stated with a grim expression. “What did the teachers have to say for themselves? And Roland?”

Judith recapitulated the conversations. Renie listened, if not with sympathy, at least with patience. “So Pam’s dad—Isaac Perl—got whacked by Legs, providing Pam with a terrific motive. And someone wanted Pam to know where she could find Legs, away from his natural habitat.”

“Put like that,” Judith said, casting a shrewd eye at Renie, “it makes sense. Here on the other coast, Legs had no goons to protect him. He was out of his element.”

“And out of luck,” Renie noted. “Still, I hope the police and the FBI are right. It makes perfect sense for Barney to have shot Legs in self-defense.”

Judith stared at Renie. “You’re right. So if Barney killed Legs, why didn’t he claim self-defense instead of denying what happened?”

“Hmmm.” Renie paused in thoughtful concentration. “Do you know if the cops are sticking to J. J.’s theory that Barney somehow retrieved his gun from your safe?”

“It’d be a pat solution,” Judith replied, then looked past Renie as Joe poked his head into the room.

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